Could someone please explain what is a switcher calf?
From the article below, i understand that the calf follows the switcher. But what does the calf do? Is it like a tender car for diesels?
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cow-calf
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A "calf" is just a cabless switcher, like a "B" unit for a set of F units. The switcher with the cab was called the "cow", while the cabless switcher is the "calf." The idea was that since the two units were going to be run as a set all the time the railroad could save some money on the cost by having only one unit have a cab and controls. The problem with this concept is that if the "cow" broke down the "calf" was useless, while if both units have cabs then they can be used either as a set, or independently.
Stuart
I believe the calf is an unmanned powered unit to boost the pulling capability of the switcher. Very similar to a B Unit in an A-B-A locomotive consist.
I do not think the calf has a prime mover at all, just the traction motors for the wheels. It gets all its power from the switcher.
It does decrease the overall amount of power the switcher has because it has to split it between calf and itself but improves its traction.
Originally Posted by Jdevleerjr:
I do not think the calf has a prime mover at all, just the traction motors for the wheels. It gets all its power from the switcher.
A calf is a locomotive. It has a prime mover, traction motors, everything but a cab. Something that looks like a locomotive that only has traction motors and gets all it's power from another, is called a slug.
Here is a picture of a cow and calf.
I don't know why some pictures post twice.
Below is a slug, whose appearance can vary greatly as they are all home-built by the road's shops. Some look like regular locomotives with the radiators and hood doors plated over, to just a low box on the donor's frame, to everything in between.
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Great information. Thank you.
Is there something called a "Sled"? I seem to recall that it only had brakes, not dynamic brakes, maybe used on a hump with another unit to add brake shoes to help control a heavy cut of cars without air brakes hooked up.
Dan
Also, a calf is semi-permanently coupled to it's switcher via a drawbar. The cow and calf are considered as one locomotive.
Rusty
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Is that a home-rolled creation Lee? Looks pretty good! 
Yeah. I just bought an extra BEEP body, cut each in half, and . . .
The paint matches some of my other UP loco factory paint jobs a lot better than this UP BEEP, which seems to have the darkest gray on any UP loco I've seen.
Well, you could always repaint the leading BEEP. 
CSX 2208 Road Slug&GP40-2 working in London KY
Nice video, Alan, but that is a slug and NOT a "calf". Also shows what one railroad has done with their old, worn out GP30 units from 1962/1963.
