Just for Fun

What is this?

Old time centrifuge? Cheers, Jim CCRR

For three points, I say it's an old black and white photo of something mechanical

Fred are you playing with mirrors again?

Jerry

Looks like the railroad equivalent of a Pushmepullyou.

I see a tank of some sort on the car so I think it sprays something, either Agent Orange to kill the weeds along the ROW or a deicer mixture for use in winter.

Robert

I see no wheels, so I say it is a sled train, maybe used for spacing rails.

Jim, OLD TIME yes- Centrifuge NO
Beverly, B&W Foto yes- Mechanical thing yes- But What is it ?
Jerry-- No mirrors this time-
Mike is the close-
Robert- NOT a military machine- but has assisted military machines
Terry- It does have wheels and runs on rails
Next clue-- You have to go EAST to go WEST and versa visa

Robotic track cleaning car, with auto direction changer?

HEEERRRZ FREDDIE!!!! I thought while Jerry could not get on WHO, WHAT, WHERE, we would try something here- This in no way changes the order on WWW. We await Jerry's entry into the unknown.

These units also guide Princesses and Queens.
Terry gets the GONG - Try again

Fred wrote:

Jim, OLD TIME yes- Centrifuge NO
Beverly, B&W Foto yes- Mechanical thing yes- But What is it ?
Jerry-- No mirrors this time-
Mike is the close-
Robert- NOT a military machine- but has assisted military machines
Terry- It does have wheels and runs on rails
Next clue-- You have to go EAST to go WEST and versa visa

I'm closest...if only I knew more about railroad operations. As for the "have to go east to go west and versa visa" - thanks very much, Scarecrow!

It *looks* like it belongs on a turntable...except it would be smack in the way of any loco (and tender, depending upon vintage) on such a turntable. The seeming absence of wheels/trucks has me stumped.

Third clue-- The wheels are covered but it does ride on rails- but not necessarily it's mode of motivation
You are welcome Grasshopper

It's an engine for the Panama Canal.

AAAAWWW GEEEWIZ I HAD TWO MORE CLUES
While working there are a lot of ups and downs
They have a lot of pull.

Eric- You got it.
1. They are called mules that operate on the lock walls of the Panama Canal
2. They assist Military ships, and all ships going thru the locks including Cunards Queens and the Princess line passenger ships.
3.The wheels are covered so any lines or wires will not get caught in them.
4. They are extremely heavy, and have tension winches on them to pull , guide, and hold steady, a vessel in the lock system.
5. The lay of the isthmis (SP) of Panama is such that if you are going from the Caribbean to the Pacific WESTERLY- You actually end up further east in the Pacific than when you started in the Caribbean.
6. It is a PUSHMEPULLYOU in a sense- The tension winches can pull a ship or let out slack so the opposite mule will pull in and keep ship in center of locks.
7. Up until recently the locomotives were built in the states- the most recent design is from Japan.
8. During it's short journey- on tracks, it rises on a sharp angle ( or lowers- depending which way the ship is going) and uses a central cog system between the rails, as the steel wheels would slip on such an incline.
9. Up until Jimmy Carter gave it away- the Canal Zone was concidered US territory under treaty made by Teddy.
10. I'll post a more modern picture once I've scanned it.
11. I must have made 15 passages through the canal, and it gets pretty hairy in the cuts and curves- especially where shipping companies want to build PANAMAX vessels.
Eric- I'll give you three points shortly.
Thanks for playing.
As Jerry is still out of the loop- Eric it's your turn.
Fred

Knocked myself off again- This is a more modern "Mule" locomotive

Sorry Fred,

You gave too many clues in the beginning but, thank you for the points, you had me stumped though last night. I'll have something posted after 6p.m. EDT, sorry for the delay but, at work and can't think of anything good right now, so people please be patient.

I was hoping the Queens and Princesesses would throw you all off!
I'll try posting picture of modern "mule" locomotive again.

It worked! That picture shows it going up the incline to the next lock- you can see why it's on a cog system. The wires are made fast to the ship and these mules provide most of the power pulling the ship thru the locks and keeping it centered.

If you knew my background you would know it was something shippy--
I checked that schpellenzgazuntite THRICE!!
Fred