Slug

Slug, also known as DE6-860S, is a work train used to enhance the tractive effort of electric and diesel-electric vehicles. It needs to be unlocked first in order to become available to the driver. To unlock it, the driver must buy a key to a special garage in one of the shops, find the garage and open it.

Once unlocked, the slug can be towed or summoned using the comms radio for a fee, depending on the session difficulty settings. The slug receives damage and needs to be manually serviced.

Slugs are repurposed diesel-electric locomotives that no longer have a diesel engine and a cab. They are filled with concrete, in order to retain a high tractive effort with their still functioning traction motors.

Slug’s purpose is to enhance traction of an existing electric or a diesel-electric vehicle, by offloading its power output to a higher number of powered axles. To use the slug, the driver needs to connect it via MU cable to another vehicle. The connected vehicle will distribute power between its own and the slug’s traction motors. This increase in traction makes it possible to output more power without wheelslipping, making slugs most useful when dealing with wet conditions and situations where high power output is needed, such as when shunting heavy trains or overcoming steep grades.