10-20 Series

SW Road Slug

Road Slug use was not common on the Florida & Gulf Industries (FGI) AFG-FGC system until the Alabama Midland RR (AMRR) joined the fold in 2018. Due to the light branches and slow speeds on much of the Georgia-Alabama Grain Unit lines, AMRR used road slugs reduced wear on branches and allowed consistent movement of large heavy cuts of cars on the lines. As the FGC and AMRR rosters blended and mixed over the new combined system, AMRR slugs were tested on the FGC, and found to be perfect for heavy switching assignments across the system. As a result, FGI worked with Stephens Railcar to standardize the configuration to make motive power assignments easier across the FGC system.

FGI decided to utilize three damaged former ex-NdeM SW1504 cores for road slug service on the FGC side. These units were purchased from HELM Leasing (HLCX) several years ago as a group of six units. Unfortunately, the CSXT train that was transferring the units from New Orleans derailed in Century, FL and wrecked damaged all six units with several having severe cab damage. The derailment was cleaned up, the six FGC bound units were towed to the FGC Terminal at Pensacola, FL and stored pending assessment. One unit was promptly repaired and placed in FGC service. Two more were rebuilt into SW1504E units with new cab, main electrical cabinet, and enhanced radiator system at BAYL heavy shops in Panama, City (now the repair location for the FGI system). The three severely damaged units donated their primemovers for the rebuilds, with one held as a spare. The cores were parked behind the shop and languished for years.

Two of the three wrecked SW1504 units used for parts sit in the back area of the BAYL Panama City, FL in 2019. A total of six of the SW1504 units were purchased from the failed GWI southern Mexico operation. The units were wrecked on CSX during transport from MX to the FGC. These units would eventually be used to create the FGC SWSLUG units listed here. Hank Stephens photo–Panama City, FL circa 2019

The remaining three wrecks were pulled in 2022 for conversion into SWSLUGS at the Panama City, FL shops. With the FGC adoption of slug operations, these units were rebuilt to work with a number of FGC and AMRR locomotives, including the SW1504E, GP40-2, MP15AC and GP38-2L units. These slugs could run in road or heavy switching service depending on the type of leader used.

Three additional ex BS, BSRR SW1500s were pulled from the AMRR roster for conversion in 2025, slated to be paired with BSRR MP15AC units and assigned to FGC-AFG operations.

Road NumberNumber
Of Units		Paint SchemeNotes
VSRR
10
FGC
11-12		3Sunburst
Standard
Scheme		exx-NdeM, ex-HLCX; Acquired 1/2016; These units
heavily damaged in derailment on CSXT in Century, FL while in transit to FGC at Pensacola. units stored HBO at Tallahassee, FL and stripped for parts; sent to Stephens Railcar for conversion into SW Road Slugs; units in service paired with GP40-2 and SW1500s; Unit #10 transferred to VSRR and mated to VSRR SW1500.
AFG
13-15		3Sunburst
Standard
Scheme		exx-BS, ex-BSRR: cores at Stephens Railcar.
stripped and rebuilt to SW Road Slugs 2025
for use on AFG lines