DE6 Slug
The DE6 slug is a rail vehicle equipped with traction motors, but with no prime mover (engine), cab, or controls. It uses the same basic frame as the DE6. It was added as part of build 96.
It does not generate power on its own; rather, it distributes power from another locomotive to its six traction motors. It is used to provide additional traction and therefore increase the pulling power of the locomotive it's coupled to. In effect, the locomotive can tolerate higher throttle settings before wheelslip sets in, making the slug useful for pulling loads uphill that the locomotive theoretically has the power to pull but in practice fails due to wheelslip.
It is equipped with dynamic brakes.
When using the slug, it needs to be coupled directly to a compatible locomotive via a MU cable. You cannot have any incompatible locomotives, or railcars in-between. There is no theoretical limit to how many slugs a locomotive can operate and power. It is not compatible with any locomotives other than the DE6, DE2 and other Slugs.
To unlock the slug, Steve's Garage Key is needed. It costs $20,000 to purchase and is available in a Shop in Harbor. The garage is located on the long siding off the Harbor, or the farthest South East track on the map on the end. You will need a locomotive to take it out of its garage or use the "Work Train" option on the comms radio to spawn it where you are for $5,000 after you have unlocked it and it has a spawn limit of 1. Note that, as of build 96, the track leading to Steve's Garage has the steepest grade of any section of track in the game (5.5%).
The slug uses the same model as the DE6, thus all DE6 skins are compatible with the slug (some may not be perfect)
By using the slug, the load rating increases to 390t on the DE2, and 2180t on the DE6 due to lower motor heating which allows higher average throttle.
Power draw from compatible Locomotives:
- DE2: 75%
- DE6: 50%
Regarding the use of multiple slugs (which is only possible in sandbox mode):
- While a DE can power an infinite amount of slugs, every slug will reduce power output of the mother loco
- A slug paired to another slug will draw from that slug's mother locomotive
- When operating multiple slugs, the power output from the mother locomotive is distributed between all the slugs