Corners like it's on rails: Unimog dual-mode road-railer
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We here at Autoblog love the Mercedes Unimog, despite its decidedly low-speed nature. It has to do with all that versatility - whether it's running a front-mounted snowblower, spinning a mower deck, or hoisting a lift platform, the 'mog has a way to get the job done. It's like a four-wheeled version of the Leatherman multi-purpose tool. And now, it can get all of those jobs done on railroad tracks as well, as DCX has announced a production version of the Unimog Road-Railer at the Innotrans show in Berlin.
Thanks mainly to deep ratios in the eight-speed transmission (all accessible in forward or reverse), three-differential locking AWD system, and a torque converter with a stall torque ratio (STR) of 2.5:1, this Unimog can move railcar loads up to 1000 tons. For hooking and unhooking with a single operator, the Road-Railer also has a radio control system that allows the operator to run the vehicle forward and backward from outside the cab. A buffer frame allows hits from 300 ton objects at up to 5 km/h without damage, and also gives the ability to move liquid-filled tanker cars. Hydraulic lifting cylinders, plenty of tool storage, and an optional three-phase generator are said to combine with the Unimog's renowned all-terrain capabilities to make it ideal for accessing derailed train cars and getting them back on the tracks.
We don't know what we'd do with one of these, but we still want one.
[Source: Gizmag]
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Bullitt Mustang 10:36AM (9/21/2006)
These things are awesome, although I wouldn't have much use for one that rides on railroad tracks.
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phil 10:54AM (9/21/2006)
"Hosting a lift platform"
Nice job.
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Pedro 11:54AM (9/21/2006)
you could do anything you wanted with one.................. one can only dream!
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Michael Cicconi 12:56PM (9/21/2006)
Those are pretty common actually. I know that CN/CP rail, that's here in Canada, has Ford F-350s with custom chassis like this. I'm sure most rail companys do, for construction/repair jobs.
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Pacey 2:55PM (9/21/2006)
that's on seriously versitile vehicle
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Jim P. 3:28PM (9/21/2006)
A friend has one of these. It's an older one from the early 80's but damn, that thing is bullet proof. Plus the gearing on it is so low, we figured out that to drive it just across the front lawn in the lowest gear would take over 3 hours. You have to mark the tires just to see they are actually moving.
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gkz 5:34PM (9/21/2006)
german engineering just makes you smile sometimes, doesn't it
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Barney 11:11PM (9/22/2006)
$$$ but one versatile tool. You can put a Hiab, dump, snow plow and even run a Hydraulic chainsaw off it. They use these here to keep the roads clear on Mount Washington . They have used them with the winchs as a recovery vehicle as well. No highway speed though.
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