Here's the cab end of Herzog Rail Services #1730, one of the company's distinctive Multiple Purpose Machines, or MPM. The cab allows the operator to move the complete unit while controlling the power car on the opposite end.

The unit's articulating arm is stored behind the cab on the end car, which is articulated to the well cars behind it..

The articulating arm unit can move across the tops of the well cars on a pair of rails, and can be used to pick up debris, drop off ties, etc. It can reach out up to 25 feet from track center.

The unit was parked at Troutdale, Ore. between runs along the UP Portland Sub.

In the background, a Union Pacific potash train is just coming off the Sandy River bridge on its way to the Port of Portland's Terminal 5.

The Canpotex unit trains originate on Canadian Pacific and are interchanged at Eastport, Idaho. Today's power was a UP SD9043MAC and a CP AC4400CW.

Photographed by Thomas McCann, April 10, 2010.
Added to the photo archive by Thomas McCann, April 11, 2010.
Railroad: Herzog.

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