Metro-North unveiled a secret weapon Thursday to fight the slippery leaves that come with fall.

The specialized pickup truck, on display at the White Plains train yard, is designed to clean the tracks and combat ?slip-slide?. Metro-North says ?slip-slide? is caused by the residue of crushed leaves and rain.

The pickup truck includes two converted lawn mower engines, steel brushes, rail wheels and the ability to go off the tracks.

?We can put this thing on at any point on the railroad, take care of the scrubbing and remove without a train crew, without the expense of tying up the track for quite a while,? Metro-North machinist Ron Graff says.

Metro-North says the residue makes the rails slippery, and in some cases, causes trains to make emergency stops. It says the pickup truck is efficient, quick and will help keep riders? commutes on time.

Metro-North currently has only one of the trucks in service. It says a second truck is being built and should be ready to go sometime next week.

To watch a demonstration of Metro-North's new cleaning truck, go to channel 612 on your iO digital cable box and select iO Extra.