Thanks for the responses!! I am not getting any lights or codes through the odbII system (other than a long standing egr flow code). Have not checked the underhood diagnostics yet.
I did drive it home and experienced the surging for myself, however. Pressing down the cruise into the off position did seem to change things for a split second, but then would start acting up again.
Changed the engine wiring harness a few months back which looked like complete crap. Wonder if the throttle actuator wiring is toast as described in this write up
http://www.benzworld.org/forums/w124-e-ce-d-td-class/1448549-how-rewire-m104-throttle-actuator.html
Does this sound like a logical next step? Luckily, mother-in-law was using our car for other reasons and this happened while it was here.
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‘84 300TD “Mountain Goat”
'62 300d Adenauer-350 Chevy

- "Max"
'15 VW Passat TDI
'16 Dodge Ram 3500 - Cummins w/6-speed
'68 Mustang fastback
'55 T-bird
‘63 Studebaker Hawk