There isn’t much information about Union Pacific’s Steam Electric Turbines from the 30’s. If there is, I can’t find it. Any one care to spare some information? Or websites? Or something?
[8]TrainFreak409[8]
This is what I found
http://www.northeast.railfan.net/turbines.html
http://www.steamlocomotive.com/turbine/
http://www.dself.dsl.pipex.com/MUSEUM/LOCOLOCO/upturb/upturb.htm
TrainFreak409,
Page 393 of George H. Drury’s “Guide to North American Steam Locomotives,” 1993, Kalmbach Books, ISBN 0-89024-206-2, has a photo and a blurb on the GE built, UP steam-turbine-electric locomotives. As the text notes, “The units were painted and lettered for Union Pacific and looked like a cross between UP’s City of Denver diesels and the streamlined electric locomotives GE built that same year for the New Haven.” You might want to add this book to your personal library or see if your local public library can get it on Inter Library Loan.
Bob
NMRA Life 0543
The steam turbine was considered a failure after 10 or so months of service with numorous mechanical problems and returned to GE. I beleive there was only one made. It was used in passenger service.
There were actually two made. That is the extent of my knowledge.
Thanks all
[8]TrainFreak409[8]
The turbine program also wasn’t in the 30’s it was the early 50’s. It was definitely post World War Two.
Sorry, but you are thinking about the large surge of UP GTEL’s, #80, the M-1, S2, and Jawn Henry. The UP Steam Turbines were 1938.
[:D]I had to go out and buy A Guide to North American Steam Loco’s, and I found a Extra 2200 South, with a complete turbine roster![:D]
[8]TrainFreak409[8]
the UP STEAM turbines # 1 and #2 were build in december 1938 and returned to GE on June 17, 1939 due to serious reliability problems, despite continual modification as a result UP terminated interest in the project in december 1941. the units were never employed in regular pool service on Union Pacific they did find limited operational succes on the Great Nothern Railway during wartime motive power shortages. GN returned them to GE at the end of 1943 and they were scrapped.
the UP turbine story: Union Pacifics Turbine era by A.J.Wolf ISBN 1-881411-30-3
The current issue of Classic Trains has the cover story on steam turbines and includes the GE turbines from the 30’s that operated in UP colors on the UP.