So from what I’ve been reading, UP ordered 8 of its GP30Bs with steam generators for passenger service. Were these ever actually used as such? If so, what did the consist look like, when/where was it used, and how long did it last?
And of course, are there any pictures?
I would love to hear more about this, as there are only vague references to it on the web.
Apparently use on secondary trains in a GP30/GP30B(/GP30B) consist. UP’s loss of RPO contracts in 1965 would have loosened up the E7/E8/E9 pool enough that the practice probably didn’t last very long. UP 732B-739B were the 8 S/G equipped units. At least some of the GP30s must have been equipped with boiler controls and signal lines.
According to Don Strack’s Utah Rails website, UP 727B-739B were all s/g equipped. I do remember seeing one of them in multiple with an E sometime in the late 1960’s.
Sadly, all the pictures I can find of these are from the 1970s and 80s. I wonder if there are any books with photos of these consists?
I recall seeing a mail train in Nebraska with one 30A and 2 30Bs but have no photos (dad was driving along Rt 30).