Ok. Another question. I know all about the turbines and they are also my favorite Locos of all time. the only thing I dont know is if any where preserved. Also, does anyone think it would be great to see a UP turbine in operation again just for excursions or special services or whatever?
I know they where a maintenece headache and I know they are not cheap to run but I think it would be great to see one in action again just on special occasions.
I don’t know if it will ever happen, but that shure would be awsome !!! I am not old enough to have seen them in operation, but I’ve always wondered what it would be like to se one of those up close polling a freight uphill in run 8.
Chad [:D]
I agree. [:p]
I have the Pentrex tape with them on it. I bet they were loud. Yes, it would be neat to see one run again even if it was only for an excursion every now and then. [;)]
I believe they were all scrapped, but I could be wrong… happened before.
Guys,
Certainly, the great majority of the GE turbines were scrapped, since their trucks were used under the GE U50 locomotives, the U50s getting the B-B+B-B trucks from the single unit turbines and the U50Cs each getting the trucks from one half of the two unit turbines. However, I thought that at least one set of the two unit turbines lasted for some time after the most were scrapped (about the time the U50Cs appeared). Whether these remain, and made it into a museum, I don’t know.
Peter
Now that I think about it there is (was) one in the museum in Ogden Utah. I have pictures of it in my collection. I wish I could post them but I can’t. It was under a train shed at the Ogden Union Station along with a DD40AX and a GP9 If I remember right.
Oh guys, I have a little tidbit of info for you. There is one turbine left that I know of and thats in a museum in Ogden Ut., at the west base of Sherman Hill. I think that it’s a BB+BB config. Either a smooth side or a veranda
Ogden is at the base of Weber Canyon, not Sehrman. Sherman is between Laramie and Cheyan (that’s pronounced SHeeeeeeeeeeeeAYnnnnnnnnn) in that Wyoming Territory.
The Big Blow´s - Super Turbines - 8500 GTEL´s are my favorite locomotive.
Two Super Turbines - 8500 GTEL - are preserved: 16 and 26
No. 16 is in Union Ill. 16 was sold to Nielsen Enterprises, Ogden, Utah in August 1971, then resold to Continental Leasing Group; sold to G. F. Bean Co., New Orleans, La, in 1975. Stored on UP in Salt Lake City, Utah until moved to Kansas City on 29 March 1979; donated to Illinois Railway Museum, Union, Ill.
No. 26 is in Ogden. 26 was sold to Continental Leasing Group, 15 September 1971, shipped to Intercontinental Engineering Co., Riverside, Mo.; donated to Ogden Union Station Museum, Ogden, Utah in July 1987.
All other Turbines (4500 GTEL Standards No. 51 - 60 and 4500 GTEL Verandas No. 61 - 75) were scrapped. The two axle trucks were then used under U50´s.
To see one of this back on the tracks would be great !!!
BTW - I think the two auxilary tenders behind UP 844 and 3985 are former Turbine tenders !!!
[tup][wow][wow]
Bringing back a Super Turbine back to life would be impossible because the turbines are in the baddest possible condition - because of the high fuel consumption and the bad turbine condition the Big Blows were retired between 1969 to 1971 - and a new one will be to expensive.
Yes, the aux tender behind 3985 is from a Turbine, although it was from a older steam locomotive before that.
Ed
The turbines sounded the same in any notch above Idle since they always ran at full speed regardless of throttle setting.
There are about 10 turbines preserved. I saw 1 in operation on Sherman Hill in around 1960 or so…They were loud and were hated by shop crews as much as they were loud. It would be neat to see one operate again. Since they were early GEs…woulden’t they have a 16 notch throttle? They would also be expensive to run because of the #6 fuel oil or Bunker C. It is what asphaut is made with.
The one in Ogden is like the 2 unit kind with 8,500 horsepower. Also there are ones all over the United States.
I saw the turbines twice,as a child.When I saw the first one,I didn’t know what it was.It made a strange whooshing sound,and had a tender.I found out later through an article in Trains.I saw the second turbine knowing what it was.[:)]
It would be awsome seeing one run again,but it will never happen for a variety of reasons.
Sorry guys,
Only 2 Big Blows are preserved! When A.J. Wolff in his book about UP´s turbines - Whiters Publishing - 2001 - is right, and I think so!
The #18 (sorry, wrote 16 before) in Union, Ill. and the #26 in Ogden, Utah. That´s all !!!
In Don Stracks roster also the 14 an the 16 were donated for Union but there is only one or I need new glasses!
And the 8 axle B+B-B+B´s are all scapped - 100 % sure, UP scrapped all car bodies at Omaha and Cheyenne. Trucks and bolsters are used under U25B,U50 and under the ALCO C855´s !
Details:
Standard´s: (#51 - 60)
The truck assemblies from UP 51-56 were reconditioned by UP at Omaha in 1962 and shipped to GE-Erie for use on U25Bs; the car bodies were scrapped by UP at Omaha and Cheyenne.
The truck and bolster assemblies from UP 57-60 were reconditioned by UP at Omaha in 1963 and 1964 and shipped to GE-Erie for use on the U50s; the car bodies were scrapped by UP at Omaha and Cheyenne.
Veranda´s: (#61 - 75)
The truck and bolster assemblies from UP 61-68, 71-73, 75 (12 units) were reconditioned by UP at Omaha in 1963 and 1964 and shipped to GE-Erie for use on the U50s. The car bodies were scrapped by UP at Omaha and Cheyenne.
The truck and bolster assemblies from UP 69, 70, and 74 (three units) were reconditioned by UP at Omaha in 1964 and shipped to Alco-Schenectady for use on the C855s. The car bodies were scrapped by UP at Omaha and Cheyenne.
Ulrich,
Don’t worry, I believe you!
Another question comes to mind. There were 26 single unit Turbines, 50-75 including the unsold prototype, and 26 U50s were built for UP and SP, so by definition no single unit Turbines still have their span bolsters. Presumably other standard AAR Type B trucks replaced those used under UP U25s. So did UP sell two sets of trucks to SP?
There were 30 two unit turbines and 40 U50C units, so enough trucks for ten two unit Turbines remained. Two of these are preserved.
But only Twin Unit turbines could still exist in complete form.
Peter
Hi Peter,
I think they sell them not!!
But it´s a good question!
When Don Strack is right the spanbolstersets of 19 B+B -B+B 4.500 hp turbines (4 Standard) and all 15 Veranda´s) were used for new U50´s , so 4 U50 became new trucks.
The U25B´s are built at the same time as the U50´s.
Ulrich,
While the actual trucks from the turbines might not have been used (they were standard trucks) the span bolsters would probably have been used, because they weren’t needed under the U25s, and they wouldn’t have been scrapped, and then new items to the same design built.
If UP traded the whole Turbine back to GE, GE might have taken only the parts they needed, and let UP sell the remainder for scrap!
But I would be surprised if new span bolsters were built for the SP U50s while UP scrapped theirs!
Peter
Having witnessed turbines in operation and listened to the high pitched whine, I am sure crews didn’t miss them when they were retired. They were impressive to watch especially as they crossed Wyoming with solid fruit blocks. Remember seeing one leaving Cheyenne and as it passed under the street overpass must have fried a couple of dozen pigeons as it was raining dead birds for what seemed a couple of minutes after it passed. The UP mainline across wyoming before Interstate 80 was completed alongside old U.S. 30 was a trainwatchers paradise. Have seen the one at Ogden depot brings back many fond memories of when they were operational.
I looked in my best book about UP´s Turbines - written by A.J. Wolff, published in 2001 - yesterday.
He wrote also that the trucks of the 10 standard turbines were used under U25B´s and U50´s.
Spanbolster / truck sets from 12 retired Verandas were used under U50´s and the truck / spanbolster sets of the remaining three Verandas were used under the three Alco C855´s !!!
Possible that GE took the spanbolsters that were without trucks and add new trucks to them.
When I count right the UP became 26 8 axle spanbolster equipped locomotives when the 4500 hp were retired - 23 U50 and 3 Alco C855. Add the three SP´s and you will find out that GE must built new spanbolster so or so!