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GE steam turbine locomotives

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31: 669: 519: 592:, as well as specialized Bailey Meter Company equipment designed to automatically fire and regulate the boiler. Each boiler regularly operated at 920 °F (493 °C) and 1,500 pounds per square inch (10,000 kPa) to 1,600 pounds per square inch (11,000 kPa), a boiler pressure higher than that of any extant steam locomotive and much higher than contemporary conventional steam locomotives. The GE locomotives stored enough oil to give them an operating range of 500 miles (800 km) to 700 miles (1,100 km). 641:, where some (or most) braking is created by running the traction motors in reverse as generators, and then dissipating that electric power in resistors to produce heat. In this case, the heat was generated in the locomotive as opposed to the roof-top open-air coolers on most modern locomotives. The resistors were cooled by water from the steam loop, thus heating it. This allowed the braking energy to be recaptured into motive power, or as it is more typically known, offered 828: 582:", nose to tail. Fully loaded, each of the two locomotives weighed 548,000 pounds (249,000 kg). Each could produce 86,500 pounds-force (385,000 N) of starting tractive effort, and between 32,000 pounds-force (140,000 N) and 40,500 pounds-force (180,000 N) of continuous tractive effort, depending on the amount of cooling. 557:, which afforded greater visibility. The noses were significantly longer than those on the Pullman units, at 9 feet (2.7 m), which afforded safety for operating crews. In total, each unit measured 90 feet 10 inches (27.69 m) in length, 10 feet (3.0 m) in width (at the cab), and 15 feet 729:
During test runs, the locomotives displayed excellent acceleration and an ability to maintain schedules better than conventional steam engines, although they also had serious reliability problems and relatively high maintenance costs. On one occasion, the two locomotives failed while hauling a train
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1 and 2. According to UP historians William Kratville and Harold Ranks, the new locomotives were hoped to be the "replacement to steam" and the "successor of diesels". After completing test runs, UP put the locomotives on public display with tour trains, a national tour, and an inspection by
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While UP retained interest in the concept of steam turbine locomotives for the next two years, in December 1941 it decided to end its agreement with GE. Rail transport author Brian Solomon opines that this was due to the development of other types of locomotives, particularly the
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steam locomotive to pull them along with the rest of the train for the remainder of the journey. The locomotives worked on several routes in a variety of different capacities, including both passenger and perishable freight service, although they never entered regular
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GE had hoped to deliver a prototype steam turbine locomotive to UP in 1937, but none were completed until December 1938, and were delivered for testing in spring 1939. In total, the two prototype locomotives had taken almost two years to complete.
809:, the locomotives "were the most ambitious and technologically advanced locomotives to have traveled American rails to that point." UP historian Alfred Bruce described the design as "one of the most exceptional steam locomotives ever built". 411:, 90 feet 10 inches (27.69 m) in length, capable of producing 2,500 horsepower (1,900 kW), and reputedly able to attain speeds of 125 miles per hour (201 km/h). Stylistically, they resembled UP's 684:
The locomotives were in operation for six months, among the shortest operational careers in recorded railroading. After being completed in December 1938, they were first tested by GE at its
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The two locomotives were delivered to UP in April 1939, and they completed test runs and participated in a variety of publicity events for the railroad, including the grand opening of the
470:"power crunch" (a lack of sufficient locomotives to sustain regular operations) before being retired from service later that year. They were scrapped before the end of World War II. 790:, they provided satisfactory service for GN. By late 1943, the locomotives were retired from service and returned to GE. They were scrapped before the end of World War II. 660:. Although sold to UP together and promoted as a single 5,000-horsepower (3,700 kW) locomotive, the two units were capable of operation independently of each other. 656:
with a diameter of 44 inches (1,100 mm) and 36-inch (910 mm)-diameter guide and trailing wheels. Each also had a 2+C-C+2 wheel arrangement, or 4-6-0-0-6-4T in
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In June 1939, UP returned the locomotives to GE. By December 1941, the railroad had abandoned the project. In 1941, the GE steam turbine locomotives were tested by the
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claimed that each of the steam turbine locomotives could attain speeds of 125 miles per hour (201 km/h) and that they had twice a conventional steam locomotive's
1491: 486:-powered steam turbine-electric design that they termed a "steam-electric locomotive". To produce an altogether new type of locomotive, GE hoped to adapt mature 1090: 806: 766:
GE continued to work on its steam turbine locomotives after UP lost interest. In 1941, the New York Central tested them along its Water Level Route in
578:. The two units built for UP were streamlined and capable of producing 2,500 horsepower (1,900 kW), and had been designed to operate together " 1476: 1471: 1461: 952: 579: 786:. By that point, they had been repainted a dark gray, and renumbered GE-1 and GE-2. According to a number of sources, including 1466: 1247: 490:
technology from maritime and stationary applications for railroad use. Early GE specifications detailed a streamlined shape,
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wheel arrangement, and production of 2,500 horsepower (1,900 kW) and 81,000 pounds-force (360,000 N) of starting
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GE's new steam turbine locomotives featured streamlined bodies with an appearance somewhat similar to contemporary
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1,500 pounds per square inch (10,000 kPa)–1,600 pounds per square inch (11,000 kPa)
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for what UP president W. M. Jeffers called "necessary modification and/or reconstruction".
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The GE steam turbine locomotives were both the first turbine locomotives to be built in
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tracks between January and March 1939. They were then delivered to UP in April 1939 at
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Continuous: 32,000 pounds-force (140,000 N)–40,500 pounds-force (180,000 N)
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diesel streamliner designs. The GE locomotives had lightweight bodies consisting of
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generator powered auxiliary functions such as traction motor blowers and providing
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began in late 1936, when GE and the Union Pacific (UP) began collaborating on an
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touting the GE steam turbine locomotives' "firsts", including first
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UP steam turbine locomotives #1 and #2 have been reproduced in
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Out of Steam: Dieselization and American Railroads, 1920–1960
774:, in 1943 the steam turbine locomotives were operated by the 735: 535: 531: 770:. During the "power crunch" on American railroads caused by 696:, in time for the 70th anniversary of the completion of the 827: 716:
and were on display in Omaha for the world premier of
902:"A History of Union Pacific Dieselization, 1934–1982" 823: 743:; in June 1939, the railroad returned them to GE in 626:. The latter, which provided lighting, heating, and 1171:"Overland Models UP Steam Turbine Number 1 & 2" 998: 522:
A GE steam turbine locomotive on a test run in 1938
1199: 996: 994: 992: 990: 988: 986: 984: 982: 980: 978: 1067: 1065: 1063: 1061: 1059: 1057: 1055: 1053: 1051: 1049: 1019: 1017: 1015: 1013: 1011: 934: 932: 930: 928: 926: 924: 922: 858: 856: 1443: 802:as well as GE's only steam-powered locomotives. 712:. They were present at the grand opening of the 595:The turbines were designed to operate at 12,500 1492:Standard gauge locomotives of the United States 1235:GE and EMD Locomotives: The Illustrated History 1113: 975: 312:Starting: 86,500 pounds-force (385,000 N) 1046: 1008: 919: 853: 1293: 1084: 1082: 1080: 1036: 1034: 1032: 805:In the words of history professor and author 680:of two steam locomotives by a single engineer 954:The Railroad: The Life Story of a Technology 42:steam turbine locomotives, circa April 1939 1300: 1286: 1151: 1077: 1029: 393:General Electric steam turbine locomotives 210:90 feet 10 inches (27.69 m) 1091:"The Steam Turbines, After Union Pacific" 895: 893: 891: 478:Development of the General Electric (GE) 1133:"GE Steam Turbine On The Great Northern" 889: 887: 885: 883: 881: 879: 877: 875: 873: 871: 667: 517: 1256: 1231: 1197: 1157: 1119: 1071: 1040: 1023: 1002: 938: 862: 498:(the force generated by a locomotive's 1477:Steam locomotives of the United States 1472:Railway locomotives introduced in 1938 1444: 1088: 899: 1281: 1163: 950: 868: 734:to Omaha, necessitating a 2800-class 567: inch (4.591 m) in height. 944: 714:Los Angeles Union Passenger Terminal 502:in order to generate motion through 432:Los Angeles Union Passenger Terminal 753:4-8-8-4 "Big Boy" steam locomotives 13: 1462:Union Pacific Railroad locomotives 1330:American Locomotive Company (ALCO) 294:125 miles per hour (201 km/h) 14: 1503: 1363:Electro-Motive Division, GM (EMD) 407:(UP) in 1938. The two units were 826: 618:, while a three-phase, 220-volt 614:generator was used to power the 462:, and they were operated by the 302:2,500 horsepower (1,900 kW) 244:548,000 pounds (249,000 kg) 29: 1125: 698:first transcontinental railroad 1089:Strack, Don (April 16, 2011). 688:facility, then road tested on 453:conventional steam locomotives 1: 1409:4500 and 8500 hp Gas Turbines 1191: 842:Chesapeake and Ohio class M-1 473: 419:power units and contemporary 1467:General Electric locomotives 1226:GE steam turbine locomotive. 1198:Schramm, Jeffrey W. (2010). 900:Strack, Don (July 2, 2014). 663: 648:The locomotives also used a 637:Another notable feature was 585:Both of the locomotives had 541:, most of which was made of 24:GE steam turbine locomotives 7: 1263:. Osceola, Wisconsin: MBI. 819: 570:The February 1939 issue of 549:, similar to those of UP's 10: 1508: 1238:. Minneapolis, Minnesota: 959:Greenwood Publishing Group 421:Electro-Motive Corporation 1457:Steam turbine locomotives 1432: 1404:Steam turbine locomotives 1394: 1361: 1328: 1321: 1137:Big Bend Railroad History 816:form by Overland Models. 793: 545:. They also had elevated 513: 480:steam turbine locomotives 397:steam turbine locomotives 377: 367: 359: 349: 331: 326: 322: 306: 298: 290: 285: 281: 269: 259: 248: 240: 236: inch (4.591 m) 222: 214: 206: 196: 192:44 inches (1,100 mm) 185: 175: 144: 133: 122: 113: 108: 104: 90: 82: 74: 64: 56: 51: 47: 28: 23: 16:Steam turbine locomotives 1452:Experimental locomotives 951:Grant, H. Roger (2005). 847: 434:, the world premiere of 1257:Solomon, Brian (2000). 1232:Solomon, Brian (2014). 1208:Lehigh University Press 599:and were paired with a 572:General Electric Review 555:M-10003 through M-10006 444:, and an inspection by 417:M-10003 through M-10006 202:36 inches (910 mm) 181:36 inches (910 mm) 1260:Union Pacific Railroad 761:EMD FT freight diesels 681: 523: 1396:General Electric (GE) 784:Wenatchee, Washington 710:Franklin D. Roosevelt 671: 652:of 65:31, as well as 521: 449:Franklin D. Roosevelt 1487:Scrapped locomotives 643:regenerative braking 587:Babcock & Wilcox 534:frames covered with 218:10 feet (3.0 m) 1482:2+C-C+2 locomotives 466:in 1943 during the 286:Performance figures 1095:UtahRails.net Blog 807:Jeffrey W. Schramm 700:in May, and given 686:Erie, Pennsylvania 682: 678:multiple operation 590:water-tube boilers 576:thermal efficiency 524: 1439: 1438: 1338:9000 class 4-12-2 1249:978-0-7603-4612-9 605:reduction gearing 389: 388: 385: 384: 318: 317: 277: 276: 100: 99: 1499: 1302: 1295: 1288: 1279: 1278: 1274: 1253: 1228: 1205: 1186: 1185: 1183: 1181: 1167: 1161: 1155: 1149: 1148: 1146: 1144: 1129: 1123: 1117: 1111: 1110: 1108: 1106: 1097:. Archived from 1086: 1075: 1069: 1044: 1038: 1027: 1021: 1006: 1000: 973: 972: 948: 942: 936: 917: 916: 914: 912: 897: 866: 860: 836: 831: 830: 718:Cecil B. DeMille 690:New York Central 628:air conditioning 603:set with a 10:1 566: 565: 561: 460:New York Central 436:Cecil B. DeMille 401:General Electric 340:New York Central 324: 323: 283: 282: 235: 234: 230: 170: 166: 164: 163: 159: 156: 106: 105: 93: 78:General Electric 69:General Electric 49: 48: 40:General Electric 33: 21: 20: 1507: 1506: 1502: 1501: 1500: 1498: 1497: 1496: 1442: 1441: 1440: 1435: 1428: 1390: 1357: 1324: 1317: 1306: 1271: 1250: 1222: 1194: 1189: 1179: 1177: 1169: 1168: 1164: 1156: 1152: 1142: 1140: 1139:. March 7, 2016 1131: 1130: 1126: 1118: 1114: 1104: 1102: 1101:on May 30, 2015 1087: 1078: 1070: 1047: 1039: 1030: 1022: 1009: 1001: 976: 969: 961:. p. 109. 949: 945: 937: 920: 910: 908: 898: 869: 861: 854: 850: 832: 825: 822: 796: 788:The Streamliner 741:revenue service 694:Omaha, Nebraska 666: 616:traction motors 563: 559: 558: 516: 496:tractive effort 476: 372: 371:June 1939 (UP) 342: 338: 313: 308:Tractive effort 270:Boiler pressure 232: 228: 227: 168: 161: 157: 154: 152: 151:4 ft  150: 115: 91: 52:Type and origin 43: 17: 12: 11: 5: 1505: 1495: 1494: 1489: 1484: 1479: 1474: 1469: 1464: 1459: 1454: 1437: 1436: 1433: 1430: 1429: 1427: 1426: 1421: 1416: 1411: 1406: 1400: 1398: 1392: 1391: 1389: 1388: 1383: 1378: 1373: 1367: 1365: 1359: 1358: 1356: 1355: 1350: 1345: 1340: 1334: 1332: 1326: 1325: 1322: 1319: 1318: 1305: 1304: 1297: 1290: 1282: 1276: 1275: 1269: 1254: 1248: 1240:Voyageur Press 1229: 1220: 1193: 1190: 1188: 1187: 1175:RC/GrabBag.com 1162: 1150: 1124: 1112: 1076: 1045: 1028: 1007: 974: 967: 943: 918: 867: 851: 849: 846: 845: 844: 838: 837: 821: 818: 795: 792: 776:Great Northern 665: 662: 658:Whyte notation 654:driving wheels 639:dynamic brakes 632:passenger cars 624:head-end power 580:elephant style 515: 512: 504:tractive force 475: 472: 464:Great Northern 387: 386: 383: 382: 379: 375: 374: 369: 365: 364: 361: 357: 356: 351: 347: 346: 344:Great Northern 333: 329: 328: 320: 319: 316: 315: 310: 304: 303: 300: 296: 295: 292: 288: 287: 279: 278: 275: 274: 271: 267: 266: 263: 261:Head end power 257: 256: 253: 246: 245: 242: 238: 237: 224: 220: 219: 216: 212: 211: 208: 204: 203: 200: 194: 193: 190: 183: 182: 179: 173: 172: 148: 142: 141: 138: 131: 130: 127: 120: 119: 116: 114:Configuration: 111: 110: 109:Specifications 102: 101: 98: 97: 94: 92:Total produced 88: 87: 84: 80: 79: 76: 72: 71: 66: 62: 61: 58: 54: 53: 45: 44: 34: 26: 25: 15: 9: 6: 4: 3: 2: 1504: 1493: 1490: 1488: 1485: 1483: 1480: 1478: 1475: 1473: 1470: 1468: 1465: 1463: 1460: 1458: 1455: 1453: 1450: 1449: 1447: 1431: 1425: 1422: 1420: 1417: 1415: 1412: 1410: 1407: 1405: 1402: 1401: 1399: 1397: 1393: 1387: 1384: 1382: 1379: 1377: 1374: 1372: 1369: 1368: 1366: 1364: 1360: 1354: 1351: 1349: 1346: 1344: 1341: 1339: 1336: 1335: 1333: 1331: 1327: 1320: 1315: 1314:Union Pacific 1311: 1303: 1298: 1296: 1291: 1289: 1284: 1283: 1280: 1272: 1270:0-7603-0756-3 1266: 1262: 1261: 1255: 1251: 1245: 1241: 1237: 1236: 1230: 1227: 1223: 1221:9780982131374 1217: 1213: 1209: 1204: 1203: 1196: 1195: 1176: 1172: 1166: 1159: 1154: 1138: 1134: 1128: 1121: 1116: 1100: 1096: 1092: 1085: 1083: 1081: 1073: 1068: 1066: 1064: 1062: 1060: 1058: 1056: 1054: 1052: 1050: 1043:, p. 235 1042: 1037: 1035: 1033: 1025: 1020: 1018: 1016: 1014: 1012: 1005:, p. 123 1004: 999: 997: 995: 993: 991: 989: 987: 985: 983: 981: 979: 970: 968:9780313330797 964: 960: 956: 955: 947: 940: 935: 933: 931: 929: 927: 925: 923: 907: 906:UtahRails.net 903: 896: 894: 892: 890: 888: 886: 884: 882: 880: 878: 876: 874: 872: 864: 859: 857: 852: 843: 840: 839: 835: 834:Trains portal 829: 824: 817: 815: 810: 808: 803: 801: 800:North America 791: 789: 785: 781: 777: 773: 769: 764: 762: 758: 754: 748: 746: 742: 737: 733: 727: 726:on April 28. 725: 724: 723:Union Pacific 719: 715: 711: 708: 703: 699: 695: 691: 687: 679: 675: 672:A circa-1939 670: 661: 659: 655: 651: 646: 644: 640: 635: 633: 629: 625: 621: 617: 613: 610: 606: 602: 598: 593: 591: 588: 583: 581: 577: 573: 568: 556: 552: 548: 544: 540: 537: 533: 529: 520: 511: 507: 505: 501: 497: 493: 489: 488:steam turbine 485: 481: 471: 469: 465: 461: 456: 454: 450: 447: 443: 442: 441:Union Pacific 437: 433: 428: 426: 422: 418: 414: 410: 406: 405:Union Pacific 402: 398: 394: 381:Both scrapped 380: 376: 370: 366: 362: 358: 355: 354:United States 352: 348: 345: 341: 337: 336:Union Pacific 334: 330: 325: 321: 311: 309: 305: 301: 297: 293: 291:Maximum speed 289: 284: 280: 272: 268: 264: 262: 258: 254: 251: 247: 243: 239: 226:15 feet 225: 221: 217: 213: 209: 205: 201: 199: 198:Trailing dia. 195: 191: 188: 184: 180: 178: 174: 169:1,435 mm 149: 147: 143: 139: 137: 134: •  132: 128: 126: 123: •  121: 117: 112: 107: 103: 95: 89: 85: 81: 77: 73: 70: 67: 63: 60:Steam turbine 59: 55: 50: 46: 41: 37: 36:Union Pacific 32: 27: 22: 19: 1403: 1259: 1234: 1225: 1201: 1178:. Retrieved 1174: 1165: 1160:, back cover 1158:Schramm 2010 1153: 1141:. Retrieved 1136: 1127: 1122:, back cover 1120:Solomon 2014 1115: 1103:. Retrieved 1099:the original 1094: 1074:, p. 62 1072:Solomon 2014 1041:Schramm 2010 1026:, p. 61 1024:Solomon 2014 1003:Solomon 2000 953: 946: 941:, p. 60 939:Solomon 2014 909:. Retrieved 905: 865:, p. 59 863:Solomon 2014 811: 804: 797: 787: 772:World War II 765: 749: 728: 721: 702:road numbers 683: 647: 636: 594: 584: 571: 569: 525: 508: 477: 468:World War II 457: 439: 429: 392: 390: 299:Power output 177:Leading dia. 129:4-6-0+0-6-4T 18: 1310:locomotives 1143:February 6, 757:EMD E-units 539:sheet metal 500:prime mover 409:streamlined 378:Disposition 241:Loco weight 1446:Categories 1343:Challenger 1210:. p.  1192:References 650:gear ratio 553:-designed 474:Background 415:-designed 363:April 1939 83:Build date 57:Power type 707:President 664:Operation 607:. A twin- 601:generator 446:President 427:designs. 403:(GE) for 399:built by 395:were two 373:1943 (GN) 368:Withdrawn 360:Delivered 332:Operators 1424:AC6000CW 1316:Railroad 820:See also 778:between 768:New York 732:Colorado 720:'s film 674:postcard 609:armature 543:aluminum 438:'s film 165: in 118:​ 65:Designer 1386:SD90MAC 1348:Big Boy 1312:of the 1180:May 21, 1105:May 21, 911:May 21, 780:Spokane 745:Chicago 736:Pacific 562:⁄ 551:Pullman 536:riveted 492:2+C-C+2 413:Pullman 231:⁄ 160:⁄ 140:2+C-C+2 75:Builder 1434:  1381:DDA40X 1323:  1308:Giant 1267:  1246:  1218:  965:  794:Legacy 759:, and 514:Design 425:diesel 423:(EMC) 350:Locale 327:Career 255:12,500 223:Height 207:Length 187:Driver 1376:DD35A 848:Notes 814:model 730:from 532:steel 252:range 215:Width 146:Gauge 125:Whyte 1419:U50C 1371:DD35 1353:C855 1265:ISBN 1244:ISBN 1216:ISBN 1182:2015 1145:2022 1107:2015 963:ISBN 913:2015 782:and 547:cabs 391:The 189:dia. 86:1938 1414:U50 1212:235 630:to 597:rpm 528:EMC 506:). 484:oil 265:Yes 250:RPM 136:AAR 38:'s 1448:: 1242:. 1224:. 1214:. 1206:. 1173:. 1135:. 1093:. 1079:^ 1048:^ 1031:^ 1010:^ 977:^ 957:. 921:^ 904:. 870:^ 855:^ 755:, 645:. 620:AC 612:DC 1301:e 1294:t 1287:v 1273:. 1252:. 1184:. 1147:. 1109:. 971:. 915:. 564:4 560:3 233:4 229:3 171:) 167:( 162:2 158:1 155:+ 153:8 96:2

Index

Union Pacific's General Electric steam turbine locomotives, circa April 1939
Union Pacific
General Electric
General Electric
Whyte
AAR
Gauge
Leading dia.
Driver
Trailing dia.
RPM
Head end power
Tractive effort
Union Pacific
New York Central
Great Northern
United States
steam turbine locomotives
General Electric
Union Pacific
streamlined
Pullman
M-10003 through M-10006
Electro-Motive Corporation
diesel
Los Angeles Union Passenger Terminal
Cecil B. DeMille
Union Pacific
President
Franklin D. Roosevelt

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