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
704:
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
750:
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
738:
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
509:
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
430:
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
458:
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
574:
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,
494:
wheel arrangement, and production of 2,500 horsepower (1,900 kW) and 81,000 pounds-force (360,000 N) of starting
1299:
1132:
1456:
1451:
1268:
1219:
1098:
966:
608:
526:
GE's new steam turbine locomotives featured streamlined bodies with an appearance somewhat similar to contemporary
697:
1481:
706:
445:
1170:
668:
1486:
841:
775:
463:
343:
638:
1329:
713:
431:
30:
958:
901:
527:
424:
420:
689:
491:
459:
339:
1342:
1337:
813:
499:
479:
455:, they were also unreliable and expensive to maintain. They never entered regular revenue service.
396:
1277:
451:. While the locomotives displayed excellent acceleration and could maintain schedules better than
1292:
1207:
1211:
1313:
596:
404:
335:
249:
35:
1362:
1347:
783:
763:, as well as a potential personnel change in the railroad's motive power department in 1939.
752:
709:
448:
273:
1,500 pounds per square inch (10,000 kPa)–1,600 pounds per square inch (11,000 kPa)
135:
518:
747:
for what UP president W. M. Jeffers called "necessary modification and/or reconstruction".
722:
631:
440:
8:
1408:
779:
619:
586:
798:
The GE steam turbine locomotives were both the first turbine locomotives to be built in
1285:
1200:
692:
tracks between
January and March 1939. They were then delivered to UP in April 1939 at
685:
642:
600:
575:
554:
416:
1264:
1243:
1215:
962:
740:
604:
589:
314:
Continuous: 32,000 pounds-force (140,000 N)–40,500 pounds-force (180,000 N)
530:
diesel streamliner designs. The GE locomotives had lightweight bodies consisting of
1395:
1352:
767:
717:
627:
622:
generator powered auxiliary functions such as traction motor blowers and providing
550:
546:
452:
435:
412:
400:
68:
39:
1258:
1233:
693:
495:
482:
began in late 1936, when GE and the Union
Pacific (UP) began collaborating on an
307:
1239:
701:
657:
623:
615:
611:
503:
260:
197:
124:
1445:
833:
799:
677:
653:
487:
353:
186:
176:
771:
467:
1423:
1385:
538:
408:
145:
1380:
1309:
756:
649:
1375:
634:, was unusual in 1939 and would not become standard until the 1970s.
676:
touting the GE steam turbine locomotives' "firsts", including first
1370:
1307:
731:
673:
542:
483:
1418:
744:
1413:
812:
UP steam turbine locomotives #1 and #2 have been reproduced in
760:
1202:
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:
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1416:
1411:
1406:
1400:
1398:
1392:
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1365:
1359:
1358:
1356:
1355:
1350:
1345:
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1326:
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1319:
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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:
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1159:
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1128:
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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:
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993:
991:
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987:
985:
983:
981:
979:
970:
968:9780313330797
964:
960:
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940:
935:
933:
931:
929:
927:
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923:
907:
906:UtahRails.net
903:
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864:
859:
857:
852:
843:
840:
839:
835:
834:Trains portal
829:
824:
817:
815:
810:
808:
803:
801:
800:North America
791:
789:
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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:
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73:
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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
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