They Didn't Ask Me (dr_phil_physics) wrote,
They Didn't Ask Me
dr_phil_physics
  • Mood: nostalgic

Quick Blasts From The Past

I was talking with a student after class today and the conversation turned to jet aircraft, turbine engines and eventually to the Union Pacific Railroad's attempts at making giant turbine powered locomotives. Under the heading of Dubious Achievements, one has to remember UP 8080, a "coal turbine locomotive". Yup. I said "coal". As in, coal was ground up to dust and fed into an 8500 h.p. gas turbine engine. Wikipedia has a nice article on the UP efforts and the disastrous coal turbine. (grin)




The ill-fated UP 80, renumbered to 8080, made from a Alco PA-2 diesel locomotive, a Great Northern GE W-1 electric locomotive and a Centipede tender -- and that's just the running gear and carbodies!



Of Course I Grew Up On The Northeast Corridor Of The 60s and 70s

And for my turbine engine train thrills I was partial to the United Aircraft TurboTrain.


I rode the Canadian National/VIA Rail Canada TurboTrain once between Toronto and Montreal in 1978.

Also the Amtrak TurboTrain from Penn Station to Boston and Boston to Providence RI in 1973(?), the Amtrak RTG Turboliner from Chicago to Battle Creek MI in 1977 and the Amtrak Rohr Turboliner from Grand Central Terminal to Albany NY and back around 1977.

Dr. Phil
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