UP's infamous coal turbine basks in the sun at Coucil Bluffs, Iowa. This locomotive operated from September 1962 through July 1963. It was operated between Council Bluffs, Iowa and North Platte, and then North Platte to Cheyenne, Wyoming. It appears to have accumulated about 12,000 road miles in that time. It was originally numbered 80, then renumbered 8080 to make room for a DD35 order.
This locomotive was designed to run on pulverized coal. The PA1 was modified as the control unit but also provided 2000 HP to the consist. The trailing unit was an ex Great Northern electric that was rebuilt to house the coal burning turbine that was supposedly rated at 5000 HP. The coal turbine had mechanical issues as well as other electrical issues. The tender carried 61 tons of coal as well as pulverizing equipment to feed the coal turbine.
It was just an experiment to see if it was feasible to operate a turbine directly with coal. Fuel oil was also used to see the outcome. Eventually, the unit was stored in Council Bluffs and cut up for scrap at the Omaha shops in 1968.
Photos of North America's favorite First Generation locomotives. EMD, ALCO, Baldwin; essentially anything that represents the OG wide cab diesel locomotive
