THE BIG BLOW PT 2

 The APRR tested one of the UP's Big Blow gas-electric turbines for a brief period in the early 60's...

UP 10 rounds the curve as it rolls into town -or more exactly, screams!

The peace and quiet on County Lane is about to be shattered by UP 10!

The big turbine is pulling a hot eastbound reefer extra. The reefers on the head end are owned by Armour. The paint on the Big Blow is "Armour Yellow." A close match!

The train rolls past Hillsdale Yard and Hillsdale proper.

The people in that convertible are probably wishing they had earplugs  as the big GE passes by. They were nicknamed "Big Blows" for a reason: because the 8500hp turbine engines were just as loud as jet engines!

The fire engine won't be needed, as today UP 10 performed reliably. However, sometimes the turbines would catch fire, as they could get very hot. The story is told of one sitting underneath a bridge and the exhaust melted the asphalt!

While the railroad was impressed with the performance of the Big Blow, like the UP, it found that the noise levels were intolerable in populated areas -they were literally jet engines on rails! UP 10 was returned to the UP, and the APRR stayed with conventional diesels: EMD GP30's, GP35's and SD35's; ALCO C425's, and GE U25B's. As for the Big Blows, they only lasted about a decade, before high maintenance costs and the rising cost of the once-cheap bunker C fuel put them out of service by 1969, when they were traded-in on GE U50C's. Today, two still exist; UP 18, on display at the Illinois Railway Museum, and UP 26, on display at the Utah Railway Museum.

On a personal note, while I no longer collect 60's era equipment, I could not resist the Scale Trains model! And just like the real thing, this model will leave you with partial hearing loss if operated for too long in the basement!

THE BIG BLOW PT 1

 In 1960, a very interesting experiment took place on the APRR...

UP 10, one of the Union Pacific's GE "Big Blow" gas-electric turbines from their first order, sits in Hillsdale Yard. When the UP began taking delivery of the big units, the AP borrowed one for testing on its own trains -with 8500-hp, these beasts could pull any train you could throw at them!

The new crew prepares to board the engine. Little did they know the "noise show" the turbine engine would put on! Note the bell mounted behind the pilot; when the turbine was in action, it's doubtful that anyone heard the bell at grade crossings over the sound of the turbine.

The size of the A unit dwarfs the crew members.This unit houses accessories, control cab, and a small diesel engine for moving the set in yards, starting the turbine and for the dynamic brakes.

The Ford F100 also looks small next to the massive three-unit locomotive.

The B unit houses the turbine and main generator.

The 24,000 gal. fuel tender, rebuilt from a retired steam engine tender. Electric heaters keep the thick bunker C fuel fluid. 

Next week, UP 10 pulls a train!

EXTRA 1946 PT 2

 Last week saw the arrival of Extra 1947. Now a closer look at some of the manifest...

A going away shot of  SD40-2 1946, decorated to celebrate Athearn's 75th anniversary. (Personally, I think they should also do an anniversary scheme on their SD75M -75th/SD75M!)

Another look at the PROCOR tank cars; note the rust on the tops.

The HPJX boxcar, with patched reporting marks and lower body grime.

The GATX Airslide hopper. It, too, has patched reporting marks and underbody grime, as well as rust patches along the sides.

The final car, also has paint patches, and brings up the EOT marker.

EXTRA 1946 PT 1

 Extra 1946 is passing through Hillsdale...

Engine 1946 is an SD40-2, decorated for Athearn's 75th anniversary.

Behind MOW car X1068 is ADMX 28589, with some very interesting graffiti!

Next is a string of Procor tank cars.

The Procor logo is on a paint patch, as these cars have had their old markings painted over, and new ones applied.

Behind the Procors are several GATX cars.

The tank cars are followed by two boxcars, split by a GATX Airslide hopper.

The final car, CEFX 500589, has had the graffiti painted over along the bottom sides of the car.

Speaking of cars, next week we'll take a closer look at several of the cars in this train.