Union Pacific GTELs - First Generation

First Generation

Units 51 to 60 were delivered to Union Pacific between January 1952 and August 1953. These were essentially identical to the prototype except that they had cabs at only one end. The locomotive frame contained a 7,200-US-gallon (27,000 l) fuel tank.

These turbines were initially assigned to pull freights between Ogden, Utah and Green River, Wyoming, passing through Weber Canyon and Echo Canyon, Utah.

Fuel tenders were added behind the turbines in October 1955.These fuel tenders were added when the steam trains were retired during that time. The fuel tenders had a capacity of 24,000-US-gallon (91,000 l).

Addition of the fuel tenders extended the range of the turbines. They began to run eastward first to Cheyenne, Wyoming, then to Council Bluffs, Iowa

UP 53 was used to test an improved roof-mounted air intake, which proved successful, and locomotives 57-60 were equipped with this intake as built.

UP 57 was briefly converted to burn propane and was equipped with a pressurized tank car as a tender in May 1953. This fuel burned cleanly and didn't degrade the turbine blades as did Bunker "C" oil did but was more difficult to transport and there were safety concerns. The project ended in January 1954 and UP57 was converted back to Bunker C fuel. No other conversions were attempted.

UP 59 and 60 were used in an experimental 9000 hp double turbine pair, sharing a common fuel tender between them. Difficulties were encountered due to the trailing turbine flaming out in tunnels. Despite locomotive modifications to minimize these difficulties, the experiment was discontinued, in favor of running additional diesel locomotives with the turbines.

These turbines ran for appromatixely 10 years before they were being retired because of the Big Blows that replace them in June 1964.