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Explain U.P.'s Gas Turbine locomotive's operation?
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[quote]QUOTE: <i>Originally posted by cwbash</i> <br /><br />What seems to be missing from this discussion is "why did UP drop using these turbines?" The data I got from the UP in 1958 (during the peak period of usage of the Veranda) was that they did an excellent job pulling trains. But, ... sitting in the yard at idle speed consumed 60% of the fuel that they did when running. But as mentioned above, using Bunker C fuel, which had to be kept hot, you couldn't very well shut them off unless connected to a steam supply, and the startup was not much fun. <br /> <br />So, basically, this turns out to be a great idea for an engine that you run all the time, but most engines spend significant time sitting in yards, or making short connection runs, and thus, the idea didn't really work. <br />[/quote] <br /> <br />The UP retired the turbines because of many facts. <br /> <br />Okay the turbine is thursty a turbine needs more than 100 % more fuel than a diesel consist with the same power and the same drag. But Bunker C was very cheap in the end 1950´s - one gallon Bunker C 2-3 cents against one gallon diesel fuel 9-12 cents. So the turbines are economic!!! <br />Than the Bunker C price climbs higher and higher and at last the turbine wasn´t longer economic. <br /> <br />In idlemode a turbine "drink" near 1.000 gallons Bunker C in one hour - At notch 20 (Turbines had 20 notch trottles) something about 2.000. So locomotive only yard movements were made with the ponydiesel - a270 hp Cummins in the 4500´s and a 800 hp Cooper-Bessemer in the 8500´s. <br /> <br />An other fact is that the turbines need a total overhaul after the ten years in service. An extreme expensive doing and with the high price for Bunker C not logical! <br /> <br />END OF THE LINE
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