double heading of UP turbines and steam

[steamrules]

I have found a picture showing a Verandah turbine double heading with a Big Boy that is directly behind the turbine tender. I gather this was not normal as the Big Boy crew would have be deafend by the turbine.

Does anyone know if this was a common proceedure where the Big Boy and Challenger locos were directly behind the turbines and not at the rear of the train. I would like to replicate this on my layout using my HO scale Athearn turbines and steam locos for something a bit different as a discusion point.

I find from Australia that the research has been limited to the internet and some odd videos I have located to date, but have only found a couple of pictures to date. Any help would be appreciated as I have not seen any layout videos replicating this double heading.

 

David

["JaBear"]

Gidday David,  to the Forum.

 

Until someone with actual knowledge replies, have a read here, while it’s about U50 locomotives and turbines, one reply specifically refers to Turbines double heading with Big Boys and Challengers.

 

https://cs.trains.com/trn/f/741/p/214136/2349931.aspx

 

Cheers, the Bear.

[steamrules]

Hi Bear,

Thanks for the info. I have seen numerouearly diesels and the U50's as well as a couple of videos where the Challenger was at the rear of the train but it will be much easier to have the locos at the front  of the train considering the changes of grade and my 30" radius.

Thanks again

 

cheers

David

["JaBear"]

Gidday David, as no one more knowledgeable has chipped in, I’ll add the following.

Are you aware of this footage? It shows the UPs first series of turbines double heading with steam.

 

 

 

Now I know that you where specifically enquiring regarding the “Veranda Turbines”, and would suggest that they double headed in the same manner. On one of the photos taken, from a slide with no description, of a “Veranda” and a Big Boy, the poster surmised that the reason that why there were not that much photographic documentation was that there was only about a 2 year period between the introduction of the “Verandas” and the withdrawal from service of the Big Boys.

 

So, while it may have been rare, it did happen.

 

Cheers, the Bear.

[steamrules]

Thank you for that great info. I will have no problems justifying double heading of my steamers with the turbines. I am very surprised that there is no model layouts on youtube runing this style of operation considering the vast numbers of modellers who run Union Pacific on larger layouts, particularly in the steam to diesel transition period. I should have the layout running again by Christmas in the new room and will post a couple of videos on youtube for some fun.

 

cheers

 

David

[Steven Otte]

Another possibility is, depending on which locomotive was in front, the other one might have been dead-heading to be serviced. Newly built locomotives were also generally delivered to their new home yards in tow, not under their own power.

[thomas81z]

steamrules

Hi Bear,

Thanks for the info. I have seen numerouearly diesels and the U50's as well as a couple of videos where the Challenger was at the rear of the train but it will be much easier to have the locos at the front  of the train considering the changes of grade and my 30" radius.

Thanks again

 

cheers

David

 

the reason the turbines was infront of steam was they didnt want coal ash from the steamer to be ingested by the turbine

[steamrules]

Hi Steven,

Thanks for that. So far all the pictures and videos are showing the turbine leading and the Challenger or Big Boy clearly in steam behind. I have seen other videos several years ago where the steamer was at the rear of the train in front of the caboose where I am sure most crews would have prefered to be away from ther noise of the turbine.

 

cheers

 

Dave

[steamrules]

Thanks Bear,

Yes that would have clogged them up easily considering how much un burnt oil residue was emmited. Not the cleanest burning fuel but cheap in the day. It is a similar story placing the diesels ahead of the steamers to save the filters on the air in takes for the diesels.

 

thanks

 

Dave