alco c855

[mechanic_06]

hey, anyone out there have any pictures of UP's Alco C855b?  I've found several pics of the cab units but haven't found any of the booster unit.  Any help would be very much appreciated.

[S&G Rute of the Silver River]

I've never herd of it, where does (or did) it run?

 

P.S. I love ALCo.!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[nanaimo73]

Does this model help-

http://www.brasslocomotive.com/images/trains/OMI-5444.jpg

There are two pictures in the 7-91 CTC Board, but they don't show much detail.

[chad thomas]

S&G Rute of the Silver River

"I've never herd of it, where does (or did) it run?

 

P.S. I love ALCo.!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!"

 

The C855s (2) and C855B were Alco's answer to the EMD DD35s & GE U50s dureing UPs quest for more horsepower. The Alco's had problems from the start. On a maiden run all three electrical cabinets exploded when they tried to make transition at 27 mph. They were fixed and remained in service for a short time but were never trusted to handle a train on there own and were used with other loco types. The EMD DD35s, DD35Bs and DDA40Xs were much more successfull and lasted on the UP for years.

[PBenham]

The C855 was not as bad as some have portrayed it, but it had a lot of "advances" in it that doomed it from the start, like aluminum wiring harnesses and bus bars. GE had the same "bugs" in their U50Cs and U28/30s(1967-70) caused by aluminum wiring! That fad was very costly for Alco. And at the worst possible time. GE had the ability to weather the storm, but not Alco! EMD simply re-wired the GP40s, SD40s, and SD45s involved without breaking a sweat!

[mechanic_06]

i've only read about it in a couple of books but they have always only shown the cab unit(s) never all three together or even two of them together.  all i know is UP had some awesome machines running then.

[mechanic_06]

thanks those pictures do help but i still would love to see any pics someone might have of the real thing in action.  you would think with all the rail fans out there someone would have a picture or two of them in action. thanks for the reply

[mechanic_06]

do you know where i could get a hold of a copy of that ctc board or even the pictures for that matter.  thanks for the link on the model it helped out a lot but i still would like some more info on the double engine alcos.  im 18 and unfortunetly did not get to see any of the monster engine locomotives that GE, EMD, or Alco made.  all i can do is look at pictures and imagine what they were like.  thanks in advance.

[espeefoamer]

In one of Green Frog's UP Oddysey tapes(I think vol.1) there is a scene showing a freight being pulled by a single C855.

[rrandb]

While I am not sayinging there are none available somewhere and I am sure someone has one or more photo's of the C855B ne. UP60B they will be rare. Only one was made and they were not operated very often as a A-B-A set. It was built in 6/64 and scapped in 1971. I do not beleive it was assiged to a regular sevice so photo op's would be limited. Perhaps a book on the history of Alco/MLW diesel  loco's may have abuilders photo.  Have you contacted the UP museum in Omaha or the UP historical society? They only copy of a builders photo I have is of the UP60 and is is coupled back to back to the 60B unit. The photo only shows part of the 60B and it is just a mirror of the cab unit. The photo does not go back far enogh to see the "cabless" part. Sorry and Good Luck.

[mechanic_06]

thanks for your help and knowledge.  being from michigan i dont get to see UP at all.  luckily i live across the road from a CN(former GTW) main line, thats where i get to see any action.  but luckily it is the line from sarnia, ont. to detroit via port huron, mi. and the only as far as i know of international rail tunnel in the US.(i know im probably wrong there so dont harp on me.)  CN lines have been the lines that the new EMD SD70ACe and SD70M-2 loco's.  so far i have seen at 4 units at a time about a dozen new BNSF and about a dozen NS units go through with the paint still glossy.  i guess im lucky in that respect.  ill keep looking thats all i can do.  if the unit was not in regular service what was it used for?  any shots that anyone would care to share on any of the big UP locos(U50, U50C, DD35, DD35A, DDA40X, C855, or any gas turbine) it would be awesome.  i guess im just a power junkie as far as those units are concerned.  thanks again for helping a young kid build his knowledge on this stuff and putting up with any ignorant comments i might have made.

[nanaimo73]

It is believed the 3 locomotives together only pulled one train, which was in an A-B-A setup. It is also believed that Jack Wheelihan is the only one to photograph all 3 pulling that train. The 16 page article on UP double diesels in the 7-91 CTC only has 2 pages on the ALCos, with three BW photos. The 2-99 CTC has two more pages on them, but only one picture, which is also in the 7-91 issue. You may be able to get them through  http://www.railpub.com  

[chad thomas]

If you are interested in the double deisels I recommend you pick up the CTC Board Dale mentioned, It's worth it.

[mechanic_06]

i will. i haven't located one yet but if anyone knows where in michigan i could find one please e-mail me.