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Wasatch vs Sherman

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  • Member since
    October 2006
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Wasatch vs Sherman
Posted by rdg2124 on Friday, September 21, 2012 8:26 PM

just noticed an ad for (UP) TURBINES OF THE WASATCH, why would they have been used on the Wasatch rather than Big Boy's stomping ground, Sherman?  I thought ALL the big UP power from the 4-12-2's up to the SD90MAC's were primarily intended for Sherman?  Am I wrong in this assumption?

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  • From: NW Wisconsin
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Posted by beaulieu on Monday, September 24, 2012 9:32 AM

The normal run for the turbines was from Ogden, UT to Cheyenne, WY which means they would cross both. The likely reason is that the Wasatch Crossing has more locations with spectacular scenery. Except for the rock formations at Dale, Sherman Hill is rather featureless. So given a choice more photographs were taken of them crossing the Wasatch, I would be surprised if there were no photos of them on Sherman Hill in the book.

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  • From: Austin TX
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Posted by spbed on Monday, September 24, 2012 10:59 AM

There is a tape put out by Pentex concerning the UPRR turbines that will answer all your questions how the UPRR used them Smile

Living nearby to MP 186 of the UPRR  Austin TX Sub

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Posted by timz on Monday, September 24, 2012 1:44 PM

rdg2124
I thought ALL the big UP power from the 4-12-2's up to the SD90MAC's were primarily intended for Sherman?

I'm guessing none of UP's big or small power was "primarily intended for Sherman". Nothing special about Sherman-- it was the steepest spot along the transcon main so trains needed helpers, which they got. No need to design an engine just for it.

Aside from Sherman Hill the ruling grade from Milepost 5 to Wahsatch is 0.82%-- but the eastward climb to Wahsatch is 1.14%. So the legend is that 4-8-8-4s were intended to haul trains east to Wahsatch and Green River and 4-6-6-4s or some such thing would take over east of there.

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