>G.Lambert@unsw.edu.au (Geoff Lambert) wrote in reply to Union
>Pacifics Gas Turbines Loco's :
>>I think this one was pulverised-coal-fired, though whether that would
>>have an effect on noise.....?
>>Geoff Lambert
>Hi Geoff
>Nope, I believe UP used "Bunker C" fuel oil.
>It was very thick and caused lots of problems in sub zero weather
>if one of these monsters was holed up in a Siding.
>Cheers
>----Tell
>Alice Springs NT
Well, they definitely had a single example of a coal-fired turbine.
It was described in a Trains issue of about mid 1961 (when it was new)
and also appeared in Pinkepank's Diesel Spotter's Guide. The thing
was a monster in three parts- a control unit from one of the
oil-fireds (or possibly from an old FM diesel, because it also had a
diesel prime mover on board), the turbine unit proper, and the coal
storage-teatment plant, that had, as its orginal basis, a steam loco
tender (Big Boy I think). I seem to recall that it was given the
number 8000 to match its power output of 8,000 H.P.
I think it suffered from turbine blade erosion, as most coal-fired
turbines did. It did not outlast the oil-fired "Big Blows".
Geoff Lambert