UP GTEL No. 18 On Static Display At the Illinois Railway Museum
The Union Pacific Railroad (UP) operated the largest fleet of gas turbine-electric locomotives (GTELs) of any railroad in the world. The prototype, UP 50, was the first in a series built by General Electric (GE) for the UP's long-haul cargo services and marketed by the ALCO-GE partnership until 1953. The prototype was introduced in 1948 and was followed by three series of production locomotives. The first generation of these locomotives had a single cab on one side unlike the prototype demonstrator which had one cab on either ends. The second Generation of these locomotives were nicknames 'Verandahs' because of the walkways which were provided. Both of the generations of the locomotives were rated at 4,500 HP. All locomotives of both the first and second generation were provided tenders to carry extra Bunker C fuel on which the turbines ran as it was cheap and to extend their working range. The third generation was the most powerful and the last batch of turbines ordered by the UP. The third generation was rated at 8,500 HP. The locomotive had three separate units. The first 'A' unit was a cab unit with a 850 HP diesel locomotive inside. The second 'B' unit contained the turbine which had an output of 8,500 HP. The third 'C' unit was a tender to extend the locomotive's range. Within one year of their service, GTELs hauled more than 10% of the UP's freight.
When it was found that Bunker C fuel is useful in making plastics products it drove up the price and meant that the era of turbines is nearing its end. The prototype, the first-generation, and the second-generation turbines were all scrapped. Two of the third-generation turbines, however, were preserved: UP 26 at the Utah State Railroad Museum in Ogden, Utah, and UP 18 at the Illinois Railway Museum in Union, Illinois.