Does anyone have a link or any info on What this locomotive hauled? I haven't found a good link to reaearch this. Considering picking up MTH’s newest rendition in the Voulme 2 catalog.
Replies sorted oldest to newest
This engine set is reported to have just run a few test freight hauls between North Platte and Cheyenne. Spent far more time in the shop than the road. Any 50's, early 60's freight cars would be correct consist.
If I remember correctly the project was a complete failure and the turbine portion was scrapped, with the modified PA returning to service.
The #80 turbine burned crushed coal, made into fine powder, and blown into the turbine for combustion. Due to the high abrasive properties and resulting wear, the maintenance was far too intensive and costly. The engine consist pulled freight over the Sherman Hill route, and like all the turbines, produced noise levels far above anything now allowable, even in the open country. Will be nice to see a "new" release of the #80. I have the original PS1 version, and really like it, in spite all it's PS1 difficulties. If not for the loss of it's turbine sounds, I would have already changed it over to ERR TMCC/RS for the operating system.
Jesse TCA
Thanks for your help guys.
The only time that the UP "coal turbine" made successful runs was when it was burning heavy oil (Bunker C). They were never able to successfully separate the fly-ash out of the flame stream, thus the fly-ash kept eating the turbine blades. When I was there, in Omaha (spring/summer of 1964), delivering EMD GP35s and DD35s, the big coal turbine never moved from its storage track.
texastrain posted:Will be nice to see a "new" release of the #80. I have the original PS1 version, and really like it, in spite all it's PS1 difficulties. If not for the loss of it's turbine sounds, I would have already changed it over to ERR TMCC/RS for the operating system.
Jesse TCA
Jesse,
MTH could make a gazillion dollars manufacturing a board to place TMCC in these engines and retain the sounds. There was a guy who made them long ago and they were just "plug n play" pieces. (unlike the ERR stuff which requires soldering even on TMCC upgrades I hear)
Attachments
Why would MTH make a TMCC board set to run on their competitors command system?
I have the PS1 version that I upgraded to PS2. I used 2 upgrade kits but I do have the slave kit for the coal turbine that’s in the docket for installation. Sucks cuz it’s a total redo