UP ALCO C855 DIESELS

IT's Massive in O scale. too bad no one has made it in O guage... or there was a prototypical demonstrator paint scheme for it. IT was a shame that the real one wasn't saved either.

I believe Overland did these years ago. If you have to ask how much they are; then you can't afford them. They were very expensive. I believe they did 10 sets at best.

Tom Mapes

Never heard of the thing, had to look it up. Unless they were the most avid UP fan, I can't fathom why anyone would have interest in this engine. They/it were/was unsuccessful commercially and are about a  minus 3 on the 1-10 styling scale (my opinion), and that was their good points.

Simon

The reference I saw said there was only one in a caption for an image and in text said 3 units were scrapped (thus my bold text).......make up your mind!

Throw a couple of these behind your 8500 hp turbines and get ready to pull a LOT of rolling stock.

If Overland only did 10 sets its unlikely you'll see them on someones layout, there probably in the hands of collectors.     stephen    (cTr...Choose the Right)

For what it's worth, those Alco 855 units (A-B-A) where VERY unreliable and only made one aborted westbound trip out of Council Bluffs, Iowa, back in 1964. They never made it to Fremont, Nebraska, because upon making forward transition just west of Summit, all three units had their side high voltage electric cabinets explode into flames. Some local fire department had to put out the flames, and all three units where towed dead back to Omaha Shops. The Union Pacific NEVER let the units operate in a consist together again!

Even the Alco Field Service people couldn't keep them running.

They never made it to Fremont, Nebraska, because upon making forward transition just west of Summit, all three units had their side high voltage electric cabinets explode into flames

Didn't that have something to do with using aluminum wiring instead of copper as a weight and $$$ saving choice by ALCO? I know one of the big UP loco had this problem due to aluminum wiring about this time frame.

Butch

UP148 is right.  These models are not worth the money, as they come with alot of problems.  If you like big diesels, the PSC/KTM DDA40X  is a good model.  It is well made and runs well.  I have one and I would take it over the more detailed Overland model.  It is not as expensive either.  I also have a Loco Workshop DDA40X and it was nicely done but not as well constructed as the PSC/KTM model.  You can get Lionel's DD35 and convert it to 2-rail, changing the drive units and motors.

If MTH would make these I would be all over them. Nothing like big UP power.

I have 2 MTH DDA40xs, 1 PSC/KTM and 1 Loco Workshop DDA40X for a total of 4.  I have seen the real beast when it ran in the 1970's on the U.P. mainline.  I have a MTH U50C and I'm trying to convert an MTH Veranda turbine into a U50B.  I need to build the shell from scratch.  I do not like the Lionel DD35s for they are underpowered for the kinds of locos they are.  They have the same drive units as their E7s, only 2 axles on each truck are powered.  They look nice , but for the money, they are not worth it-opinion !

Here's my veranda turbine effort, weaver drive, MTH body, scratch frame and tender, a work in progress. I have to say I do have an early 8500hp turbine from Overland, and the complaint of parts falling of seems to be the same with this model, but I haven't experienced it with my own model.     Stephen     (cTr...Choose the Right)

Nice job!  If you can get or make another drive and frame like this, and scratch build from brass or styrene the Alco C-855, you are in business.  I have the MTH 2-rail Big Blow and it runs fine.  I wouldn't dare shell out $2000 for the Overland one and have to rebuild it!  I am contemplating building a GE U-50B from styrene using the MTH Veranda drive and frames.  They are almost identical.

Stephen,

The turbine looks very nice! Overland made different runs of the turbines and some were better than others. Butch (UP148) knows a great deal about them (as to which was good and which not so). I think there was even a thread on them either here or on one of the other forums.

Simon

Robert   Thanks for the compliment, I wont be attempting the C855 as I have way to many projects on the go,need to finish the veranda turbine for starters!! I do love big UP power thou!! and the Alco is unique even if unsuccessful in real life. The U50B would be another interesting project, you might be lucky and MTH will beat you to it.    Stephen   (cTr...Choose the Right)

Simon    I know they had there problems especially the drive, mine has shed its original drive and is running on surer feet now!!  If I remember rightly its not the gears so much, but the bearings and universals that fail.     Stephen    (cTr...Choose the Right)

All of the Standard, Veranda and Propane Turbines imported by OMI were in the early to mid 1980's and all have the same tank drive. Double motors and dual transfer gearboxes with the lower portion hidden in the fuel tank (ie: tank drive). The early 8500HP was a decent looking model but the axle gearboxes are different than those used on the 4500HP Turbines mentioned above which actually looked like traction motors. The early 8500HP Turbine had cast zamac or pot metal gearboxes which created some problems too. The early 8500HP also used the tank drive so OMI added a fuel tank on the "B" unit to hide the drive which makes it wrong and easy to identify.

The best detailed and constructed "O" scale OMI Turbine by far is the 8500HP imported in 1993 and it is a work of art! Magnificent detail! Working lights, factory painted, detailed cab interior, derail chains on the tender trucks, tower drive; but only the "A" unit was powered so it was weak on pulling power. The "B" unit had opening doors with a scale model of the turbine prime mover inside. It truly was an O scale model of the best OMI HO Turbines of this period which were very, very nice.

I had one that Doug Cockerham repowered the "A" unit and powered the "B" unit and still retained the turbine prime mover and it was outstanding. Ran as good as it looked.  

With all the complaints and caveats about these Turbines and other early OMI diesels you have to realize this was during the period the Korean craftsmen were learning their brass modeling skills. Virtually everything that OMI imported during this period was ground breaking and many have never been done again. Even with the inherent problems these models were all outstanding in their own right.

Steam locomotives had been built and imported for decades before the likes of OMI started importing diesels. Except for a few MG and USH diesels you had to buy kits and build your own. I'm so happy that Tom Marsh (OMI) was a Union Pacific nut or none of these UP models and many others would have come to light.

He was as prolific in bringing brass models to the hobby in the 80 and 90's as Scott Mann is today. We owe a lot to them and many others who preceded them.  

Butch

Thanks for the info-up148.  OMI issued a DDA40X I think in the late 90s or early 2000s for around $2700 , if I remember correctly. I have seen pictures of it and it looks great, alot of detail.  Does it run as good as it looks?

I've never owned one of these locos but from the timeframe you mentioned I think it's safe to say it will run as good as it looks. OMI imported a U-50 during this same period and it too will be a nice runner...much nicer than it's older brother imported in the mid 80's.

Butch