RailPictures.Net Photo: 22 Union Pacific GE GTEL turbine at North Platte, Nebraska by Bill Marvel

Community Response

Locomotive Details

Location/Date of Photo


Views: 6,801 Favorited: 46
Since added on June 06, 2016

+ Add to Favorites

+ Subscribe

+ Add to Photo Album

+ Post a Photo Comment

» Union Pacific (more..)
» GE GTEL turbine (more..)

» East of North Platte
» North Platte, Nebraska, USA (more..)
» October 02, 1966

Locomotive No./Train ID

Photographer

» 22 (more..)
» Unknown

» Bill Marvel (more..)
» Contact Photographer · Photographer Profile

Remarks & Notes

Screaming toward the camera at about 55 mph somewhere east of North Platte, Union Pacific’s westbound Big Blow 22, a member of the final class of 8500-hp Class 23 and 24 turbines, is about the most impressive sight and sound on rails since the days of steam. Built in the mid-1950s when Bunker C heavy oil was still cheap, they handled a lion’s share of UP’s transcontinetal freight business at one time. But that time has passed. Fuel prices have risen and excessive turbine blade wear has made the Big Blows increasingly expensive to maintain. And so on October 2, 1966, the 22 and its sisters are entering their final years of service. The last run of a turbine will come the day after Christmas, 1969.

Photo Comments (1)

User Photo Albums Containing this Photo (9)

+ Add to Album

UP/SP Album created by member Ty Kaneshiro	Album Views: 55,735

Classic Cab Units Album created by member arthur mills	Album Views: 103,359
Photos of North America's favorite First Generation locomotives. EMD, ALCO, Baldwin etc

Noses Diesels Album created by member G.F BOREA	Album Views: 30,620
Aerodynamics or not, ugly or design profiles.

Nostalgia Bomb Album created by member John Westfield	Album Views: 18,113
Remember the way it used to be?

Ultimate Fails Album created by member John Westfield	Album Views: 25,101
Some are loved, others are hated. In the end, they are failures.

DreamTrains Album created by member coco13cos	Album Views: 3,006,818
Over 50.000 of RP's most appreciated and beautiful photos.

Exotic Album created by member Nathan Richters	Album Views: 893,946
Looking for rare, obscure, or otherwise exotic locomotives? Look here!

Cab Units Album created by member Nathan Richters	Album Views: 345,703
The best that the Streamlined Era had to offer, brought together in one handy album. Includes EMD, Alco, Baldwin, F-M, and GE - plus a few surprises.

Classic Railroading Album created by member Chessiefan2	Album Views: 532,485
Railroading in the 40s, 50s, 60s, 70s, 80s, basically anything but the 2000s.

Add to Photo Album or Get Your Own Photo Album

EXIF Data for this photo: [What's this?]

This image contains EXIF headers - Click Here to show the data.

Photo Copyright © 2016 Bill Marvel. All Rights Reserved. Photo Usage Policy
This website Copyright © 2002-2024. All Rights Reserved.