These monstrous 8,500 HP two-unit sets, with twelve powered axles (plus fuel tender) fit right in with UP's penchant for Brobdingnagian motive power exemplified by the Big Boy, EMD DDA40X, and others. It is one of two preserved (the other is No. 26 in Utah) out of a class of 30 built. They had relatively short careers from 1955-December 1969, issues with fuel economy (the Bunker C oil they burned initially being significantly cheaper than diesel lost that advantage) and wear and tear on the turbine blades; as well as improvements in diesel-electric power rendered them obsolete. |