Altamont Press Discussion Board :: Discussion

Re: Sulzer in Roseville

Author: OPRRMS

Date: 03-05-2010 - 19:24

Beverlyhelper Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------

> I saw this quartet in the deadline at Eugene
> sometime back in the 1980's. Can anyone give us a
> brief history of these interesting units, and why
> they didn't work out for SP?

In 1976 Morrison Knudsen made a proposal to SP to re-engine SP's soon-to-be-retired U25B fleet with re-rated 2800 horsepower Sulzer engines. Four retired units were chosen to be the test beds. They also received other upgrades similar to the two U25B's SP upgraded in-house.

Although I had no first-hand operating experience with them, my understanding is that in service the engines developed chronic oil leaks. I'm sure there were other problems. (One of the four had to be set out on the units' "unveiling" trip to Southern California.) What with them being more or less mechanical orphans, it's not too surprising that they didn't have long careers. Apparently Santa Fe and UP didn't have much better luck with their units, either.

As an aside, the hulks of SP's four (stored in East Oakland, CA for years) were finally cut up in for scrap a year or so ago.

Here's MK's sales brochure (from the espee.railfan.net web site: [espee.railfan.net]

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Subject	Written By	Date/Time (PST)
Sulzer in Roseville	Steve Sloan	03-05-2010 - 08:27
Re: Sulzer in Roseville	George Andrews	03-05-2010 - 10:13
Re: Sulzer in Brooklyn rh, color photos!	Richard Elgenson	03-05-2010 - 10:23
Re: Sulzer in Brooklyn rh, color photos!	George Andrews	03-05-2010 - 10:27
Re: Sulzer in Roseville	Steve Sloan	03-05-2010 - 13:29
Re: Sulzer in Roseville	Beverlyhelper	03-05-2010 - 18:28
Re: Sulzer in Roseville	OPRRMS	03-05-2010 - 19:24
Re: Sulzer in Roseville	Beverlyhelper	03-05-2010 - 19:36
Re: Sulzer in Roseville	George Andrews	03-06-2010 - 09:43

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OPRRMS Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Beverlyhelper Wrote:
> --------------------------------------------------
> -----
> 
> > I saw this quartet in the deadline at Eugene
> > sometime back in the 1980's.  Can anyone give us
> a
> > brief history of these interesting units, and
> why
> > they didn't work out for SP?
> 
> In 1976 Morrison Knudsen made a proposal to SP to
> re-engine SP's soon-to-be-retired U25B fleet with
> re-rated 2800 horsepower Sulzer engines.  Four
> retired units were chosen to be the test beds. 
> They also received other upgrades similar to the
> two U25B's SP upgraded in-house.
> 
> Although I had no first-hand operating experience
> with them, my understanding is that in service the
> engines developed chronic oil leaks.  I'm sure
> there were other problems.  (One of the four had
> to be set out on the units' "unveiling" trip to
> Southern California.)  What with them being more
> or less mechanical orphans, it's not too
> surprising that they didn't have long careers. 
> Apparently Santa Fe and UP didn't have much better
> luck with their units, either.
> 
> As an aside, the hulks of SP's four (stored in
> East Oakland, CA for years) were finally cut up in
> for scrap a year or so ago.
> 
> Here's MK's sales brochure (from the
> espee.railfan.net web site:
> http://espee.railfan.net/te_70-4s_brochure.html

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