Union Pacific #50 Turbine

[up148]

Hand built by two Japanese craftsmen for a Japanese model railroad club. Look at the pilots. One model open and one modeled closed. Just incredible detail for hand built and everything I check against my UP books is correct for the "as delivered" loco.

[webenda]

Nice model. I like the simplicity of placing motors in the trucks. No drivelines working their way down to the wheels.

[De Bruin]

Fascinating underbody and drives too; those "magic carpet"-like drives are unusual on a model that size, I'm interested in how they perform under load as well. What a beautiful and unique model!

[sleepmac]

That is some machine! It was news to me that #50 was doublended as the Brits do.

Dan Weinhold

[up148]

It's supposed to arrive today and I'll post additional photos (these are from the seller) and running info. USPS really screwed the pooch on delivering this model....7 days from Wisconsin to Oklahoma and no updates on the tracker until this morning. I've had models delivered by UPS ground in three days from both coasts....7 days from WI is pathetic!

I really wasn't interested in this model until I saw the photos and checked it out for accuracy. I expected something much more crude looking, not something that looked like it was built by AJIN or Samhongsa back in their day. The relief on the brass just doesn't look like hand built.

I agree the drives are pretty strange for this model and something I never would have done, but on the plus side, it leaves the interior open to model the turbine prime mover. I'm looking for photos of the GE-101 turbine engine, which was the 1st turbine engine produced by GE, to see how difficult it would be. I think GE was building them for Navy submarines before reaching out to the UP, but that's an old memory and could be wrong. In 1947 GE approached the UP as they were always looking for more powerful locomotives. It would take (3) F units to equal the 4500 HP produced by the 1st turbine electric locomotives.

This the 1st model I've owned with the magic carpet type drives so I'm interested in running ability as well, but it's not a big concern as I can always use a pusher. Back in the 90's, I discussed installing the Magic Carpet drives in a OMI "F" unit and the general consensus from guys smarter than me was that I'd be disappointed in the pulling power. So, we'll see.

Dan, the purpose of the double end was so it didn't have to be turned at the end of a run. But, that reasoning turned out to be a non-issue so it was never built into the production models. Number 50 was always owned by GE and was just loaned to the UP for testing. It worked out so well, the UP ordered 10 "standard turbines", 15 "Veranda turbines" and finally 30 of the three unit 8500 HP turbines in subsequent years. All turbines were retired by 1970 IIRC.

[bob turner]

I have always been fascinated by the eight axle turbines - never really sure of the designation, although a while back we had several discussions of the U50. Maroon has one in aluminum, and I have one in pewter, thanks to him. I think photos are still in here somewhere.

I note that both Lionel and MTH have done various turbines in die cast - not sure why a turbine would warrant die cast and a nice E7 or PA wouldn't, but my fleet of both of those is complete, even including a pair of plastic dummies.

I bet either the Lionel or the MTH would be fairly easy to 2-rail, especially since most turbines wound up with tenders for aux fuel. I probably won't be doing that, since I was pretty much sated with the BiPolar project - they, too, were die cast.

I think the rule was die cast for steam and electric, plastic for Diesel - and anybody who varies is blasphemous.

Anyway, I am sure you are tired of me repeating my photos - the U50s can be seen with a gentle search.

Hope Butch's package arrived today - once in a while UPS loses things, and pretends they are out for delivery. They promised me a package of balsa wood every day for two months, long after the supplier had refunded my $.

[bob turner]

Oh, maybe I will. Took some new photos this evening:

[up148]

Model arrived on Tuesday with a little (easily repairable) shipping damage, but we've had the Grand-kids since Monday (spring break) so train time has been limited. They went home last night so I can get back to trains and chores. They get a whole week off for spring break in grade school these days.....in my day we didn't have this and maybe a teachers conference that gave you a Thursday and Friday off.

You guys know I'm a rivet counter and an illness for highly detailed brass models. Now days plastic models are just as highly detailed as the best of the best brass, but back in the 80's that was not the case. Lots of great history of brass models too that I love.

Anyway, the model is even more impressive than I expected. The etchings, castings and overall detail is extremely high quality. In with the model was a wiring diagram in Japanese and a name at the bottom in English of Model Technologies and the build date of 3-15-2012, so the model is a much later build than was expected. I was given the names of the two Japanese builders who must own Model Technologies, but don't think it wise or post them on the internet...........but if anyone has heard of Model Technologies in Japan I'd sure like to know.

I've never seen the "Magic Carpet" drives in person, so if anyone can confirm that is what this model has I'd be grateful. This drive set-up is coasting, but maybe off MC type drives were.

Butch

[webenda]

I've never seen the "Magic Carpet" drives in person, so if anyone can confirm that is what this model has I'd be grateful.483387[/img]

Magic Carpet is an NWSL term for drives like the one in your O-Scale UP #50.


The NWSL Magic Carpet drive hangs the motor off the axle but since the term magic carpet refers to there being no drive components inside the model (looks like a magic carpet when the body is removed) I would call K-Line's motor in the truck a magic carpet drive also.

The K-Line three-rail drive truck.

[up148]

As usual, it's Wayne to the rescue.....thank you. I can see the drives in my turbine are based on the same principle as the others, but my turbine motor appears to be larger and has only one drive gear and one driven gear, versus the reduction gear set-ups I see for the Walthers and NWSL versions. I still haven't powered it up, as other life projects have taken center stage.

I will report back once it's run.

[webenda]

I suspect those big motors will handle low-speed running just fine.

[up148]

I'm hoping that is the case. Trying to figure out if there is a way to add DC/DCC to this loco, but with the drives/trucks picking up the power directly from the track I'm not sure how a control module could be wired in. But, I know nil about DCC. Lot's to learn and think about.

[sarge]

I'm hoping that is the case. Trying to figure out if there is a way to add DC/DCC to this loco, but with the drives/trucks picking up the power directly from the track I'm not sure how a control module could be wired in. But, I know nil about DCC. Lot's to learn and think about.

Butch, it can be done pretty readily.

Unhook each of the motor leads and solder (with shrinktube insulating each solder joint) them appropriately to a pair of bus wires, then bring the ends of the pair of bus wires into the carbody.

Repeat the same process with the pickups and a second pair of bus-wires.

Test to make sure you have the pickups sorted and there are no shorts.

Put power to the motor busses to ensure all the motors run in the same direction.

Hook the pickup bus-pair to the pickup inputs of the decoder (placed in the carbody).

Hook the motor bus-pair to the motor outputs of the decoder

Then you can treat all lighting and sound outputs from the decoder as normal.

That's pretty much how you treat one of those Key Samhongsa Alco RS's with the underfloor-style drives.

[up148]

Thanks Sarge, I was hoping it would be straight forward. I never owned an RS and didn't realized KEY used similar power in that drive. Good to know.