Centennial

Centennial, a photo by William 74 on Flickr.

Union Pacific's EMD DDA40X Centennial locomotive, parked at the Illinois Railway Museum. I wish I'd have been able to see it running-the only other Centennial I've seen is the IRM's own example, which is currently non-operational.

DeKalb

Coal Tower, a photo by William 74 on Flickr.

The long-disused Chicago and North Western coal tower in DeKalb, Illinois. This tower straddles what was CNW's main line from Chicago to Omaha. It's still a major route for the Union Pacific today, although coal fired freights and streamliners no longer stop here to fill up.

Be Specific, Ship Union Pacific

Be Specific, Ship Union Pacific, a photo by William 74 on Flickr.

As befits one of the powerhouse railroads in the U.S., the Union Pacific ran the largest fleet of gas turbine electric locomotives in the country. Built in three series, UP's GTEL's were meant to provide the same power output as several diesel engines, which in the postwar years weren't as powerful as the steam engines they were trying to replace. It cost the same to run a smaller number of more powerful engines, and locomotives were at their most efficient at high, sustained speeds. Despite being thirstier than equivalent diesels, the turbines proved to be less costly to run on fast, mainline freights, and this is where they excelled.

Built in three series, UP's turbines had all been retired by 1970. The turbines used Bunker C heavy fuel oil, which had few uses outside of this one, but by the seventies oil prices were up and new uses for this former waste product were being developed. It spelled the end of the turbine locos, and most were broken up, their parts recycled into conventional diesel locomotives.

Two of the turbines still exist, both from the third series built. This one, engine number eighteen, resides at the Illinois Railway Museum.

Through the Viewfinder Tuesday!

Be Specific, originally uploaded by William 74.

I missed last week, so to make it up to you here's a brand new-ish image! This is the lead unit of a Union Pacific freight train, heading west towards Omaha. There's nothing really special about the subject-I've shot loads of similar photos of similar yellow UP locomotives, and a front threequarters view is pretty much the default for railroad photography. However, this is the very first time I've tried using my TtV setup to shoot a moving train-the awkwardness of a typical contraption, combined with the reversed view, has always put me off. But I seem to have gotten some good results with it, so I'll probably continue with it. Plus, I like the vintage feel.