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See UP U50 43 behind CNW C628 6729 on this eastbound freight ready to depart CNW's East Minneapolis Yard in December 1973. |
| Posted by FSWood on May 18, 2020 | |
Whirlybirds nickname is interesting. Also perhaps interesting if you haven't already read it, is a 2011 book by Paul K. Withers, Withers Publishing, "Union Pacific's Big GEs - U50 and U50C", 88 pages. If I had the money and there were models, it would be fun to get several to paint up in 'what if' liveries; such as PRR's 5 stripe tuscan. Would Southern have used GP or F unit tuxedo pattern on front & would they have used black or green? How well would SP black widow or Daylight fit? Speaking of black, how about N&W basic overall black wearing nothing but the road number, and an "NW" on the long hood? So forth and so on.
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Certainly an interesting looking diesel. If an SP cab forward steam locomotive with its big front end cab could be changed into a diesel, I think this UP style diesel would have been a leading candidate. Thanks for sharing.
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I always imagined two of these with a slug cut down from another pulling coal on the Pokey. They had that great unmuffled GE SOUND, the best in diesel railroad IMHO.
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| Posted by on May 18, 2020 | |
Back in the 60's on 261 we'd get 4 or 5 U25B's on 261......the Fireman leaving Milwaukee would start up from the rear unit as soon as the Engineer git the train past Harwood Ave in Wauwatosa and placed the throttle in the 16th notch...….trying to get to the head end past the rear of all those big fans on the rear of the units was tough and the faster you went the harder it got......you had to make sure you didn't have any loose clothing on or it would be ripped off your body and suck up to the screening that protected those huge fans......in fall it was even more fun trying to get the leaves and crap off the grating.
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Great catch and excellent, knowledgeable comments on this situation! I just learned a lot and home to learn more about these units.
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