| Union Pacific Railroad GP9m 340 at Kansas City, Missouri on an unknown day in April 1980, Kodachrome by Chuck Zeiler. Number 340 was built in September 1957 (c/n 23696) on EMD Order 5552 and was retired April 2, 1981. During June 1964 this locomotive was equipped with an EMD turbocharger at UP's Omaha Shops, giving this unit and at least 54 other GP9's the moniker "Omaha GP20", and creating a 2000 hp GP9. The program began in early 1955 with the application of AiResearch Model T-30 turbochargers to four GP9's at UP's East Los Angeles Shops (four turbochargers per unit). The four units were sent out for road testing, and after modifications, the program was moved to Salt Lake City in September 1956. By 1959 the program was moved again to Omaha, and nine more GP9's were turbocharged (bring the total to 13). At the same time, ten nearly new GP9's of the 300-series were turbocharged using Elliott Company products, and three GP9's were sent to La Grange for application of EMD's new turbocharger. Later, the UP sent six more GP9's to EMD for the same modification. Between 1962 and 1965, 55 more GP9's in the 300-series were turbocharged with the EMD product by the UP at Omaha, and the AiResearch and Elliott modified units were de-turbocharged and converted back to normally-aspired GP9's. Number 340 was modified in June 1964, and at the same time a 2400 gallon fuel tank was installed, forcing one of the twin air reservoirs to be re-located to the front of the locomotive. Some of the turbocharged GP9's were also modified to burn low grade Bunker C fuel oil, and heaters were installed in the fuel tanks to permit efficient fuel flow. It is unknown exactly which Omaha GP20's were modified to burn Bunker C fuel, but the telltale sign is open metal grating on the walkways along the long hood to dissapate heat, and 340 shows signs of that. During the 1970's, Bunker C fueled locomotives were converted back to diesel due to rising costs of that fuel. The full turbo story is at this link: http://www.utahrails.net/articles/up-gp9-turbo.php |