N&W's Gas Turbine Electric Locomotive

[NW Mailing List]

Bud,

I recall that a fellow named Yellott was the lead engineer working with 
the Bituminous Coal Research outfit to test the concept of a 
direct-coal-fired gas turbine for locomotive applications, and I also 
recall my uncle, C. P. Blair (who was probably N&W VP Coal Traffic at 
that time) telling me that he thought Yellott was a better public 
relations promoter than engineer.

Gordon Hamilton

On 6/17/2020 10:14 AM, NW Mailing List wrote:
> Norfolk and Western did not operate a coal-fired gas turbine, electric drive
> locomotive but it proposed one. I cover this in my Giant book. N&W did this
> in cooperation with five other railroads, three coal companies and the
> Bituminous Coal Research. The idea was to use pulverized coal and then blow
> it through a nozzle under high air pressure to create talcum powder sized
> particles. This powdered coal is then blown into a combustion chamber to
> create the gases to run the turbine.
>
> The potential was a very compact engine, high thermal efficiency (about 3X a
> Y-6), eliminated water as medium and a need for a boiler, with few moving
> parts. All started at about the end of World War II and in 1946, N&W
> announced it was proceeding to build two locomotive plants with generators
> from two manufacturers, Allis Chalmers and General Electric. The big problem
> was the fly ash eroding the turbine blades. Even though it was announced in
> 1956 that a locomotive would be built in about two years, it never happened.
>
> Dieselization was the answer that won out and the fly ash problem was never
> solved.
>
> Bud Jeffries
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: NW-Mailing-List <nw-mailing-list-bounces at nwhs.org> On Behalf Of NW
> Mailing List
> Sent: Tuesday, June 16, 2020 4:42 PM
> To: 05NWHS Mailing List <nw-mailing-list at nwhs.org>
> Subject: N&W's Gas Turbine Electric Locomotive
>
> Trains Magazine lists the N&W as one of the operators of gas turbine
> electric locomotives:
>
> https://trn.trains.com/railroads/locomotives/2020/03/locomotive-profile-gas-
> electric-turbine-locomotives
>
> I must have blinked my eyes at that time in history because I never knew
> this.
>
> Gordon Hamilton
>
>
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