Steam & Excursion > It Takes A Lot Of Locomotive To Fill This Turntable In 1957!

Even though steam on the Union Pacific was winding down in August 1957, the steam shops in Ogden, Utah were still servicing steam giants like this.

Here we see the Ogden Roundhouse turntable nearly filled from end to end with the weight of UP Challenger #3713.  This big 4-6-6-4 was built by ALCO in 1943 as a coal burner for UP as their #3980 but was renumbered after she was converted to oil a few years later.

Even though she is built 14 years old in this photo, the hard life she has led to date shows in her weathered patina.  A very impressive machine.

Martin



Edited 3 time(s). Last edit at 11/23/15 03:31 by LoggerHogger.

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I was surprised to learn that these later Challengers with the Centipede tenders would not fit on the turntable at North Platte. It was 100 feet and when they needed to turn one of these they had to use some kind of extension for the tender end.  What about Omaha or Council Bluffs or on the OSL?

nice ears

Labby Wrote:
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> I was surprised to learn that these later
> Challengers with the Centipede tenders would not
> fit on the turntable at North Platte. It was 100
> feet and when they needed to turn one of these
> they had to use some kind of extension for the
> tender end.  What about Omaha or Council Bluffs
> or on the OSL?

They did not run east of North Platte. The shorter 3800s did, however.

Wondered about that. Thanks!

Read the 100 foot turntables came for the 4-12-2 and that the first Challengers were designed to fit those turntables.

I sure like their looks with the Centipede tender!

   As a kid, I remember seeing that very same engine as a helper on an eastbound in Weber Canyon.  It was cut in ahead of the caboose and helped to the summit at Wahsatch.  While 3713 was taking water at Echo Jct, another Challenger went by light westbound returning to Ogden.

Brian Black
Castle Rock, CO

A big boy must have been an extremely tight fit on that turn table.

tomstp Wrote:
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> A big boy must have been an extremely tight fit on
> that turn table.

Look very closely at that fine picture.  There is at least 10 more feet of table ahead
of the locomotive and several more feet behind it.

That is a 135-foot turntable.  Other 135-footers were at Green River and Laramie. 
Big Boys were the sole reason for those 135-foot tables, and they fit just fine.

At places like Denver, which had a table way too short for these, the Pullman wye
was next door, and they could be turned there.

Cheyenne had/has a 126-foot table.  Big Boys just did fit, but the important thing is
that they DID fit.



Edited 2 time(s). Last edit at 11/23/15 11:48 by Realist.

That hardworking beauty just reeks of POWER !! :D

132 ft long. Yep clears by 3 ft.

tomstp Wrote:
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> 132 ft long. Yep clears by 3 ft.

Yeah.  But what's the wheelbase?  Center
of first lead truck axle to center of rear tender axle?

As long as there are no obstructions near the pit,
what's hanging over doesn't matter.  You can still
turn it with all wheels on the table.

I believe the turntable at Evanston, WY, still there, was also one of the largest.

glibby Wrote:
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> I believe the turntable at Evanston, WY, still
> there, was also one of the largest.

No. Not even close.

Posted from Android

Looks like Evanston's turntable is 100 ft.

Realist Wrote:
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> tomstp Wrote:
> --------------------------------------------------
> -----
> > 132 ft long. Yep clears by 3 ft.
>
> Yeah.  But what's the wheelbase?  Center
> of first lead truck axle to center of rear tender
> axle?
>
> As long as there are no obstructions near the
> pit,
> what's hanging over doesn't matter.  You can
> still
> turn it with all wheels on the table.


True, although I thought I remember reading that depending upon the specific locomotive and its load (fuel/water), balancing could be a tricky affair.... can you confirm or correct me on that, Realist?

~Joe P.
Hainesville, IL