UA Turbo, That's the one I want!

CN1

Active Member
Haaaaaaa! The Turbo Train. A face only a mother would love, and me:D .

There's a spot on my layout just for one....or maybe two!

CNTURB.GIF

via-t146ags.jpg
 

CN1

Active Member
It looks "different" that's for sure, but it's extremely slick and small too. The Power unit is actually lower then a GP9.

It's also very fast. I still hold the speed record in the USA and Canada. That was 20 years ago too! 172 Mph on a welded stretch of track.
 

60103

Pooh Bah
I think it also holds the speed record for an entire train's being swept by fire.
I always thought the red nose was terrific; didn't like it when it was repainted yellow.
I have the N gauge version.
 

CN1

Active Member
You have it in model rr? In N scale? What manufacturer? I have been looking for a model of this train (in HO) for years!

No Kidding? Excellent!
 

Lighthorseman

Active Member
White CN Turbotrain in N scale...

I've seen one in N scale at a show one year. The fellow who owned it spent the whole time nervously hovering over it, all the while exclaiming how completely impossible it was to replace. He neurotically slowed for turns, imagined rough spots, and nearly had a heart attack anytime someone leaned over the rope to look at this strange contraption a little more closely.
 

60103

Pooh Bah
I think it was Bachman. I've had it since the early 70s. It has the self contained power truck that every so often emits an almighty high-pitched squeal.
It's not currently for sale, but I might trade for a Beyer-Garrat or a Royal Hudson. :D
 

CN1

Active Member
Can you post a picture of it? How does it run? How does it look?

Is an AMTRAK or CN or VIA rail one?

How many do you have??

Thanks
 

eightyeightfan1

Now I'm AMP'd
Parts and Pieces

I have parts and peices of the UA Turbo train. An old timer that I worked with at Sikorsky Aircraft gave them to me. He actually had worked on the Demostrator. Sikorsky Aircraft was the builder, or main contractor.
 

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eightyeightfan1

Now I'm AMP'd
Parts and Pieces II

The red and white ones are what the real demostrator looked like. Sikorsky had contracted with Bachman, who was one of the few N scale manufacturers at the time, to make a model. Sikorsky then made a layout, to run the model, and bring it to prospective customers. The red and white one was hand painted by a sign maker that worked with the company. After that, anyone that was conected with the project got to take whatever of the layout they wanted. Of course, the old timer grabbed the model for himself. He gave them to me, when I was into N scale.

The VIA bought the actual demostrator, so the old timer told me.

Sorry CN....only the N scale version was available.
 

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CN1

Active Member
Very nice. Man they look good. So sad that's it's in N scale:(
Don't get rid of them, cuz they're one of a kind now.

Wish I had some too...
 

Blake

Member
Here are two shots of that Turbo sitting in the Naporano scrap yard, Newark NJ in 1984. I don't know if it was scrapped or sold.

turbo.jpg
 

jon-monon

Active Member
Re: Parts and Pieces

Originally posted by eightyeightfan1
An old timer that I worked with at Sikorsky Aircraft gave them to me.

I used to work on Sykorsky whop-whops! We used to say, if it ain't leakin' it's outa fluid! hehehe Actually not bad to work on for me. Especially considering the age and abuse the H-3's had been through. We wrecked 4, and 3 of the whop-whops survived the crash. We were the first to crash a CH-53E without killing the aircrew! You mighta heard about that one.
 

CN1

Active Member
Blake: Your pictures are amazing and sad at the same time. This is a Via Rail Turbo being dismantle and cut out for scrap.

Are those your pictures? Website? Link?

Thank you for sharing these pictures.
 

CN1

Active Member
Thanks guys!

That N scale Turbo is.....ugly and not to scale.

Rapido Trains? Good idea!
 
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