Orange Empoie Ry Museum Just Painted their U-boat (pix)

railfan44 · **Posted:** Thu Nov 04, 2010 4:21 pm

http://railfan44.rrpicturearchives.net/ ... CA%201.JPG

http://railfan44.rrpicturearchives.net/ ... CA%202.JPG

Wowak · **Posted:** Thu Nov 04, 2010 6:38 pm

Looks quite nice. Will the lettering be painted on or done in vinyl (i.e. the cheap and easy way)?

MEC_557 · **Posted:** Thu Nov 04, 2010 7:00 pm

I always liked the SP "bloody nose" scheme. Will that unit get the SP speed lettering or just normal? Nice job with it though, it is one sharp Uboat.

Howard P. · **Posted:** Thu Nov 04, 2010 8:46 pm

Nice job. Paint details: what kind etc.?? Did this one get/need any body work? And what about those electrical cabinet doors (under the cab)? Are they an SP modification? They don't look very GE to me.

Howard P.

Brian Norden · **Posted:** Thu Nov 04, 2010 9:08 pm

Wowak wrote:

Looks quite nice. Will the lettering be painted on or done in vinyl (i.e. the cheap and easy way)?

I think it is getting Vinyl. Will advise when I know for sure.

Howard P. wrote:

Nice job. Paint details: what kind etc.?? Did this one get/need any body work? And what about those electrical cabinet doors (under the cab)? Are they an SP modification? They don't look very GE to me.

The locomotive was one of two that got an extensive rebuild by the Southern Pacific as prototypes for a program. No others were done. From what I recall reading, the rebuilt included replacing GE switch gear with EMD. Still has the GE prime mover.

Unseenthings · **Joined:** Mon Jun 14, 2010 7:51 pm **Posts:** 155

I can make a guess as to why it's called a uboat, but anyone want to share?

Howard P. · **Posted:** Thu Nov 04, 2010 9:25 pm

Ask a guy named J. David Ingles (former editor of Trains Magazine). He's credited with coining the name back in the early 60s.

Howard P.

mikefrommontana · **Posted:** Thu Nov 04, 2010 11:21 pm

Weren't these the TE-?? class which was a test bed concept from MK. Came delivered in snazzy Daylight colors?

Though I don't blame OERM for interpreting it as a U25B

Michael Seitz
Missoula MT

Nova55 · **Joined:** Thu Apr 12, 2007 8:09 pm **Posts:** 597

Negative. The TE70-4 "popsickles" were cut up a few years back.

Scott · **Posted:** Fri Nov 05, 2010 1:30 am

Is this unit operable - or just lipstick and mascara to be shoved around with something else?

Brian Norden · **Posted:** Fri Nov 05, 2010 2:46 am

Unseenthings wrote:

I can make a guess as to why it's called a uboat, but anyone want to share?

To amplify Howard's answer, the GE model number of these were U25B.

mikefrommontana wrote:

Weren't these the TE-?? class which was a test bed concept from MK. Came delivered in snazzy Daylight colors?

Though I don't blame OERM for interpreting it as a U25B

No, this is not one of the MK units -- all got Sulzer diesels and then were scrapped. It is a Sacramento rebuilt. Tomorrow morning I'll post some information from Joe Strapac's book series on SP diesels.

Scott wrote:

Is this unit operable - or just lipstick and mascara to be shoved around with something else?

The unit operates. And it well probably be the back-up unit for the "Day out with Thomas" train the next two weekends. The power for the train is expected to the the Santa Fe 98 (FP45) as it was last year.

For information about SP3100 see Orange Empire's web page: SP 3100
For information about SP 98 see Orange Empire's web page: ATSF 98