science · 16 June 1949 · 75 years ago
In 1949, the first gas turbine-electric locomotive in the U.S. was publicly demonstrated in, Erie, Pa. In 1946, a specific project to develop a gas turbine for railroad application got under way. After extensive stationary tests at Schenectady, the turbine was taken to Erie and was installed as the power plant of a locomotive. Track tests began 15 Nov 1948. The gas-turbine engine was originally designed for aircraft, in which it gives forward thrust from the reaction of its exhaust stream. In the locomotive, the power from the turbine was used to drive a generator supplying electric power to eight traction motors driving the locomotive wheels.
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