In October 1961, Union Pacific constructed an experimental GTEL of their own, using a modified Alco PA-2 as a cab, the chassis of a GN W-1 class electric locomotive (bought for scrap from the Great Northern) as the second unit, and a modified turbine prime mover removed from one of the 50 to 75 series locomotives. The setup was numbered 80, but changed to 8080 in 1965 to avoid conflict with the new EMD DD35s then being introduced. The consist had an A1A-A1A+2-D+D-2, wheel arrangement, i.e. 18 axles of which 12 were powered[11]. A "centipede" steam locomotive tender was rebuilt with a coal crusher to pulverize and feed the coal to the turbine. Power output was estimated at 7,000 hp (5.2 MW). The original diesel engine in the PA was retained and produced 2,000 hp (1.5 MW) and the turbine produced the additional 5,000 hp (3.7 MW). The blade erosion and soot buildup problems encountered in the earlier locomotives were magnified with the coal turbine. Grinding coal into fine particles was also troublesome. Any oversized coal particles could damage the turbine blades. Ultimately, the experiment was declared a failure and was scrapped. The conventional gas turbines each racked up well over 1,000,000 miles (1,600,000 km) in revenue service, by comparison the coal turbine prototype ran less than 10,000 miles (16,000 km) before being stricken from the UP roster on March 15, 1968. The PA-2 control unit was traded in to EMD, while the turbine unit and tender were scrapped at the Omaha shops.
