Thanks for this article. The only thing I knew about the C-855, was from the 2nd Diesel Spotters Guide, and it must have been printed, right when the A unit came out, no B was mentioned. I had a 2nd U 50 chassis, so I just kitbashed 2 MRC Alco C420 bodies, and chopped the nose down. Didn't care for UP at the time, so I just did mine up in L.I.R.R. Blue. The use of alum. wiring was also a curse to volunteer firefighters, because of house fires, because of corrosion at outlet boxes in new homes that used the wiring, and many homes caught fire, especially near saltwater areas. Long Island areas even banned its use.
At 5:23 you said "... it had a dual Alco 251C prime mover as well as a dual V16 diesel engine ..." The Alco 251C "prime mover" IS a diesel engine; it didn't have two prime movers and two diesel engines. Also, although the term "dual" is techincally correct, it was two separate identical diesel engines which operated independently. It was basically two separate complete locomotives on one frame and set of trucks (just like the GE U50 and EMD DD series).
I was not born in the era, but the pride expressed in the song of this video is really something that they have been lacking for a few years if not decades. This was my favorite era for U.P. They were obsessed with experimental high HP locomotives and they had some of the most unique ones made.
This was a great video! Definitely the best EOUP yet, lots of different information and better presentation from your voice over. It was also cool to see all of the information gathered from the community posts to make this episode! Keep up the good work man!!!
Can't blame ALCo for the electrical issues, it's all on GE. I talked to a few Mech. Dept bosses and they really liked the ALCo 251 prime mover, especially with steel capped pistons. I never ran an ALCo with a 16 notch throttle. The early GE's had those, they were half notches. You do have some great, informative videos.
You know, in terms of aesthetics, the 855 is one of my favorites of alco’s century line. I actually have a fictional model railroad called the Colchester and Midwestern, where they bought engine 61 in November 1971 and upgraded it with reliable copper wiring and renumbered 1005. Where it runs to this very day
Hey I’m super glad to stayed on top of making this video don’t let anyone make you feel you can’t make good informational railroad videos. You got a lot of disses or critical criticism when you first started but your progressing and as long as you enjoy this keep em coming!
Quibble, quibble; the 8 referred to 8 axles, not 8 axle trucks. An 8 axle truck would be an H truck. 😁 The trucks and the span bolsters both came from the 4500 hp turbines, same as the U50s. I read some where that the span bolsters were causing problems on the U50s and were a factor in their early retirement. You can take that or leave it. Personnel opinion of C855s were they looked like they could pull anything, but ugly so very, very ugly, and I normally like ALCO's designs. But in this case somebody ran it through the Ugly filter. Edited to placate the typo gods.
Nicely done, well researched. Also nice correction on the U50/U50C video. Alco really shot themselves in the foot with that aluminum wiring fiasco, they lost a lot of follow on sales from it, not just on the UP.
Your maps are wrong. The C-855 never went over the Denver and Rio Grande Western, as your maps show. They were used on the Mainline North Platte to Cheyenne and on to Ogden. They may have come to Denver via the Julesburg, La Salle line. Then north to Cheyenne, from Denver.
cool video, I had never heard of the Aluminum wire in the 855's I know that Ge had used it for weight savings in the U50c and that the C-C truck did not handle that weight very well. I believe that Alco had superior products in their Century line and had many innovations that were ahead of their time including the first AC traction
A lot of older homes had aluminum wiring and it’s very dangerous there too. Caused a lot of electrical fires because someone wanted to save $100 on cheap wiring.
It’s not saving weight, it’s saving money. Aluminum is a lot cheaper than copper. And it’s not good savings. Aluminum has proven to be a poor material for wiring.
Would you allow me to use some of the pictures on DA? (ONLY for Thomas and friends AU on DeviantArt to make them finally good units or simply to improove the photo quality.) You naturally will be credited.
This is an interesting looking diesel model, it is a shame that they only saw about 6 years of service, i would really like to see a non-brass model of this alco c855 diesel produced in ho scale sometime.
It is sad For trains do not make it to preservation and seeing them going to the scrap yard or explode or derail or become scrapped when they are beyond repair Breaks my heart.
I remember reading that when all three were MUed that they would short each other out. If true, I would guess the aluminum wiring had something to do with that.
The C855 could've outdone the U50C to an extent and would have maybe been better liked by Union Pacific had ALCO used aluminum wiring, and also used better engines in them. But man, these things sucked.
Great work on the video! My only constructive criticism would be to make sure you go over your timeline a few times and check your text before rendering.
Imagine if Alco made these with V18-251s like the ones they made for generators and tugboats instead of the V16s Instead of 5500hp they would of produced 8000hp
Whomever it was who thought it was a good idea to run up to 900 volts of electricity through ALUMINUM wires clearly failed basic science classes or otherwise never took any classes in electrical engineering. EMD made similar mistakes with their SD50 line, and they never recovered from it.
This lad has to go back to school and relearn how to pronounce his words properly, a turbin is what you were on your head if you are of the Siek or some Muslem religions, a turbine is a jet engine of sevral different designes and can run on some minorly different fuels.
You clearly don't know railroad sayings, do you? I know what I'm saying. That's how they said it. If they didn't say it like that I wouldn't say it like that.
Black smoke very distinctive engine sound, gotta love those Alco's.
I’m pumped for the DDA40X
I agree
I love DDA40X
Also the size and horsepower makes people impressed also if you play Trainz simulator 12 you will be amazed
I love DDA40X
Thanks for this article. The only thing I knew about the C-855, was from the 2nd Diesel Spotters Guide, and it must have been printed, right when the A unit came out, no B was mentioned. I had a 2nd U 50 chassis, so I just kitbashed 2 MRC Alco C420 bodies, and chopped the nose down. Didn't care for UP at the time, so I just did mine up in L.I.R.R. Blue.
The use of alum. wiring was also a curse to volunteer firefighters, because of house fires, because of corrosion at outlet boxes in new homes that used the wiring, and many homes caught fire, especially near saltwater areas. Long Island areas even banned its use.
The C855 had been retired because of cracks in the frame because the rust they made, the U50C had aluminum wiring.
excellent video OttoMatic , very informative by far the best of the series
you have done the ALCO Proud
I agree 👍
Awesome Mr. Matic....
Thank you for sharing this video
At 5:23 you said "... it had a dual Alco 251C prime mover as well as a dual V16 diesel engine ..." The Alco 251C "prime mover" IS a diesel engine; it didn't have two prime movers and two diesel engines. Also, although the term "dual" is techincally correct, it was two separate identical diesel engines which operated independently. It was basically two separate complete locomotives on one frame and set of trucks (just like the GE U50 and EMD DD series).
I've always been interested in this weird engines. Thanks for telling us about it.
I was not born in the era, but the pride expressed in the song of this video is really something that they have been lacking for a few years if not decades. This was my favorite era for U.P. They were obsessed with experimental high HP locomotives and they had some of the most unique ones made.
WOW!! I learn so much about UP locomotives from your videos! Never knew anything about these units!
I’m so happy this series is back
Nice talk! Great pictures!
Thanks OttoMatic for the informative video.
I'm so glad to see this series back, it's given me inspiration to my own series hopefully
Thanks for making these videos
Awesome video!
This was awesome! Loved it!
This was a great video! Definitely the best EOUP yet, lots of different information and better presentation from your voice over. It was also cool to see all of the information gathered from the community posts to make this episode! Keep up the good work man!!!
Yeah I think I now have a rhythm of what needs to to be done.
Were these not the most powerful locomotives ever built?
Awesome episode
That was quick I like the time! ;)
Thanks!
Can't blame ALCo for the electrical issues, it's all on GE. I talked to a few Mech. Dept bosses and they really liked the ALCo 251 prime mover, especially with steel capped pistons. I never ran an ALCo with a 16 notch throttle. The early GE's had those, they were half notches. You do have some great, informative videos.
You know, in terms of aesthetics, the 855 is one of my favorites of alco’s century line. I actually have a fictional model railroad called the Colchester and Midwestern, where they bought engine 61 in November 1971 and upgraded it with reliable copper wiring and renumbered 1005. Where it runs to this very day
alco c855 is my favorite locomotive
Hey I’m super glad to stayed on top of making this video don’t let anyone make you feel you can’t make good informational railroad videos. You got a lot of disses or critical criticism when you first started but your progressing and as long as you enjoy this keep em coming!
Is it allowed if I feature footage of the C855 in a self created song for ALCO? (I need a yes or no from you soon to not make any copyright mistakes.)
Dude im am very happy watching these cause the 29th im goin to see 4014
The best and unknown locomotive of up
Quibble, quibble; the 8 referred to 8 axles, not 8 axle trucks. An 8 axle truck would be an H truck. 😁
The trucks and the span bolsters both came from the 4500 hp turbines, same as the U50s. I read some where that the span bolsters were causing problems on the U50s and were a factor in their early retirement. You can take that or leave it.
Personnel opinion of C855s were they looked like they could pull anything, but ugly so very, very ugly, and I normally like ALCO's designs. But in this case somebody ran it through the Ugly filter.
Edited to placate the typo gods.
Nice vid. I missed the friggin premier again…
Nicely done, well researched. Also nice correction on the U50/U50C video. Alco really shot themselves in the foot with that aluminum wiring fiasco, they lost a lot of follow on sales from it, not just on the UP.
Info: The C855's frame was also prone to cracking due to horrific built quality to quote High Iron.
Let bring some U50s and C55 how would they do in excursion service?
7:26 OMG STOP 😂😂
“Alco, purveyors of lovely Soot…”
Your maps are wrong. The C-855 never went over the Denver and Rio Grande Western, as your maps show. They were used on the Mainline North Platte to Cheyenne and on to Ogden. They may have come to Denver via the Julesburg, La Salle line. Then north to Cheyenne, from Denver.
cool video, I had never heard of the Aluminum wire in the 855's I know that Ge had used it for weight savings in the U50c and that the C-C truck did not handle that weight very well. I believe that Alco had superior products in their Century line and had many innovations that were ahead of their time including the first AC traction
A lot of older homes had aluminum wiring and it’s very dangerous there too. Caused a lot of electrical fires because someone wanted to save $100 on cheap wiring.
Makes me wonder why GE used Aluminum wiring in U50C after problems Alco had with this locomotive.
Good pacing on this video.
I have a Union Pacific pocket calendar that has the C855 on the front.
So, what ive gathered from these episodes is that to the weight saving of aluminum wiring is not worth it
It’s not saving weight, it’s saving money. Aluminum is a lot cheaper than copper. And it’s not good savings. Aluminum has proven to be a poor material for wiring.
YESSS!!!! UNION PACIFIC!!!!
Hey, you beat Jim Van Der Kolk on talking about this diesels! Excellent job!
Would you allow me to use some of the pictures on DA? (ONLY for Thomas and friends AU on DeviantArt to make them finally good units or simply to improove the photo quality.) You naturally will be credited.
I ask for use cuz bluntly: I LOVE THIS DIESEL! ❤
I wanna make them better, than they were.
This is an interesting looking diesel model, it is a shame that they only saw about 6 years of service, i would really like to see a non-brass model of this alco c855 diesel produced in ho scale sometime.
It is sad For trains do not make it to preservation and seeing them going to the scrap yard or explode or derail or become scrapped when they are beyond repair Breaks my heart.
Why didn't the up sell the c855 locomotives to other railroads? The sp&s would have used them.....the sp&s were all Alco then.
I remember reading that when all three were MUed that they would short each other out. If true, I would guess the aluminum wiring had something to do with that.
I think I know what you're talking about. I think that thread also said the electric boxes sometimes caught fire
Too bad nobody preserved one of the Iron Giants in a museum.
Didn't the Rock Island have a bunch of those too back in the day?
No, there was only 3 ever built.
imagine if GE Decided to make a AC44ac with 4 trucks
They do for export , check out the units they make for Brazil
THANK YOU SHARE VIDEO
8:27 yo I hear that in GMOD
The C855 could've outdone the U50C to an extent and would have maybe been better liked by Union Pacific had ALCO used aluminum wiring, and also used better engines in them.
But man, these things sucked.
Great work on the video! My only constructive criticism would be to make sure you go over your timeline a few times and check your text before rendering.
Id solve the Units faults: just replace the Aluminium with Copper.
Imagine if Alco made these with V18-251s like the ones they made for generators and tugboats instead of the V16s
Instead of 5500hp they would of produced 8000hp
I got an idea let's build a 5500 hp engine and use aluminum wire!
So goddamn stupid. The devil in the details
I think around the same time they were building a bunch of track houses in California with aluminum wire and a lot of them burned down because of it
F*can no
Hell no
Same fate as the U50C’s
OttoMatic will be doing a Engines of UP episode on the UP 2-8-8-0s and 2-8-8-2s?
Steam engines will not be the main focus just yet. Maybe later on.
That was fast
Bummed - no sound files
Btw where did you get that horn from?
Otto Rd and Whooo Hoooo Railroadies
12:29 whats the music?
They had DC generators, not AC alternators (Wikipedia is in error).
Best go to Wikipedia and correct it yourself (I wouldn't do it with only your comment as a source).
@@uncinarynin Multiple sources show the C855 using the GE GT598 generator. The first Alco with an AC alternator was the C630.
how come weight is never given in tons ?
Only three 😢
It’s just a smoke cloud, and cracks.
Whomever it was who thought it was a good idea to run up to 900 volts of electricity through ALUMINUM wires clearly failed basic science classes or otherwise never took any classes in electrical engineering. EMD made similar mistakes with their SD50 line, and they never recovered from it.
They were awesome looking locomotives……too bad they were so unreliable. Great content Otto 👍
This lad has to go back to school and relearn how to pronounce his words properly, a turbin is what you were on your head if you are of the Siek or some Muslem religions, a turbine is a jet engine of sevral different designes and can run on some minorly different fuels.
You clearly don't know railroad sayings, do you? I know what I'm saying. That's how they said it. If they didn't say it like that I wouldn't say it like that.
What’s next
Already
14:33
I plan to do a series called engines of Norfolk southern
RIP ALCO but, Good Lord! This is the worst American diesel not made by Baldwin so far! (By a CERTAIN Rail-critic)