Union Pacific Heritage Program

[NW 2156]

GidDay All! I don't know about the rest of ya? But I need a short brake from the dirty politics as they make more pollution than a steam powered coal train. So I thought I would ask these few questions.

Is it true the three UP E9 diesels where upgraded to GP38 standards?

Why hasn't the 4th B unit been restored UP 966B?

Do ya think that maybe 4-8-8-4 4023 will roll again someday?

Do ya think maybe UP DDA40X 6900 will ride again behind the 6936?

How many more years will the 844 and 3985 run before the Boilers are not longer safe? And will the UP seek new boilers when the time comes?

What is the life span for the three E9's and the 6936?

Have a wonderful Day!

[rdamurphy]

The UP "E-9's" are internally GP-38-2's, for parts availability purposes. UP 966B is a parts unit, and hasn't been restored simply because they don't really need it.

The UP has stated that they won't use any coal powered steam locomotives in the program, and the only Big Boy converted to oil was a failure. The firebox is not conducive to conversion. Many of the Challengers were built as oil-burners (3985 was not...) and conversion was easy because of that.

844 was recently rebuilt within the last couple of years. UP 838 is in storage in Cheyenne for parts backup, and reportedly, the boiler is in better shape than 844's. There is another Challenger besides 3985 in storage at the roundhouse in Cheyenne also, UP 5371. So both locomotives have a pretty good supply of spare parts.

UP 5511 is also stored in usable condition in the Cheyenne roundhouse, and could be up and running in a short period of time. The problem is it's a 40 mph 2-10-2 and the fact that with the track changes in Cheyenne, the curves are too sharp to get it out on the mainline.

I'm not sure if you knew, but 6900 is on display in a park in Omaha - it will never run again.

See above for boilers, UP has spares.

The diesels probably can run forever, after all, BNSF still has GP-30's built in the 1950's, reengined as GP-38-2's and GP-39's that are running today. Not to mention the sparse use they see, compared to a "working" locomotive, they could probably be around forever.

Robert

[NW 2156]

nevermind

[rdamurphy]

:confused:

Robert

[NW 2156]

Nothing. I was going to ask another question but decided against it. But for the heck of it here is a different one. What would they want for the #5511 $$$ considering its main piston rods are cut and the boiler has not had a hydro test or anything for a number of years and its condition is a bit of mystery?

[rdamurphy]

Probably what it would be worth as scrap metal. I didn't know it's rods were cut, but I'm pretty confident that wouldn't be much for the UP shops to fix, if they really wanted to.

It's a shame we'll never see a Big Boy run, but it's doubtful it would be allowed in very many places, another argument against it. Oddly enough, they also have some F units in storage, a C&NW unit, and a D&RGW B.

Robert

[NW 2156]

Here is some more up to date info on the 5511 http://www.steamlocomotive.com/northern/upstorage.shtml

[rdamurphy]

Yeah, you can see the piston rod's been cut in that picture. The Big Boy in Denver, at the Forney museum has had them cut also.

Robert