Union Pacific Diesels

Union Pacific Superpower

It’s the dawn of a new era for the Union Pacific Railroad.

With the merger of the Union Pacific and the Chicago & North Western and then the Southern Pacific, including the Rio Grande, the Union Pacific has become a new Super Railroad.

This new railroad needs new Superpower, and General Electric is happy to oblige with the powerful AC60CW, which generates an incredible 6000 horsepower. This new engine joins other super engines such as the 4,380 horsepower GE C44AC, the 4,000 horsepower EMD SD70M, and other powerful engines. The old Wings nose herald has returned and is seen on many units.

A variety of power hauls long heavy freights over the Union Pacific’s busy Nebraska mainline, across the green countryside and through picturesque tank towns with their towering grain elevators. This fast-paced journey begins at Lodge Pole, Nebraska, and works eastward to North Platte and beyond. Videotaped in May, 2001.

58 minutes

Union Pacific Double Feature!

Diesels on the Union Pacific

You are on the Union Pacific mainline west of Cheyenne, Wyoming . It’s the 1980’s and the venerable 6,600 horsepower DDA40X Centennial 6900’s have been reactivated for one last stand. Watch this example of Union Pacific’s quest for big power as it climbs Sherman Hill and roars westward past Tie Siding and on to Colores, Wyoming. The EMD SD40-2 and the GE U30C, both rated at 3,000 horsepower, are also seen in abundance. Get close to the action as we tour the Cheyenne Yards. Then from the Yardmaster’s Tower we get an overall view as trains arrive and depart this busy division point.

Diesels on the Union Pacific...the Sequel

Return to the 80’s again for further adventures of the SD40-2, the U30C and the DDA40X Centennials on the Union Pacific mainline out of Cheyenne, Wyoming. We explore the New Line west of Cheyenne and experience the fury of a Wyoming blizzard as trains battle snow out of Cheyenne. The blizzard continues as we meet the Amtrak "San Francisco Zephyr" at Borie. Climb aboard Centennial #6922 for an exciting ride in the cab of this famous locomotive from Denver to Cheyenne.

127 minutes

Kindigs Diesels

Famous for steam era photography Richard H. Kindig also documented the 70’s era diesels in 16mm film. Featured are: Union Pacific "Centennial" DDA40X, DD35, U50C, E8, F9, GP30, SD40, and SD45. At Denver, we take a look at Burlington Northern stainless steel E units on an early Amtrak train. West of Denver we watch a Rio Grande Freight and see the Rio Grande Zephyr with F-units.

35 minutes

Assault on Snow

FEBRUARY 1988 - HEAVY SNOW SWEEPS ACROSS THE MOUNTAINS AND PLAINS OF WYOMING AND COLORADO

Suddenly both branches of a new shortline, the Wyoming & Colorado are snowbound. The line consists of two ex-Union Pacific branch lines, the 92 mile Coalmont Branch from Laramie to Walden, Colorado and the 24 mile Encampment Branch off the Union Pacific mainline near Rawlins to Saratoga, Wyoming

February 17, 1988 - Three FP7’s off the Alaska Railroad provided by Mountain Diesel Transportation set out to clear the Encampment Branch. When they become stuck in a massive snowdrift, rail photographer Dave Gross is there to record the struggle by the FP7’s to free themselves with spectacular "punch and back out" plowing.

March 7, 1988 - With the Coalmont Branch snowbound, rarely used Union Pacific Rotary 900080 leaves Laramie, Wyoming to clear the line. Shooting under difficult conditions, Dave Gross captures the glorious show put on by the rotary.

Narrated by Rege Cordic, this classic story of Winter Railroading is yours to relive again and again.

62 minutes

Union Pacific Super Cabs and Steam

The revolutionary EMD SD60M and the GE Dash 8-40CW wide cabs were the new look in 1990 when this exciting Union Pacific program was produced. This was also a time when the Union Pacific’s ambitious steam program had given rise to frequent steam powered freight and passenger trains pulled by 4-8-4 #844 and 4-6-6-4 Challenger 3985. Broadcast quality video footage by Dave Gross with narration by Rege Cordic.

Featured:

• EMD SD60M - Union Pacific mainline east & west of Cheyenne, Wyoming.
• GE Dash 8-40CW - Action along Union Pacific mainline.
• 4-8-4 #844 - St. Louis NRHS Convention freight. Kansas Pacific freight. Idaho Centennial passenger.
• 4-6-6-4 #3985 - Cheyenne to LaSalle freight. APL Double Stack freight. River City Roundup Freight.

88 minutes