Nostalgia & History > U.P."Elegant E's" during photo run-by 20 years ago

It was slightly more than 20 years ago when I snapped this picture at Pond Creek, Okla. The Union Pacific Railroad's "Elegant E's" engine consist were being used on a passenger excursion between Wichita, Kan., and Enid, Okla. The picture was taken during a photo run-by.  This particular scene shows that the train was certainly getting more attention than the Model T Ford that was on display at trackside. The train was dubbed "The City of Wichita" for this special public excursion, which was sponsored by a Wichita railroad history group.  (Photo by Larry Byers)

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Back when the E9s actually looked like historic units and not low-rider street rods.

Ha-rumph!

NZ

That was another one of our fun tours where we did Operation Lifesaver during the weekdays and excursions on the weekends.

Bob Krieger
Cheyenne, WY

NebraskaZephyr Wrote:
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> Back when the E9s actually looked like historic
> units and not low-rider street rods.
>
> Ha-rumph!
>
> NZ

OK, please explain THAT.  You mean they are lower now then when they were first built?

Back when they still had their nose doors as intended. Now, they just don't look right without them.

HotWater Wrote:
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> NebraskaZephyr Wrote:
> --------------------------------------------------
> -----
> > Back when the E9s actually looked like historic
> > units and not low-rider street rods.
> >
> > Ha-rumph!
> >
> > NZ
>
> OK, please explain THAT.  You mean they are lower
> now then when they were first built?

No, Jack, it's the completely smooth, naked front end, with all the door hardware, grabirons, MU receptacles and such hidden or removed. Very much like the street rods where they remove the door handles, rear view mirrors and trim to "streamline" the appearance. At least the ditch lights aren't recessed into the nose like on the NS units.

I understand the reasoning why the UP chose to remove the nose door, but it's not a good look. They could at least reapply the "UNION PACIFIC" in red under the headlight, I think that would improve the appearance significantly.

NZ

NebraskaZephyr Wrote:
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>
> No, Jack, it's the completely smooth, naked front
> end, with all the door hardware, grabirons, MU
> receptacles and such hidden or removed. Very much
> like the street rods where they remove the door
> handles, rear view mirrors and trim to
> "streamline" the appearance. At least the ditch
> lights aren't recessed into the nose like on the
> NS units.
>
> I understand the reasoning why the UP chose to
> remove the nose door, but it's not a good look.
> They could at least reapply the "UNION PACIFIC" in
> red under the headlight, I think that would
> improve the appearance significantly.
>
> NZ

What I said.

Bob3985 Wrote:
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> That was another one of our fun tours where we did
> Operation Lifesaver during the weekdays and
> excursions on the weekends.
Bob, that was one fun trip ! You got us good photo runby locations.
Thanks for your extra effort that day. --Kelly

I was on that train that day.  That was a good trip. upkpfan

I was there, too.  I think I was at the extreme right of the picture and down the track to crop out the people.  If you're at the extreme edge of the photo line, your camera is equipped with a "people filter."  

Those were the days.   

CA_Sou_MA_Agent Wrote:
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> I was there, too.  I think I was at the extreme
> right of the picture and down the track to crop
> out the people.  If you're at the extreme edge of
> the photo line, your camera is equipped with a
> "people filter."  
>
> Those were the days.
  
Yes, those were the days and we thought they'd never end.......alas, they have.