Western Railroad Discussion > Cloudy chase of UP 1982 and a Centennial surprise!

Yesterday, the day started out with less than ideal weather conditions in Denver but when the clouds started to clear, I decided to make the trek North to Cheyenne and try my luck with the Missouri Pacific Heritage engine leading the Westbound IG3OA-23.
My plan would have probably worked out as there was some Sun in Cheyenne but unfortunately I got called to work and had to break off the chase before the train reached that sunlight:{

1)Highballing past these hooded Intermediate signals West of Bushnell, Nebraska it was a bummer that the weather was less than ideal as this was quite the colorful train with a bunch of Orange and Red containers.

2)At the usual spot from the overpass at Pine Bluffs, Wyoming.

3)I drove over to Burns, WY and ending up waiting and waiting for the 1982. While I was sitting there, I caught the UP 8740 hustling East with the IG2OA-26 in a light rain.

Three More Pictures Posted Below..................

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Apparently there was some sort of track work causing the trains to all use Main #2. After waiting some more, a Westbound train showed up but it wasn't the 1982. It was the MNPDV-26 led by the UP 5646 with Centennial 6936 bringing up the rear!
I didn't even know that this engine was let out of the Cheyenne steam shop.

4)UP 5646, 7285, 6181 and the 6936 (Dead-In-Consist) struggle up the grade at no more than 10 MPH with 96 loads, 71 empties-13,998 tons and 10,200' on wet rail!

5)6936 at the rear of the consist.

6)Eating exhaust as the train slowly heads West.

I could not wait anymore and had to leave for work so no more shots of the 1982:{

Today the 6936 is in the middle of the MDVGR-28 consist heading to Green River, WY. Sure would be nice if it somehow found its way on the point:}

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Timing is everything, and a little luck helps too! Great pictures of the Centennial.

Great shots there SP8595. 6936 on the point of a freight, eh! I'm going to apologize in advance for posting this on your post, but I have such a shot. Here is the 6936 on the point of the NPLAV-15 departing Green River, Wyoming westbound on March 16, 1995; nearly 20 years ago.

Dick Ebright
Roosevelt, Utah

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Neat shots! Especially like ##2.

Awesome series of photos John. Looks like you had a long but productive day.

Ronda Thomas

Sweet catches.
JB

What happened to the S5 on the 6936?

Posted from iPhone

Nice stuff, John!

Randy Lundgren

Holy Big Jacks, Batman! What was 6936 doing? Don't tell me UP is that short of power like back in 1984 when they put them back on the road...Steve

Great set of photos John. The Pine Bluffs shot is really dramatic.
Brian Stevens

What's with the rust patches on the roof of 6936?

Great series of shots, John! I guess I missed it, where did you shoot #4?

James Nelson
Thornton, CO
www.flickr.com/mojaveflyer

Clouds or no clouds that is a great series of shots. Really like your angle in shots 2 and 4, very well done.

~Ryan

Nice shots and lucky find on the UP 6936. Thanks for posting your shots.

Posted from iPhone

6936 Dead in Consist - therefore it cannot be a power shortage by the U. P.

I think I like those cloudy-day shots of the 1982 better than ones in bright sun. Brings out the blues. Also very neat shots of that Centennial. Really stands out trailing those grimy road units ahead of it. Thanks.

Mike

Nice pics!!! I also LIKE Pic 2!!