Western Railroad Discussion > Sunday's UP Museum Special

My new wife Melanie likes trains. We've ridden quite a few this year, in several states. It was even her idea to get married in front of 611 back in May. She prefers steam and streamliners, but will shoot a picture of just about anything. So, when she expresses interested to chase E9's, I listen. We thought about riding, but decided that we'd rather watch the engines go past a few times, rather than stare at corn out of a passenger car window. We both grew up on farms in rural areas--we're well aware of what maize looks like. Not to mention, we had a prior engagement back in Kansas City in the evening. With the hit the train took while inbound, we would have completely missed it.

So, off we went from Kansas City on Sunday morning. We hit clouds, rain, and a couple claps of thunder on the way, and the forecast seemed to allude towards more sun towards noon. We got lucky a couple times on the eastbound run.

All photos from Sunday, August 13, 2017, there will be 9 photos total.

1.) Blasting through a steady rain shower on the UP Omaha Sub. running as UP Train PCBCB1 13. - Mercer, NE

2.) The rear end of looks just as classy as the head end with UPP 106, business car "Shoshone". - Mercer, NE

3.) At a fairly generous pace UP 951 leads the passenger special west. - Fremont, NE

Pump



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 08/15/17 10:49 by UPTRAIN.

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4.) The yard crew working here has lined the special up the east leg of the wye where they will pull north, and shove back around the west leg to be turned for the trip back east. Here, the lead unit passes the sign for the yard office here. - Columbus, NE

5.) The special shoves back around the west leg of the wye as the UP Special Agent blocks the street in front of the yard office. The wife is in law enforcement, and is a former officer. Her first badge number was 949, so it's no surprise this is her favorite diesel locomotive. This shot was a no brainer. - Columbus, NE

6.) Shoving back around the west leg of the wye, the passenger special has almost completed its turning move in the yard. - Columbus, NE

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7.) Now under mostly sunny skies after a morning of rain the train is headed back to Omaha on the UP Columbus Sub. They're passing through town speed restricted by the EIC working the Form B here. This didn't delay the train's progress nearly as much as a freight ahead of them did when it pulled a drawbar, blocking both mains and sewing up a crossover in Omaha. I believe I heard the train arrived 3 hours late. - Schuyler, NE

8.) Approaching Troxel, they race back towards Omaha at MP 44. - Fremont, NE

9.) Crossing over from Main Track 2 to 1 at Mercer CP B035 on the UP Omaha Sub, the passenger special tries to make it back to town. - Mercer, NE

After this we headed to Union Station to wait for the train, but after hearing the absolute cluster____ that ensued after the freight had its issues ahead, we decided to head for the house.

Thanks for looking, I hope you enjoyed.

Pump

P.S. The Leslie RS-5T horn on 951 sounded a LOT better than 949's did last week. They should probably clean that thing out.

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1st 2 pictures are some of the best modern photos of an older set of streamlined equipment. The line up of those domes is fantastic.

Very Nice series of a great looking UP Special!

Larry

Quality stuff as usual Pump! Nicely done..

Great photos! Nice job by UP.

DOME A PALOOZA! Seriously, great shots!

Tom Trent
Eugene, OR

Excellent shots Pump, thanks for sharing!

Great shots!

jtwlunch Wrote:
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> The line up of those domes is fantastic.

Indeed! Six domes...is that the entire UP dome inventory?

Bill G.

According to the UP website there are 8 dome cars total.

Nice pics!!

Great photos and I love your shot with the Wagner Mills in the background. Thanks.

Bob Krieger
Cheyenne, WY

Excellent photos Pump!

Interesting to note that the side panels on the E-9s have the same bulges in them that our SF 108 had when we started the restoration program here at OERM. All of those panels had to be replaced along with the battens that secure them. I wonder when the UP will decide to do that!

TomPlatten Wrote:
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> Interesting to note that the side panels on the
> E-9s have the same bulges in them that our SF 108
> had when we started the restoration program here
> at OERM. All of those panels had to be replaced
> along with the battens that secure them. I wonder
> when the UP will decide to do that!

What makes you think that wasn't done during the rebuilds
back in the early '90s?

Also, note that in bright sunshine with telephoto, yes,
they do look bad. But also note the photo of 949 and
see the difference lighting makes in perception.



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 08/15/17 19:00 by Realist.

Pump, " ya done good " with these. It was a privilege to serve as a car attendant.

Nice photos and chase Zach. Many great frames and locations.
Brian Stevens

Awesome photos.

Ronda Thomas