Western Railroad Discussion > UP Rose Parade Float Problems

It appears there’s a problem with the float sponsored by UP. TV showing a large tow truck on the scene.

Posted from iPhone

And of course the TV coverage just ended without further details.

Posted from iPhone

They had hooked a tow truck to it and were about to make the turn onto Colorado Blvd...

 

'Mechanical, we have a problem'...Mechanical-'Have you tried cutting out a traction motor'? 

Precision Scheduled Railroading ruins the parade! How ironic!

Posted from Android



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 01/01/19 10:10 by bioyans.

KTLA had some shots of it once the tow truck got it moving. But they then jumped to the finale singer, so we didn’t get to see much of the float. It looked great from what we could see. Smoke from Jupiter, a giant hammer in front of 119, but I didn’t catch who the people were riding the float. It was an excellent design, bummer that it broke down and didn’t get much TV time. Hopefully someone else has some photos they can post.

Nathan

Posted from iPhone

It's not a Union Pacific float. The float is entered by the Chinese American Heritage Foundation.

Posted from Android

I was watching the parade on ABC. They said the float caught fire. Everyone off. No injuries. Float stalled. Last I saw was the tow truck on the scene. And that’s where coverage ended.

It’s an awesome float. Apparently built in only two weeks. Damn shame it’s going to be remembered for the wrong reasons.

Posted from iPhone

Union Pacific will deliver. But when.

Its still on KTLA as there is still two floats and one band still behind the break down. It may be avalable on line on KTLA 5 https://ktla.com/

As of 9:22 they have started the replay. Oh well. 



Edited 2 time(s). Last edit at 01/01/19 10:23 by czuleget.

RailGiants Wrote:
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> It's not a Union Pacific float. The float is
> entered by the Chinese American Heritage
> Foundation.

Then why does Union Pacific's Facebook page say they sponsored it, and UP employees helped construct it?

There is continuing coverage via the Hallmark channel, with encore performances thru the day.   It appears the float vehicles failed.   Because of the problems, the float remained stationary enabling the commentators and camera crews to provide more detail about the float.     For those who never attended, seeing the flower detail on Rose Parade floats is just amazing.

With the parade crowds surrounding the lcomotives in this view, the scene resembles events on May 10, 1869. 
 



Edited 3 time(s). Last edit at 01/01/19 11:27 by KMiddlebrook.

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They should---from now on--Have a standby tow truck decorated in flowers to be used for breakdowns!!! That way no one will notice! :D

Probably a PTC red fence

bioyans Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> RailGiants Wrote:
> --------------------------------------------------
> -----
> > It's not a Union Pacific float. The float is
> > entered by the Chinese American Heritage
> > Foundation.
>
> Then why does Union Pacific's Facebook page say
> they sponsored it, and UP employees helped
> construct it?

UP provided support to CAHF. Countless volunteers are needed for each float in this parade.


https://www.cahf.us/releases/2018/11/30/2019-rose-parade-float-commemorates-150th-anniversary-of-the-transcontinental-railroad-kickstarting-yearlong-harmony-through-union-program-of-special-events-and-educational-curriculum-across-usa

Posted from Android

Apparently someone was hanging too far out of the cab window.

RailGiants Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
UP provided support to CAHF. Countless volunteers
> are needed for each float in this parade.

From Union Pacific's official Facebook page: "Union Pacific is sponsoring the float"

The float also features Union Pacific's shield and "Building America" slogan.

Sounds pretty definitive to me.



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 01/01/19 11:10 by bioyans.

I read on some blog site called Trainorders that it was a boiler explosion caused by an inexperienced crew. Wouldn’t you know...had to happen to the one float I wanted to see. 

KTLA claimed that they would stay to the end, but even they gave up. Such is live TV coverage. 

They ended up with the Big Rig tow up front and a "pusher" on the rear. Sounds like they don't trust the couplers.

I thought it was a replica steam loco, not a GE Diesel;)

"The Chinese American Heritage Foundation’s train float was disabled by a small fire and was towed for the rest of the Rose Parade route, according to Cheryl Moody, a commander for the Pasadena Police Department."

https://www.latimes.com/local/california/la-me-rose-parade-2019-small-fire-disables-float-1546365888-htmlstory.html?fbclid=IwAR0Zl3ZPUD8i8fj-6Bd72erSYPK7-o2VFYlKHuoooXmwqVgVzE12h_O4rhg