Western Railroad Discussion > New Paint UP 8620 Leader This Morning

Showing off UP's new paint scheme, SD70ACe #8620 led a Z train out of LA in fairly decent sunlight this morning.  Thanks to a timely heads up, I was able to intercept it at 9:05 as it rounded "the big curve" at Beaumont on UP's Yuma Sub.

As stated on UP's website, "The new design concept was created by employees at the railroad’s Jenks Locomotive Shop in North Little Rock, Arkansas. As locomotives need new paint, they will receive this treatment as part of Union Pacific’s locomotive overhaul and modernization program."  Just needs silver trucks!

Thanks for looking,
GK

1 and 2.  At Beaumont.
3.  Engineer's side a few miles further east at Cabazon.
 

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Its going to take a LONG time to get used to that face.  That shield needs some Red Bull.

Aside from admiring Gary's photography of the newly-painted lead unit featured in his first image taken near Beaumont, I was amused that I could not recognize the location as being Nicklin until I read the caption.  Where did all of those houses come from????  They completely transform the scene for us old guys.

FWIW, I think the new paint scheme is an improvement over the giant wavy flag version, but I think it would be better yet if UP ditched the cab flags altogether and put the traditional UP wings decal back on the nose.

 

Greg Stadter
Phoenix, AZ



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 09/15/22 14:37 by E25.

Passed the Tacna Cam at 15:06:45 MST

Jeff

SouthWest RailCams
CA, NM, CO, TX, AZ
https://SouthWestRailCams.com

Nice shot Gary! Yeah those cab flags are really distracting, would be so much cleaner without them.

Very Nice Catch!

Christi

RailFanAZ - RailFanning BNSF & UP
AZ, CA, NM, TX
RailFanAZ.com

SPgoletablock Wrote:
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> Nice shot Gary! Yeah those cab flags are really
> distracting, would be so much cleaner without
> them.

It's not the flag on the cab in my opinion.  I just think three stickers is a little too much.  I think they should put the flag on the long hood where the UP shield and Building America is and just go with two Logos/Slogans/stickers etc.  I'm sure the anal bean counters will agree with me.

IF it had wings on the front it would be a LOT better...........

66

 

Excellent shots, glad you made the chase!

Posted from Android

Nice catch of the new paint.

Larry

Ditch the flags, add the wings and we mostly would be happy. I don't see UP as the paragon of patriotism, the flags
are just for show.

Out 

E25 Wrote:
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> Aside from admiring Gary's photography of the newly-painted lead unit featured in his first image taken near Beaumont, I was amused that I could not recognize the
> location as being Nicklin until I read the caption.  Where did all of those houses come from????  They completely transform the scene for us old guys.

Thanks and yep, those houses are only the most recent of more tracts being constructed between the ROW and I-10 paralleling to the north.  I remember also that portion of San Timoteo Canyon Rd. when it was two-lane blacktop with dirt shoulders and open fields on the hills on both sides.  Now, it's 4-lanes with a center median and street lamps!
GK



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 09/16/22 08:05 by TheNavigator.

goneon66 Wrote:
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> IF it had wings on the front it would be a LOT
> better...........
>
> 66
AMEN!
 

Great shots Gary!

Great pictures. Congrats!

Posted from Android

Pedro Rezende
Vespasiano MG,
https://youtube.com/c/minasgeraisrailways1

Great trio of photos featuring the 8620, Gary.

Rich

Your image is sharp, but I don't like that new paint scheme with the oversized UP shield . It's way out of porportion in size . 

Now it looks like the nose shield will be smaller in the future? Even worse IMO

https://www.up.com/aboutup/community/inside_track/refreshed-locomotive-paint-it-220916.htm?agfc=InsideTrack&agfm=Twitter&agfs=social

Edit: the shield on the nose is probably smaller because of the nose headlight?



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 09/16/22 13:25 by Spoony81.

Spoony81 Wrote:
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> Now it looks like the nose shield will be smaller
> in the future? Even worse IMO

I think the revised scheme looks better.

 



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 09/17/22 08:05 by RuleG.

Spoony81 Wrote:
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> Now it looks like the nose shield will be smaller
> in the future? Even worse IMO
>
> https://www.up.com/aboutup/community/inside_track/
> refreshed-locomotive-paint-it-220916.htm?agfc=Insi
> deTrack&agfm=Twitter&agfs=social
>
> Edit: the shield on the nose is probably smaller
> because of the nose headlight?

Nope. There was one of these with a low headlight, they just lowered the huge decal. The link you provided is the latest and greatest.