Western Railroad Discussion > UP 4015 leads the Rocky Mountaineer at Tunnel 29

The UP Steam Crew and Ed Dickens' customized SD70M UP 4015 that has followed behind Big Boy 4014 has been placed back into more regular service, now assigned to lead the "Rockies to the Red Rocks Rocky Mountaineer" since their own units are down again. Here it is flashing its special silver trucks and side-of-nose shield in the afternoon of September 27 eastbound downgrade at Tunnel 29 on the ex-Rio Grande near Pinecliffe, CO. Most seem to think this is the best UP locomotive image perfected (except for the FRA-mandated yellow side sill stripe instead of traditional red). Must give thanks to fellow railfans MK and DB for the headsup and JS for the updates. Happy railfanning! === === = === JLH



Edited 2 time(s). Last edit at 09/29/22 14:59 by highgreengraphics.

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At least bright and clean, much better than last year :)  Nicely done and good spot!

Wow, superb photo!  The green nose and silver trucks on the 4015 really make the picture.  Great location and image.

Rich

Outstanding photo.  Your really did a super jub.
ALLEN

Terrific photo!

JG

That’s sweet!

Great catch and photo with a good looking leader!
GK

Nice catch in a good location.
—Mac

I wonder whether a reflectorized red stripe could satisfy the conspicuity requirement.
I see many highway trucks with alternating white and red tape that shows up nicely in headlights.

railstiesballast Wrote:

> I wonder whether a reflectorized red stripe could
> satisfy the conspicuity requirement.
> I see many highway trucks with alternating white
> and red tape that shows up nicely in headlights.

Unfortunately, the regulation specifies the usable colors rather than just a luminance standard.  While other colors can and are used elsewhere on the locomotive (the red "Union Pacific" lettering and road number, for instance), the "retroreflective sheeting applied to locomotive sides...as close as practicable to 42 inches from the top of the rail" can only be yellow, fluorescent yellow, or white:

https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-49/subtitle-B/chapter-II/part-224#224.103

they did a test white and yellows beat out red for brightness,  my solution for the UP,  have a red stripe below the yellow stripe, or have a yellow stripe inside the yellow area