Nostalgia & History > Last days of the UP 6900's in Wyoming.

In early 1984,  UP reactivated some of the stored DDA40X fleet to regular service until additional new power could be delivered. By September, time was running out on the big engines and I decided to try once more for some afternnoon shots around Laramie.  It had become a pattern for 1 to 4 WB hotshots scheduled across WY to be headed by these units and they oftened appeared west of Laramie in the afternoon.  Having only a limited time off from work during those days,  I left Denver around noon to see what I could find.  My first few shots (SD40's) were either in high sun or clouded and with clouds clearing to the west, I headed to  Rock River to await the show.  These are all from the afternoon of September 5, 1984.

1)  First up was 6936 leading WB vans near Wilcox.  The hotshots could included the OMW,  1 or 2 OMN's,  a VAN, and often had the CLS as the final shooter.  For whatever reason,  6936 showed up in myviewfinder far more than any other unit.

2)   Hardly had time to move before 6927 showed up at Wilcox with another van train.

3) The only EB in this time frame was coal load X2896E climbing the hill at Lookout. 

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The last two images were captured between Lookout and Rock River.   6914W was followed by the CLS with 6938 up,  and their passing brought the end  to a satisfying Centennial afternoon.

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Great bunch.
JB

Congrats on a great set of photos, and great memories.  Thanks for posting.
TC

Superior set of photos.
Bob

What a great group!!!! 

Wow. Hard to tyype when yoo are drool;ling all over the keyboord. 

I would say you got a great return on your investment. Thanks for sharing. 

Wow, great photos.  I didn't realize UP still had U30Cs running in 1984.  BN kept them going longer, but I recall seeing mostly UP C30-7s in California around that time.

Rich

Just for kicks, I checked my stash of old timebooks from 1984.  At the time(September, 1984) I was cut back as a fireman, working between Cheyenne and Rawlins.  On September 5, I was called out of Rawlins on this very coal train with the following power: 2896-2930-3633-3599.  104-0-12703 tons.  The symbol was BBWKC-86, with Engineer R.M(Randy)Tibbs, and Conductor R.C.(Dick)Tritt.  We were called for 1130am and departed Rawlins at 1150am.  We showed arriving Cheyenne at 625 and tied up at 7pm.  Nothing particularly noteworthy, just another day on the railroad.  Trains like this generally settled down to 13-14mph on all of the grades between Rawlins and Cheyenne-assuming all four units were working.  In those days, loaded coal trains were limited to 50mph, although it was common to "get a run" at certain hills at speeds "slightly" higher...Between Buford and Borie the speed limit was 20mph, and after Borie 30 was allowed.  A daylight run, seven and a half hours on duty, not too bad.

As for the 6900's; the ones that were dragged out of storage were frequently on their last legs.  The prime movers were mostly ok, but the electronics could be downright diabolical.  As example, I distinctly remember the 6927 and the antics it would throw at you.  Running along at track speed, it would suddenly and without warning throw a "wheel overspeed" fault, causing the locomotive to drop it's load and go into "penalty".  This applied the brakes on the train at the service rate, unless you were quick enough to go through the process of suppressing the penalty(illegal, by the way).  It was no big deal on a hotshot, but on a long drag freight it could be big trouble.  Most crews still enjoyed getting a 6900 on the point, as the good still outweighed the bad.  
 



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 01/15/21 15:51 by RoadForeman.

Are those the one on Display in Omaha that you can see from I-80 ?

Posted from iPhone

Absolutely fantastic photos !
Brings back many memories and a few tears to my eyes.

These are great !

Thanks !!

Pioneer2526 Wrote:
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> Are those the one on Display in Omaha that you can
> see from I-80 ?
>
> Posted from iPhone

yes, 6900 is there with Big Boy 4023.  

Great series of photos before MoP took over and ran UP off the rails.
GK

Great photos, didn’t get a chance to see them in person. But my Dad and I were look over the 80’s Athearn model and dream, but it was too big for my little 4x8 layout with 18” curves. We did enjoy walking all around the Centennial that was at the Sacramento Railfair in ‘91.

Nathan

Posted from iPhone

Really NICE series!

Larry

Ritzville Wrote:
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> Really NICE series!
>
> Larry

Ditto!

JG

Wow, what a fantastic series! I sure would have been more than satisfied with that afternoon:}

Superb slides with NICE color. Thanks for sharing. 

Great skies showing off that big power!