Nostalgia & History > UP w/4 GP30's on 9 unit train leaving Cheyenne

The date was 2/25/73 when I shot this gang of power heading west out of the Cheyenne yard. The  9 units were GP30, GP9B, GP30, GP30, GP30, GP35?, U50C, DD35A, DD35. Ho-hum, just another typical UP Whitman Sampler of the time ...

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Awesome consist!  Sure a lot of power for what are probably empty PFE's. Congratulations on winning IOTD!



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 12/03/21 06:41 by Conch.

Impressive lineup of engines !
Very nice.
Gary

Those were the days!

wow-wonder what the fuel comsumption was for that massive consist?
Im guessing maybe 3 feet to the gallon.

Wow. 
The sound of those engines must have been heard miles away. 👍

sights to make a grown man whimper!  Thank you for capturing some of the finest images in railroading.

> wow-wonder what the fuel comsumption was for that massive consist?

A lot more than it needed to be, that's for sure.  They would regularly waste fuel like that until sometime later that year, when the fuel crisis started.  

They would have needed only about 4 of the small units, or 2 of the big units to get that train over the top at Sherman, so the fact that the others are on-line shows the lack of concern they had about burning fuel in those days.

Looks like this was two "sets" of power on a single train, with one probably moving west to be in position to move eastward tonnage.  UP traditionally had a significant imbalance in tonnage east vs. west (eastward heavy / west light), and also had (on average) more eastward trains that westward, so they needed to deadhead/reposition power from east to west on a regular basis.

Take care,

Mark

Nice shots.  Really shows how the UP had many models and did throw some fantastic consists together back in the day.
Brian Stevens

Excellent shots!   I can pretty much smell that first shot coming...and then the second shot engulfs you with that diesel exhaust goodness!!

valmont Wrote: > ...  Whitman Sampler ...

All that horse and all that exaust, good enough for today's IOT... er, I mean Eye-Candy Sampler of the day!!

;^)

"Hello, Power Desk, which units did you want us to put on that next out westbound?"
"All of them."


Another truly epic UP consist.  Thanks for posting!



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 12/03/21 06:51 by hotrail.

What also makes this picture special is it's a location a lot of us have probably been to. Kind of a 'Here's what you missed!'

Neat picture, not like my couple from there with only four units!

Jim

NICE, so much good looking power!

Larry

I was likely in Carey Junior High in Cheyenne, distracted by learning and girls but wishing Tower A was not clear across town on my bike! === === = === JLH

That's a fantastic catch, actually equal to 12 units, with the 3 double diesels!

Jim Baker
Riverside, CA