Nostalgia & History > UP 4-8-4 805 in Lead Helper Service, 1952

UP 4-8-4 805 in lead helper service on Train 9, City of St. Louis, Buford, WY on June 22, 1952, Al Chione photo.   The regular power was a PA, ERIEB-A.



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 05/14/22 16:41 by MartyBernard.

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Super rare catch! There truly seems to be a prototype for everything. Here is a 4-8-4, ALCO PA, FM Erie Built B-unit and FM Erie Built A-unit.
Bob

Super rare catch! There truly seems to be a prototype for everything. Here are a 4-8-4, ALCO PA, FM Erie Built B-unit and FM Erie Built A-unit.
Bob

One can barely make out the UP on that very grimy tender.....and can see no RR markings on any of the diesel units.  
Great image...would, of course, love to have been aboard.

AA

Stanford White
Carmel Valley, CA

agentatascadero Wrote:

> One can barely make out the UP on that very grimy
> tender.....and can see no RR markings on any of
> the diesel units.  

The diesels almost certainly have Union Pacific lettering down the sides similar to what's seen in these views:

https://www.trainorders.com/discussion/read.php?11,4550057

You can just see the patch of red on the nose of the lead PA where the road number is, but the tight angle, soft focus, and noise reduction software makes the rest of the lettering all but invisible.

Thanks Evan, for your comments and the thread link.  I had expected to see the RR markings exactly as shown in the link.  Now, after extra study, I can make out the engine number...at least where it is....but the Union Pacific is still invisible to me.

AA

Stanford White
Carmel Valley, CA

> Super rare catch! There truly seems to be a
> prototype for everything. 

Hello, 

This may sound strange, but the consist is not really unusual for that time.  The City of St. Louis and other secondary trains used units from a passenger pool that included ALCO PAs and FMs.  The E units that were preferred power were most often assigned to the Chicago-West Coast Streamliners at that time COSF, COLA, COP.  The headend helper was also used regularly then, prior to completion of main track 3 east of Dale Jct via Harriman.  FEF's were common on those passenger train helper assignments.   

Take care,

Mark