Just heard that U.P. DDA40X would head up a business train operating out of the old C&NW station in Chicago on Wednesday…anybody know the route and timing of this move…I’d really like to go trackside and see her come through. Thanks.
I heard about the eastbound consist Sunday, but I couldn’t make it trackside to capture it. IIRC, the info I have says it would be coming back west on the transcon Wednesday to Omaha.
The DD40X is running again! Awesome, i hope someone gets some pics and vids of this massive diesel.
Yes, she is running and here is a picture of her sitting at the Proviso diesel shop last night.
Any more details? I am going up that way on Wednesday and it would be REALLY neat to have on video. Is there a timetable, or does the train just come through whenever?
Holy Big diesel Batman! That would be neat to see!
If it goes through Rochelle I will try and get out to see it…or even go up to Wheaton to see it closer to home but I need to know something of a schedule…HHHHEEEEEEELLLLLLPPPPP, can anybody shed some light on the schedule?
Since it is leaving from the OTC, my bet is Milwaukee up the UP-N line. I’ve heard of the DDA40X being spotted on that line before (my brother swore he saw it). I am really bummed that I will not get the chance to see it this time around. It is my favorite engine, ever since I saw the one at the IRM in Union. It is the flagship of my HO model layout, too. I would love anyone that can get any pictures!
If it is on the Northwest line, I could get my parents to get some shots of it. The line runs about 500ft behind where my dad works.
[#ditto][#ditto][#ditto]
It isn’t very often that I get up to the Union Pacific mainline (perhaps once every two years), and the Centennial going through on the same day I’ll be up there is perfect. The only problem, though…when will it go through Iowa (Denison, in particular)?? Or, at least when it leaves Chicago? Anybody??
I’m afraid I can’t provide more precise information, as my source is now on vacation [;)]. Tomorrow is typically one of my busiest days, both at work and afterwards at church/home, so there’s no way I can afford to sit by the tracks waiting.[:(] But, based on my previous info, it’s definitely coming back through Rochelle/Clinton/CR to Omaha.
Well, the train’s going through Denison, IA then. My only question: when?? It would be aweful to go all the way up there and not see it because I was there at the wrong time. Anybody else have information? I’ve checked the UP website twice, and nothing about anything (as usual). Sorry, I guess I’m kind of excited. I thought I was going to be able to videotape the usual UP freight trains up there; the typical power of SD70M’s, SD90MAC’s, Dash 9’s, an SD70ACe or two and perhaps the C&NW heritage if I got lucky. Then I just happened to look on here and learn that the CENTENNIAL - the largest diesel (and perhaps most interesting) in the world is going through with a special business train THE VERY SAME DAY I’M UP THERE - I do not want to miss it. Please, somebody…anybody!!!
…Jim, that is one beautiful night photo of the big Centenntial. Perfect lighting and clarlity.
Based on my experiences with catching special stuff on the UP, I would be willing to bet that it won’t make it to Denison before dark if it leaves Chicago first thing in the morning, even with priority handling, which I doubt it will have. But cross your fingers and say a prayer- you might get lucky if you’re up there during the late afternoon/evening hours!
Jim, I’m extremely jealous.
If it does go through at that time, then I’m probably out of luck, but maybe not! I guess it all boils down to being there at the right time, which is who knows when.
This may be slightly different, but I can remember early last year going from Chariton, IA to Lucas and Creston. I was hoping to see Amtrak - but had no idea where it was, and if it was on schedule, it was already gone most likely. Well anyways, as we stopped in each town, I videotaped the freight trains. I was afraid that, if Amtrak was coming, I would miss it whilst going from town to town. But when we stopped in Lucas - it was about 1 or 2 o’clock probably - Amtrak went through.
Actually, that brings me to a theory I thought up a few years ago: most of the time, if you don’t know when the train will be there, you’ll probably see it. I know, it doesn’t make a lot of sense, but it’s been consistent with Amtrak’s Zephyr many times! I guess I’ll cross my fingers and see what happens…[:-^]
Well, did anybody actually get lucky enough to see this train…and are we all REALLY lucky and did you take any pictures?
Several years ago, someone in South Dakota purchased one of these monster locomotives and for a while it was left sitting alongside a grain elevator in Chamberlain, South Dakota. I don’t think it was in operating condition then. My folks and I were on our way out to the Black Hills in September of 1988 and I photographed it. I still have my pictures of it, I think they are somewhere in my basement. I wonder what ever happened to this piece of equipment, and am inclined to think that it may no longer be there in the same place when my Dad and I first saw it.
CANADIANPACIFIC2816
That would be the Dakota Southern Railroad (#6925). I have not heard of them selling/scrapping it. The Illinois Railway Museum has #6930 up in Union, Illinois, but it is not is super condition.