Just thought I’d share a few shots that I got today of the Missouri Pacific Heritage Unit in Omaha. There’s nothing particularly special about them, but I thought some folks might like to see the locomotive.
I suspect it’s not often that a Warbonnet and heritage unit are side by side like this.
The train stopped for a few minutes, which allowed time to get several shots. The building in the background is the Durham Western Heritage Museum, which is worth a visit if you’re ever in Omaha.
Finally, the train heads east toward Iowa.
Here’s a couple other shots from today:
Norfolk Southern power is rare in this area.
There were plenty of trains this afternoon, with UP and BNSF often in the same shot:
…Those N S power units were sure dirty…especially the first one. Those are very common here Willy, of course…major N S lines thru here. And if you would be seeing those after the engineer has blown the horns, the ditch lights should be blinking back and forth. Notice the U P units that pass thru here, and quite a few do…do not blink.
There’s a grade crossing a little farther back, and his ditch lights were indeed blinking when he blew the horn. NS and CSX locomotives must be the only ones equipped with those, as I’ve never seen ditch lights blink on UP or BNSF units. I assume it’s just railroad preference.
The ditch lights are actually tied in with the bell, which can be actuated by sounding the horn. But ring the bell separately, and the lights will also flash. Actually, I’m not sure whether NS or CSX units always had the flashing ditch lights. They were used by Conrail, and the other railroads may have started using them on their own units after the split.
The Heritage units are special in the sense they honor the fallen flag railroad with colors and schemes.
The units are from two different phases of production. The first three ( 1982, 1983 and 1988) have early production details and the last three ( 1989, 1995, and 1996) have 2nd phase production details. The Union Pacific started a trend that other railroads now have copied by painting the Heritage units and using them as display for special events and trains.
They are interesting as you said and I hope other railroads will continue to do this to remind us of the past by using Heritage schemes. Let see if the BNSF will do a Heritage Warbonnet.
