The official Trivia topic! Feel free to post your own questions at any time. Also don’t forget to check out Murphy Sidings railroad history of the day post for more fascinating information. http://www.trains.com/community/forum/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=52679
What is the average age of Union Pacific’s freight locomotives?Answer: 13.56 years
…My opinion: Your choice.
12 years… just a guess
Well Id have to go with the 12 year or maybe a little over average. I know they still have C&NW units roaming about of the SD40 variety. Plus some old SP’s roaming around. However UP has been buying a lot of new power over the years so maybe even a lower age? Good question I like train trivia so bring it on however you like.
And BTW welcome back Lotus. ( dont rag on me people I didnt now he was back and I have been busy so thhhppppptttt)
The older SP units are being rapidly sold off.Tunnel motors are showing up all over the country,Some even in CN paint! New GEVOs and SD70s of several phases seem to be breeding like rabbits. I will place the average age of a UP unit at 10 years.
I assume you are not including 844 and 3985 in this list[:o)]!
I think this should be an ongoing thread. I really enjoy it[8D]!
Keep it up!
Average age is near 13 years.
Surprisingly high…I’m going to say just about 15 years. So your average locomotive is about the age of an SD60 or a Dash 8. (Startling? I think so!)
Keep in mind that UP still rosters two active locomotives from the 1940s! Oops, guess those aren’t freight locomotives, are they?
Anyway, it might be interesting to compare the age of UP’s fleet to the others. Even if they got 250 new locomotives a year, it would take about 30 years to replace the entire fleet, aftter which you’d have an average age of 15 years.
As to your second question, if I understand the question correctly, the answer is no–I’d prefer to see it the way it is now, with a new thread for each day’s question. We’re here to disseminate the information, not to try and tie the Diner’s record!
However, I think you should keep the trivia coming as long as you have the resources and energy. Take weekends off, if you need to, if it will help keep it coming longer.
One caveat: Along with the answers, I’d like to see sources named. There have been some disagreements in the past, and we’d like to at least see where the information is coming from, so we can be the judge.
I’d guess around 17 years.
With all the newer power they’ve purchased, I’d think it would bring down the average age. Put me down for 8 years average.
Don’t know why but my gut says 10 yrs.
15, and I like the seperate thread, i just think it owuld be better done like on the MR forum, in a poll format, if we could get that on this board. And Carl has a great idea, Cite your source, link it or something so we can check when its over.
on average i would say about ten years, but from looking at the filth on both the inside and ouside, looks like forty years…
I’ll say 13 years. In SPs last years they went from having the oldest fleet to the newest fleet in a short time and UP is not known for keeping older engines around.
Unless you count the challenger and other heritage locos.
But you originaly asked about the FREIGHT engines.
But even if you count the Fs,DDA40X and the steamers, they are only 5 units and would barely affect the avg age of the fleet.
Wait-We’re counting those?
IIRC, the question was about freight units–that would exclude the steam locomotives, the E units, and the DDA40X, as well as anything lettered UPY. Guess that brings the total quantity down.
freight…13.56…for 6947 units
leased…27.22…109
switcher…29.13…468
passenger…50.71…7
total…14.74…7531
I woudl say about 16 years. Just a guess. Welcome, back Lotus!
EDIT- Yes, this should be an ongoing thread. And poeple could post questions at will, we could even have more than one at a time!