A friend and new modeler had a question outside my knowledge base, so help us out if you can those of you who live in or model the west.
In the transition era, or slightly after, what if any parts of the Union Pacific were double track?
Are/were there any long sections of the UP ever double tracked, now or in the past?
All details welcome.
Thanks,
Sheldon
I believe there was some double trackage between Council Bluffs, Iowa and Omaha, Nebraska.
Back then, UP didn’t have all of the trackage like they have now. I am sure there were other places that were double tracked back then.
Omaha to Fremont to Granger, Wyoming was true double track (rule 251 operation) There were also pockets of double track (rule 251) or two main tracks (rule 261) around Salt Lake City, Ogden, Kansas City and Topeka.
On the modern UP, If you consider directional operations double tracked, Chicago to Houston. Marshall to Ft Worth, about 75% of New Orleans to Los Angeles, Marysville to Gibbon (KC to Gibbon if you count the directional via Hiawatha) Chicago to Mo Valley, Ft Worth to Houston. Plus bits and pieces other places.
There is triple track Gibbon to N Platte and 4 main tracks N Platte to O Fallons.
Dave, Thanks for that detailed breakdown, that’s exactly what we needed.
Sheldon
Just about any major class one would have double track through a congested area in a major city in that era.
The entire line south of Cheyenne past Laramie was double tracked.