Where is the UP DD40 at right now that pulls the UP Passenger Special at certain times? Also, is the UP DD40 going to run any Passenger Specials this year of 2010? If they are going to run Passenger Specials this year, can you tell me where or when they are or is there a Website that shows the schedule for the UP DD40 Passenger Special?
Tom:
Pass this along for you. The U P’s Centennial is actually a DDA40X. built as a Class of 47 total loco’s in two groups. they were follow on’s for the DDA35 which had been built on the DD35 model which was a “B” style w/o a cab. There is a link to a site with the story of these locomotives:
http://utahrails.net/articles/up-dda40x.php
Sometimes they run the 6936 (DDA40X) as protection power with the Steam Locomotive trains, but when it pulls the OCT’s there is no public schedule published. Occassionally, a member here will publish some facets of its schedule or a location where it was sighted on a trip. ( I think this is correct)
I concur with what Sam mentions; and will add that to the best of my knowledge, it resides in Cheyenne when not in use.
Right now, it’s in Portola, California, and has been there for a while, and will remain there until it’s needed. Probably the only opportunity to see two of these things in one location, while it lasts.
6936 has just one engine in it now. They removed one engine to lighten it so it could go on track it could not go on before.
This doesn’t ring true–removing a prime mover would disrupt the balance of the entire unit. The UP’s own locomotive characteristics page for this unit still shows it as 6600 horsepower. The main problem with the unit going everywhere is, of course, those four-axle trucks.
Still in Portola??? Wow, has it really been there all this time? This was taken 2 years ago.
The 6936 spends winters at Portola, but goes back to Cheyenne for summer work. It was used last year on some specials and then was sent back to Portola for the winter. It has not been there all of the time since your picture was taken.
CZ
Those trucks are why Wimmer (head of MOW for the UP, old CNW guy) kept it around for inspection trains. If the engine found some irregularity, it would pretty much shake the whole train. Wonder how the ride was when it came past here.
