Can anybody shed some light on when and how (which route) UP’s DDA40X number 6936 will be using coming into Chicago for the Franklin Park Railroad Daze this weekend…Carl, are you listening? Hope so. Thanks
its already in chicago got into Global 3 on saturday then into Global 2 early sunday morning and has been interchanged with CP at Bensenville sometime after that
I’m guessing they had it pulling a freight while it was enroute?
It was on regular freights (not necessarily on line) while coming in–an intermodal train from Elko to Global 3, another one from Global 3 to Global 2 (Proviso), then on the regular CP transfer run.
What does it mean “on line”?
Carl may not be available due to the later time zone so I will try and jump in here.
“On line” means it is MU’ed into the other units and is helping pull the train. The 6936 has become a one of a kind collectors item, a still serviceable DDA40X, so it is probably off line and is being towed like a regular freight car.
They wouldn’t want to damage a difficult or impossible to replace part by using it in regular service. Scenes like the one at the top of the TRAINS homepage are going to become increasingly uncommon, so they will to be as careful using this engine as possible.
It is a similar idea as the Class I’s that have a big steam engine using a diesel unit behind the steamer. It is a way of helping to preserve a priceless historical artifact. Look at pictures of Canadian Pacific Royal Hudson 2816 as an example.
Bruce
As the others stated, the Centennial came into the Chicago area via the old C&NW route.
Although the UP 6936 was just along for the ride coming into Proviso, it was running and used by the CP crew on the Proviso-Bensenville transfer as the lead locomotive on their return trip. The loco consist was a wild one, with the UP 6936 leading two CP geeps and then two brand-new GO Transit MP36s heading toward Toronto for delivery. This move took place just before sunset on Sunday, May 30. I didn’t see it myself, but some of my friends photographed the move.
As the Trains Newswire states, the locomotive will be on display at the Franklin Park Railroad Daze on this coming Saturday, June 5. Although the festival lasts three days, the equipment will only be on display on Saturday from 10 AM to 3 PM. It is expected that the UP 6936 will be on the west end of the line of displayed equipment, so the best photos of it would be later in the afternoon–or probably as they are taking the display equipment back toward Bensenville Yard after 3 PM.
Don’t know when it will be heading back west, but one might think that it would be sometime on Sunday.
Lance
The 6936 was always m.u.ed with the other units, as it was a middle unit in the consist coming east, but it was apparently shut down for the run from Global 3 to Global 2. I had noticed that it was powered for the trip west from Elko to Global 3.
These days, UP bases its consist requirements on “equivalent powered axles” instead of just horsepower. It was surprising to note that the 6936 was contributing fewer EPA to the train than an SD70M!
I met the eastbound K train with the 6936 at Boone. I was arriving from Clinton as it was passing thru town. I had read earlier reports that it was the middle unit, but it was second of two on the head end. The train was DPU, with maybe two on the back. I can’t remember now for certain. Possibly the third unit on the head end had been cut out at North Platte. I don’t know if it was running/on line or not.
I had kind of forgotten about it coming. When I saw it, I said to the conductor, “Here comes that Centennial unit.” I’m sure he had no idea of what I was talking about.
Jeff
CURIOSITY QUESTION: Was UP 6936 facing east or west while crossing The Overland Route mainline?
It’s nearly summertime folks, and we all know what bugs flying through the air do to the front our cars. Well, the same thing happens with the lead unit in a locomotive consist. I would hope that the Centennial unit would have been facing west so as maintain a cleaner face before being put on display.
When I saw it going east, second out in the consist, it was facing east.
Jeff