Hello.
Being in searching of internet informations about UP MT-73, I must admit that I haven’t been able to find them. Can you help me? Is there anybody who knows well this steam locomotive operative life? Moreover, what do you think about BLI H0 MT-73?
Thanks.
The MT-73’s were built in 1922 and numbered 7000 to 7039. They were the only 4-8-2’s the UP had. They were “vacated” between 1951 and 1956. When built, they were designed for mainline passenger service, most likely to help out the UP’s 4-6-2’s. They were apparently quite light for 4-8-2’s, and didn’t do well in mountain service.
Quoting from Kratville and Ranks in “Motive Power of the Union Pacific”:
“With the coming of the 4-8-4’s[1937], the Mountains[4-8-2’s] were downgraded to secondary trains although they still held many important runs on the Oregon lines west of Huntington.”
East of Huntington is generally mountainous, west is generally flat.
Please note that I am far from an expert in UP; perhaps others can “tighten up” my comments.
I have two of these and like them a lot. The earlier one runs rather poorly, but I think replacing the DCC chip is supposed to improve that immensly. Breaking in might help–it already has a bit. The one that was recently made runs quite nicely.
Ed
Hi ETR_500,
If you can find a copy of “Union Pacific Steam in Color, an eastern District pictorial” By Lloyd E. Stagner, it is a very good book that covers locomotives of all sizes from 0-6-0s to Bigboys.
The book has a short chapter on UP’s mountain types, and the MT 73 is the only 4-8-2 type noted for the UP in the book. The MT 73s were built by ALCO-Brooks in April 1922, and it shows the last MT 73 being retired in 1956. The MT was UP’s letter designation for the Mountain type and the 73 referred to the size of the drivers, the MT 73’s having a 73" driver diameter.
The original order ( and the only one that I have read about) was for 54 in addition to the first prototype, the #7000. with the UP getting a total of 40 locomotives and the other 15 going to the Los Angeles & Salt Lake (L.A.& S.L.) which was a subsidiary of the UP.
On the L.A & S.L. they were used for through power between Salt Lake and L.A. a distance of 785 miles which was the longest engine run in normal service on the system. They were designed ordered and built primarily as passenger power, and were used as such, until the 800 class 4-8-4s came into to service, and then were gradually transferred to lower class passenger service and eventually freight as they neared the end of their working lives. Unfortunately none of these engines escaped the scrappers torches.
As far as the BLI models of them, I have all four of the original release, one had to go back to BLI for service right out of the box (something that I have had to with several BLI’s) I have really liked them they are very good looking engines, but some do run smoother than others, which is something that I have come to expect from BLI, Hopefully they have improved in this as I haven’t bought any BLI locomotives in a couple years, as I am modeling in O-Gauge at home, and that is getting the bulk of my modeling budget.
Hi 7j43k,
You have that backwards on the terrain around Huntington, OR. To the west of Huntington to Rieth, near Pendleton, OR is HEAVY MOUNTAIN country, through the BLUE Mountains, and flattening out going east. Huntington to Portland was one of the areas that Union Pacific used their Challengers in Passenger service.
Doug
Ed (7j43k) and Doug (Challenger3980), I say thank you for your helpful answers. I really read with interest your participation. However, I’d like to know which service (and which trains) they did carry out (not all of them, obviously: only the most important ones).
About BLI model, please, I have one more question: you’ve said the one that was recently made runs “quite nicely”. OK, but… I’ve bought (and waiting) a BLI-038 #7002. Is it a new run one or not? Are there eventually differences between 1st and 2nd run?
Thanks again.
The MT 73s were assigned to many passenger runs such as Cheyenne, WY to Ogden, UT and also Between Omaha, NE and Cheyenne. In 1947-8 many of the L.a. & S.L. Mt’s were transferred to the O.W.R & N. (Oregon, Washington, Railroad and Navigation) which was another Union Pacific subsidiary, The UP also had another subsidiary, the Oregon Short Line (O.S.L.) which in all the photos that I have seen, the locomotives are still lettered for Union Pacific, but will have the subsidiary railroads initials in smaller markings on the cab sides and rear of the tenders. The OWR&N would run the MT 73s from Portland to Seattle, WA, or from Portland to Spokane, WA and also to Pendleton, OR and Pocatello, ID. I am not sure what name trains they pulled, or what years certain name trains began service, so I am just guessing that on the Portland, OR runs they may have pulled the “Portland Rose” and they may also have been used a name train called the “CHALLENGER” that UP also ran, They may also have been used on the “OVERLAND LIMITED” before the 8oo class 4-8-4s were delivered. But I admit these are just logical guesses, and not the gospel truth. They are also listed as having pulled troop trains and extra sections ( when a scheduled train has more passengers than it can carry extra trains carrying the same train#/Name will be run to handle the overage)
Another bit of interest is that the #7002 was converted to a STREAMLINED configuration (date of conversion not listed) until 1942 for use on the “Forty Niner” between Cheyenne, WY and Ogden, UT. after which she was returned to her original appearance. So far BLI has not offered this version that I am aware of.
I don’t know of any mechanical/detail differences between the two runs, other than additional road#s. As far as some running smoother than others, it seems to be more of an individualized situation, from locomotive to locomotive, some ju
Doug (Challenger3980), don’t worry at all, absolutely. Yes, I live in Italy and, for this reason, finding informations regarding US locomotives is often a real “headache”.
About interest in Union Pacific Railroad, it’s undoubtedly connected to the imposing locomotives which have always characterized its history.
Thanks again for your helpful informations.