Help! UP Steam Engine buffs

[joesap1]

My Grandfather was an engineer on the UP and I have two photos with him and some steam locomotives.
The first is a shot of him in the cab with the engine numbering: 9502

In the second shot he is standing next to a behemoth locomotive(like a big boy) and the number plate reads 902_ ( the last digit is blurred in the photo).

Does anyone have any knowledge of these locomotives or care to offer any other comments? Your response will be appreciated. Thanks.
As to engine type, manufacturer, etc. I just like to know someone is reading this.

[jimrice4449]

The 90xx would be a three cylinder UP type 4-12-2. I don't know about the 9500.

[Anonymous]

The 902(0-9) might be a 4-12-2, but unlike the 4-8-8-4 (4000-4025) series had
cylinders on the front (like the C&O allengy series) There was 88 in its class, all
of which, had an open cab desing & 3 cylinders. As for this 9500, I don't know.

[joesap1]

Yes, I think, after staring intently at the faded photo again, that the 902_ is a 4-12-2.

But doesn't anybody have any idea about what the 9502 engine was? All I have is a close up of my Grandfather sitting in the cab above the numerals 9502.

[Anonymous]

9500-9514 were also UP 4-12-2's assigned to the Oregon Short Line divsion(Wyoming up through idaho into southeast Oregon). After the western divisions got diesels, they were transfered back to the Nebraska division in 1948. The reference I have doesn't say whether they were re-numbered back into the 9000 series.

[joesap1]

Thanks up829! My Grandfather worked for the UP from the thirties until 1968. He ran freight and later passenger trains from North Platte to Grand Island, NE.
So the 9502 photo could have been taken in the early 50's after they were tranferred to the Nebraska division.
Who built these 4-12-2 engines? And is there any more details on their service history?

[Anonymous]

Not really except that UP replaced them with 4-6-6-4's. In reality the UP ordered
engines that had the drivers split up onto 4 cylinders instead 2, & less matience.
One is preserved in pomona (no:9000).

[Anonymous]

The 3 cylinder 4-12-2's were built by Alco from 1926-1930, were unique to the UP so the official class type is 'Union Pacfic'.. They were ordered after UP experimented with a small group of 3 cylinder 4-10-2's. The goal was higher speeds with manifest trains on the Wyoming division with reasonable axle loading. 15 went to the OSL, and another small group numbered in the 9700's went to the Northwest division but were returned after they straightened most of the curves in the Blue Mountains.

When Challengers and Big Boys came on the system, the 4-12-2's became the main freight power on the Nebraska division where some lasted well into the 50s. AFAIK, none were ever permanently assigned to the LA&SL division and none were converted to burn oil, so why one is preserved in Pomona I don't know, but I'm glad one was saved.

I believe there's a book devoted entirely to the type, with pictures of almost every engine. Some more familiar with the day to day operation have stated that these engines were a major headache to maintain, but UP did keep them in service for a long time, so someone was happy with their performance.

[lupo]

consulting the UP roster the 9500 seems to be a 4-12-2 like the 90## series, and was retired in 1956

[joesap1]

Thanks to up829, lupo, and everyone else who contributed. Now I finally know what engine my Grandfather was sitting in.
My Grandfather retired from the UP in the spring of '68 and passed away that fall. I was only fifteen when he died, and we were very close. I have always carried his love affair with trains. God willing, if I pass the medical, agility, and background tests, I will try to follow his footsteps by starting a job as an Conductor on the BNSF.