The UP steam fleet has been donated to the museum in Sivis to be restored:
UP: Union Pacific Donates Steam Locomotives, Passenger Cars for Restoration
Dave H. Painted side goes up. My website : wnbranch.com
A portion of its fleet, apparently.
Simon
Challenger 3985 will be the first engine restored to operating condition; will be great to see that one running again. The 2-10-2 would be later.
"RRHMA plans to repaint and redecorate the business cars into their historic WP and SP liveries and offer them for charter on Amtrak and private trips. Most of the remaining cars will be repainted in RRHMA’s Milwaukee Road colors."
I assume the E-9B will be restored and decorated to match their E-9A unit's Milwaukee Road inspired scheme.
https://261.com/2022/04/28/up-donation/
I'm glad to see 4014 and 844 were not included. I'd hate to see either taken off the active roster.
Also glad to see 3985 will be restored. I remember it being restored back in the 1980s but never did see the reason it was deactivated. I wasn't aware of the the other steam power the UP had.
I wonder what regional railroads they intend to run the refurbished locos on. I'd love to see the Ohio Central get a crack at one given its history with their own steam fleet prior to being sold to Genesee and Wyoming.
I thought Amtrak was out of the charter and private car moves?
John-NYBWAlso glad to see 3985 will be restored. I remember it being restored back in the 1980s but never did see the reason it was deactivated.
Steam engines are only licensed to operate for set number of years before they have to go through a lengthy and expensive complete overhaul to be recertified. I think by the time 3985's certificate expired, UP had already started the prep work to restore the BigBoy, so put their efforts into that.
3985 when restored will probably make excursions around the US as 261 has, but like 261 will probably most often run 'close to home'. The Silvis shops are on Iowa Interstate's line, so that would be a likely host.
BEAUSABRE I thought Amtrak was out of the charter and private car moves?
No, there were major changes a couple of years ago, but it was mainly a huge reduction in where PV could be added and removed.
April 30, 2022.
Cheers, Ed
It seems like every day's "Grab Bag" on Virtual Railfan's YouTube site has at least one Amtrak train with one or more private cars in it.
https://www.youtube.com/c/VirtualRailfan
I'm not sure when the last time it ran but it wasn't that long ago, private car Chapel Hill, C&O #3 or the Hussar when it was owned by Marjorie Merryweather Post, former resident of Mar-a-Lago, is now the ripe old age of one hundred this year.
Still Amtrak certified as far as I know. I used to "work" the car as steward/porter in the '70s.
BW_April3_Mo_0051 by Edmund, on Flickr
Regards, Ed