Does UP have standard engine combinations for different types of trains?

[bakupolo]

The reason I ask is I notice things on the UP right of way (old MOPAC road) through Austin such as:

Gravel and rocks are always pulled North by two C60ACs or three GE44s all in front. They work hard going North up the grade and the 4 cycle engines are fun to listen to.

Coal Drags are always new GEs usually 44s or 44ACs with two in front and one in back and the one in back always seems to be working harder than the front units - like full power, with smoke pouring out the stack.

Stack trains are pulled by at least 3, sometimes 5 engines, and they're usually fairly new, like SD60 the oldest. These trains go up the MOPAC grade pretty fast almost AMTRAK speed, actually, but I can't notice and consistent use of the same engine types.

Auto racks are pulled by any old power. I see SD40s and Dash 8s, usually they look pretty low in power priority. I see them on the sidetracks a lot. One thing about the Auto trains is occasionally a Mexican engine is onboard. They are usually pretty new and ALWAYS clean and bright red. Evidently the Mexicans have more pride than UP, whos engines are not nice to look at.

Then the copy suey consists - boxcars, mixed tankers and so forth and pulled by old GPs and SD40s. One night I watched two SD40s work a mile-long boxcar freight up the hill. It made it!

 

 

[beaulieu]

The reason I ask is I notice things on the UP right of way (old MOPAC road) through Austin such as:

Gravel and rocks are always pulled North by two C60ACs or three GE44s all in front. They work hard going North up the grade and the 4 cycle engines are fun to listen to.

Yes, Up's AC600CWs are mainly used in Rock train service, they are less reliable than the AC4400CWs, and this use keeps them closer to the repair shops and causes less problems if they fail.

 

Coal Drags are always new GEs usually 44s or 44ACs with two in front and one in back and the one in back always seems to be working harder than the front units - like full power, with smoke pouring out the stack.

Coal trains are assigned the GE AC4400CWs and EMD SD9043MACs. With the GE's outnumbering the EMD's it's not surprising that you haven't seen them. DC motored GEs like the Dash-9 are rare on UP coal trains. 

 

Stack trains are pulled by at least 3, sometimes 5 engines, and they're usually fairly new, like SD60 the oldest. These trains go up the MOPAC grade pretty fast almost AMTRAK speed, actually, but I can't notice and consistent use of the same engine types.

Intermodal trains require higher power so more units are used. Trains bound for California normally have the newest locomotives to meet California emissions requirements. Some older power gets into California but UP (and BNSF) try to minimize the number.

 

Auto racks are pulled by any old power. I see SD40s and Dash 8s, usually they look pretty low in power priority. I see them on the sidetracks a lot. One thing about the Auto trains is occasionally a Mexican engine is onboard. They are usually pretty new and ALWAYS clean and bright red. Evidently the Mexicans have more pride than UP, whos engines are not nice to look at.

 

Older Mexican power has all lettering in Spanish and gauges calibrated in Metric units. Newer Mexican power has computer displays that can change between Metric and English units at the push of a button. So it is very rare for older Mexican power to operate in the US, and if they do they normally are trailing locomotives.

 

Then the copy suey consists - boxcars, mixed tankers and so forth and pulled by old GPs and SD40s. One night I watched two SD40s work a mile-long boxcar freight up the hill. It made it!

Train weight is more important than length, and for such a train speed isn't so important. 

[bakupolo]

Very interesting and informative. I'm a new railfan. Thanks.

[Lord Atmo]

and you'll find that UP likes to use the older stuff on manifests. most everything around here is SD40-2s and dash 8s. but soon, i'm gonna guess the SD70Ms will replace them. or perhaps the SD60 fleet. that'd be nice.

personally i cant wait to see SD70Ms or SD60s take over around here 

[wctransfer]

You'll kick yourself for saying that in no more than 2 years time, Atmo.

Alec

[Lord Atmo]

not when you get the kinds of SD40-2s i get, dude

 

i did once see SD9043MACs leading a manifest once. that was neat and also welcome to the yard 

[spikejones52002]

Can a consist contain a mixture of A.C and D.C. Engines?

 

[CAZEPHYR]

Can a consist contain a mixture of A.C and D.C. Engines?

 

 

This happens all of the time.

 

[bakupolo]

and you'll find that UP likes to use the older stuff on manifests. most everything around here is SD40-2s and dash 8s. but soon, i'm gonna guess the SD70Ms will replace them. or perhaps the SD60 fleet. that'd be nice.

personally i cant wait to see SD70Ms or SD60s take over around here 

 

What's a "manifest?"

[silicon212]

A manifest is an old-fashioned train.  Boxcars, tankers, maybe some pigs or containers, gondolas, hoppers, that sort of thing.  General freight.

[bakupolo]

Oh. Ok. Now I can stop calling them chop suey trains.

Yes they have old power here too. Actually I like being in a UP town, never thought much of their highly visible, homely color scheme, but they have a lot of engines and use most of them here. I don't believe I've ever seen a GE 4-axel on this road but about everything else made in the last 30 years.

[chicagorails]

coal trains use ge and stackers ,pigs use emd.  on bnsf its opposite of up.

[CNW 6000]

CN's been running lots of their full body units through here lately, both EMD and GE.  It would be nice to see some more of the SD70M-2s tho...