Passenger train infromation.

[Anonymous]

I am modeling the UP line that runs through Idaho, in 1954 or '55. Does anybody know what the usual consist for the Idahoan would be. Was it still steam, of did it have F or even E units? Any help, or maybe a book on the UP in Idaho?

[Tracklayer]

I have an old picture that I cut out of a book years ago of a UP passenger train that's stopped at a station some where out in the mid west (Wyoming?). Anyway, it appears to consist of E units A, B, A, an RPO, a baggage car, a couple of sleepers, a couple of coaches, a dome lounge, a dining car and an end observation car. Like I say, it appears this way, but I could be wrong. Hopefully someone that knows for sure will come along and be able to better answer this for you.

Good luck.

Tracklayer

[Anonymous]

I hope so!

[jimrice4449]

I have an Official Guide (reprint) for 1945 but it doesn't show the Idahoan. It does show an Idaho Express (which was later renamed Idahoan????) The equipment shown was 2 heavywieght 10 sect 2 compt 1 drawing room Pullmans, a diner between Pendelton to Pocatello and coaches Pendelton to Salt Lake City. This train apparently only ran between Pendelton and Salt Lake City.
Lacking any better information, a good guess would be a couple of heavywieght Pullmans for first class service and possibly another 1 or 2 14 or 16 section heavywieghts in tourist service, a diner and two to three coaches w/ a gaggle of head end cars (some baggage, exp. box., RPO's, etc) The good news is that a train like this would most likely have rated a 4-8-4 at least as far as La Grande and, possibly a Challenger for the rest of the trip to the Coast. UP did have some psgr F units (F-3s I believe) and these would most likely have been the units to bump steam unti they were replaced by Es.
Not very definitive I'm afraid, but sometimes we have to go w/ educated guesses

[RedGrey62]

Lotus098, found this undated picture. Hope it helps

http://www.uprr.com/aboutup/photos/steampassengeraction/17273.shtml

RedGre62

[RedGrey62]

Lotus098, here's another outstanding website I like using, the Denver Public Library. I just did a search on Idahoan and it came up with a bunch of images!

http://photoswest.org/presearch.html

RedGrey62

[passengerfan]

Just looked up the IDAHOAN in my June 1954 Official Guide andf trains 11-12 operated between Omaha and Portland.
Diesel powered using E units in ABB or ABA or even ABBB or ABBA combinations.
Numerouse head end cars both lightweight and heavyweight.
44 - seat leg Rest coaches lightweight
Omaha-Portland
Minneapolis - Portland via C&NW east of Omaha
St. Louis to Portland operating in #9 St. Louis to Green River
Salt Lake City - Portland operating in #29 Salt Lake City to Pocatello
Dining Car North Platte to Portland
Club Lounge Car North Platte to Portland
14-Section Sleeping Car lightweight Omaha to Los Angeles west of Green River in #9
6-Section 6-Roomette 4-Double Bedroom Lightweight St. Louis - Seattle #9 St. Louis - Green River #459 Portland-Seattle
10-Section 1-Drawing Room 1-Compartment Heavyweight Salt Lake City - Portland #29 Salt Lake City - Pocatello
Hope that helps. Majority of cars were head end cars as the IDAHOAN was a workhorse transporting Express and Bulk mail. Passengers to and from Chicago rode C&NW trains east of Omaha.

[Anonymous]

QUOTE: Originally posted by RedGrey62

Lotus098, here's another outstanding website I like using, the Denver Public Library. I just did a search on Idahoan and it came up with a bunch of images!

http://photoswest.org/presearch.html

RedGrey62

I can't get the link to work.
edit- oops, now it does.

[Anonymous]

Wow! it looks like it was a 8-12 car train, pulled by a 4-8-4. This is great it is short enough to model on a small railroad, and it was steam powered. Take a look at this picture taken by Otto Perry:http://photoswest.org:8080/cgi-bin/cw_cgi?fullRecord+4093+594+14788+3+1

Thanks guys!