A new beginning...JRs UPRR.


There is also word that yet another locomotive has arrived a week ago. A "Cotton Belt" unit.....bought on a burn sale. GP-40 Cotton Belt SSW SP it is currently in the shop getting programed. Also on the horizon a new box car to pay homage to the boss's home town where he was born is on the way. Then there is a beast of a machine coming as well, One of the first SD90MACs 6,000 hp loco.....we already have one in our fleet and decided on another. We here at JR's UPRR are able to resolve the problems of the 6k units and have it purring like a kitten and performing well. This unit is coming soon.

Wyatt dragged out the UPT 7 & UPT 8 as they will be put in to service. We have had these for 20 years now (both are custom and done quite well). They have been run through and ready to perform. UPT 7 will get sandwiched in between 9234 & 9077 both GE Dash 8-40C. UPT 8 will be set between 6344 & 6366 both are GE C44CW (AC4400W).
20211027_203227.jpg
20211027_203233.jpg
20211027_203239.jpg
20211027_203240.jpg
20211027_203245.jpg
20211027_203250.jpg
20211027_203255.jpg
20211027_203304.jpg
20211027_203307.jpg


A little history: (from Don Strack website https://utahrails.net/up/up-fuel-tenders.php )

UPT 5 to UPT 8​

During 1995 to 1998, UP completed a series of tests and operations using four tenders for diesel fuel. There were four diesel fuel tenders.

October 4, 1996
"Omaha-Council Bluffs area employees are invited to view one of UP's new fuel tenders on Friday, October 4. The UPT-7 tender will be on display from 7 a.m. to dark on the intermodal yard track south of the Harriman Dispatching Center parking lot as part of the HDC Fuel Days celebration. The company now has four fuel tenders in service across the system. By carrying an additional supply of fuel, the tenders are reducing locomotive dwell time, extending the distance trains can travel and enabling the company to fuel more price competitively. The four UP tenders are numbered UPT-5 through UPT-8." (Update Line, Union Pacific Communications Department, October 3, 1996)

UP had four tank cars converted to serve as diesel fuel tenders 1995. The cars were numbered as UPT 5 to UPT 8, numbered following the four LNG tenders (UPT 1 to UPT 4). The diesel fuel tender program was initiated in late 1995, placing a single fuel tender between two new General Electric C44ACs. The combination of a fuel tender connected between two locomotives was usually assigned to unit coal trains coming out of the Powder River Basin in Wyoming. The fuel tender program came to an end due to wear and tear on the fuel tenders themselves, since tank car frames are not designed to take the buffeting and differing longitudinal loads that locomotives are designed for. The tank cars used were standard tank cars, which are also not designed to take the high mileage of being coupled between locomotives (approximately 90,000 miles per year, about four times what a standard tank car would see). The program was in operation during from approximately July 1996 through May 1998 (date range supported by dated photos of fuel tenders in service). All of the fuel tenders were out of service by April 2000, and stored at Council Bluffs at UP's Fox Park passenger facility. They were still there as late as June 2002. (part from Trainorders.com, January 26, 2006; See also: an article by Michael McGowen in "Union Pacific Modeler", Volume 3, pages 84-91)

The tenders were tested beginning in May 1996. They were converted from four Class O-70-1 tank cars from the 70000-70199 number series. The fuel tenders were numbered UPT 5 through UPT 8. The tank cars were originally built in the 1954-55 timeframe by American Car & Foundry. The cars were modified by Union Tank Car in Muscatine, Iowa. The cars were 51 feet long and had a capacity of 19,167 gallons. ("Fuel Tenders; UP's Answer To Better Delivery Times", The Streamliner [UPHS], Volume 13, Number 2, Spring 1999; article includes several photos and drawings)

UP assigned a total of six new GE C44CW (AC4400W) locomotives to their diesel fuel tender program. Their numbers were UP 6840-6845, built in October 1995. Several news reports also show four C40-8Ws, UP 9387-9390, built in February and March 1990, as being part of the program, but these were just planned and not actually converted.
 
What in tarnation is this?

The guys were surprised as what pulled out of the diesel shops. It was snucked in late last night... the boss wanted to trick their minds with this paint scheme. The guys know darn well this was never a scheme for this locomotive but the boss says we are paying homage to the DRG&W. So be it and eveyone agrees that it has a real cool factor! It will be a nice addition to JR's UPRR stables.

We bring you a GE Dash 9-44CW in a Rio Grande livery. So what ya'll think!



20211115_180842.jpg
20211115_181450.jpg
20211115_181455.jpg
20211115_181501.jpg
20211115_181507.jpg
20211115_181518.jpg
 
Well the hits keeps on coming and rolling in.....

This beast showed up and Wyatt is estatic about this one. UP #8039 SD90MAC 6000hp as it originally was intended for.... not the 4300hp She will be speed matched to the existing SD90 UP #8102 on the roster. They will be assigned together to tank hauling duties. She's got a nice sound WOW system installed and all the bells and whistles. May later convert to LEDs. JR's UPPR has been amassing some serious road power lately the deals keep on rolling in. Wait until you see what shows up next. The buzz and scuttle butt now is there are some serious iron coming on the high rail in the form of STEAM! JR's UPPR management decided to look at getting a few stars for the steam program to run some excursions. Stay tuned. Enjoy the pics of SD90MAC......

20211028_191118.jpg
20211028_191124.jpg

20211028_191115.jpg
 
Management just got back from a trip to Birmingham, Alabama......

A slew of new motive power arrived in the yard.....all kinds of locomotive rumbling moving in on the rails.....new paint schemes for JR's UPPR Heritage Fleet in acknowledgement....or nod to the fallen flags. (although these are fantasy schemes and not prototypes...we are accepting them on JR's UPRR)

A new Western Pacific #4403 AC4400 (Athearn RTR 78836 DCC Quick-Plug Equipped with a decoder which will be changed to a sound decoder) and a new Rock Island #5407 Dash 9-44CW (Athearn RTR 77949 with DCC and with a Tsunami Sound GE FDL-16 decoder) they are beautiful!

20211127_212915X.jpg
20211127_212859Xxx.jpg
 
The boy's are checking out a new visitor.....the locomotive is from the Boss's hometown.....this locomotive use to run the ski train from Saratoga Springs to North Creek up at Gore Mountain in upstate NY. We decided to acquire as it is in mint condition. Will need to add LED ditch lights to match prototype. Also need to install the window visors which came in the box.

(Atlas Gold 10001828 DCC & Sound HO Scale)

GE Dash 8 (B39-8E) S&NC Saratoga & North Creek #8524 (Built As: LMX 8524 (B39-8E)

20211127_213309.jpg
20220109_221336.jpg
20220109_223622.jpg
20220109_223647.jpg
20220109_223659.jpg
DSCF0624.jpg
DSCF0662.jpg
 
A unique road name as well in my opinion, very nice !

Thank you! I wanted to pay homage to my home turf. I have 2 boxcars now in the same RR SNC as well.....trying to acquire a couple more and I will look at getting a few passenger cars that were used on the ski train as well.
 
Rumor has it that management is headed off to an auction/sale at a undisclosed location. In the mean time Wyatt and Doc decided to run the new used GP40-2 #6414 ASAB "The Bayline" that was recently acquired to pair with unit #509 a GP39-2. Both units will be sent to the shop for upgrades for DCC/Sound as well as replacing the couplers. Here's a quick look with #6414 with the caboose in tow. The Bayline will be servicing the south line interchange to JR'S UPRR. All north bound interchange will be done by GBW, M&TW and WC.

Stay tuned. The boss is hoping to find the elusive switch by ME. Hopefully it will be found and yard work will begin.

20220128_231411.jpg
20220128_231412.jpg
20220128_231421.jpg
20220128_231426.jpg
20220128_231415.jpg
 
Wait what is that sound....blurb blurb blurble could it be? Another ALCO! Wyatt and Doc are estatic about this new loco! This was recently acquired and saved from being scrapped! It is the original S-1 switcher that was used in the Schenectady Alco shop in NY back in the hey day when steam was king. This switcher ran its entire life there at the shops!

We are proud to have it and she is a beaut! Here she is in all her glory ALCO #5!

20220411_192917.jpg
20220411_193213.jpg
20220411_193645.jpg
20220411_193703.jpg
20220411_193440.jpg
20220411_193438.jpg
 
Last edited:
Another heritage unit was added to the stables and the accolades of approvals keeps on coming for management. The guys Wyatt and Doc are loving it! New power too! this is the 2nd ES44AC on the roster for the guys!

20220411_191502.jpg
20220411_191548.jpg
20220411_191553.jpg
20220411_192341.jpg
20220411_192326.jpg
20220411_192334.jpg


20220411_192330.jpg




Later the guys decided to do a drone shot so Wyatt sent one up for this photo op to show off the pride of WP heritage units.



20220411_193935.jpg
 
Last edited:



Back
Top