UP derailment turns St. Paul Union Depot into stub-end station NEWSWIRE

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Union Pacific derailed several cars blocking access to St. Paul Union Depot from the east on May 28. Khang Lu ST. PAUL, Minn. – The derailment of a Union Pacific freight train at the east end of St. Paul Union Depot Tuesday has temporarily turned the station into a stub-end facility. Six cars of sand […]

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Flooding, tornado affect UP operations in Midwest NEWSWIRE

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OMAHA, Neb. – Five Union Pacific subdivisions in Kansas, Missouri, Oklahoma, and Arkansas are out-of-service Thursday as a result of extreme weather in that part of the country and the railroad is warning customers that the worst might be yet to come. UP officials say the Cherokee Subdivision between Parsons, Kan., and McAlester, Okla.; the […]

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UP locomotive shop in eastern Oregon falls victim to PSR NEWSWIRE

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HERMISTON, Ore. — Union Pacific announced this week that would be laying off nearly 200 people at its Hinkle rail yard in Hermiston, the latest example of cost reductions brought on by Precision Scheduled Railroading. About 195 people will lose their jobs as UP closes its Hinkle locomotive shop and warehouse over the next two […]

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Next stop for Big Boy No. 4014: Iowa. From there, eastbound? NEWSWIRE

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No. 4014 will travel to Iowa on an excursion on July 15. Trains: Jim Wrinn OMAHA, Neb. – Where is Union Pacific Big Boy No. 4014 headed next? The UP Museum has confirmed that its fund-raising trip of July 15 from Omaha to Boone, Iowa, will be pulled by the newly restored 4-8-8-4 that returned […]

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Ask Trains: What is the meaning behind Union Pacific steam locomotive code numbers?

Question: What do the numbers and letters mean on the side of the cab of Union Pacific Challenger 4-6-6-4 No. 3985? — Ben Fairbank, San Antonio, Texas Answer:                      21 – 21 4-6-6-4-4-69 ————— 404 UP                     […]

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Big Boy commands attention, but shares right-of-way NEWSWIRE

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Nos. 4014 and 844 pass a stopped westbound freight near Hanna, Wyo. The steam train was following two eastbounds through an area of track work, and the westbound was waiting its turn. TRAINS: Jim Wrinn LARAMIE, Wyo. – No matter how big you may be, you still have to share the railroad. That’s the lesson […]

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Big Boy’s journey home: Rock Springs to Rawlins NEWSWIRE

RAWLINS, Wyo. – Follow 4-8-8-4 Big Boy No. 4014 on its journey back home to Cheyenne. You’ll see it depart Wamsutter, passing the steam era water tower. Then, with flags flying, Big Boy and traveling companion 4-8-4 No. 844 fly through Hadsell, just west of Rawlins. For more on the Golden Spike celebration, pick up […]

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Big Boy brings big boost to local businesses along Union Pacific main line NEWSWIRE

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No. 4014 lays over at Evanston, Wyo., eastbound on May 12. The city brought in extra resources to handles the expected crowds. Michael D. Harding ROCK SPRINGS, Wyo. – The thousands of people that have been following Union Pacific Big Boy No. 4014 across Utah and Wyoming this month are a welcome sight for hotel […]

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Big Boy stubs its toe with derailment NEWSWIRE

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UP steam program manager Ed Dickens hammers home wood blocking to rerail No. 4014. The locomotive derailed Thursday afternoon in the Rawlins, Wyo., yard. TRAINS: Jim Wrinn The UP steam crew walks No. 4014’s two derailed drivers back onto the rail at Rawlins, Wyo. TRAINS: Jim Wrinn RAWLINS, Wyo. — The world’s largest operating steam […]

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Diesel No. 4014 gets new number ahead of Big Boy debut NEWSWIRE

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The former UP No. 4014, an SD70M, departs Yermo, Calif., in April 2014 with Big Boy No. 4014 in tow. Behind the steam locomotive is appropriately numbered SD70M No. 4884. Brian Schmidt OMAHA, Neb. – With the pending return of 4-8-8-4 Big Boy No. 4014 to the roster in early May, many observers seemed to […]

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Union Pacific operations chief says hump yard focus is misplaced NEWSWIRE

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Union Pacific BOSTON — Union Pacific Chief Operating Officer Jim Vena wants to reset the discussion about hump yards and Precision Scheduled Railroading. Converting hump yards to flat-switching facilities was a key element of E. Hunter Harrison’s PSR strategy at Canadian National, Canadian Pacific, and CSX Transportation. And at CSX, where Harrison idled eight of […]

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