UP Steam

[John]

[C855B]

End of an era.

[SP-Wolf]

I am so thankful and glad that I was able to ride behind 3985. Sad that she potentially will never be fired up again.

Regards,
Wolf

[C855B]

The really sad part comes is that this "hospital" train is actually a funeral train. The indisputable message here is UP is all but shutting down their heritage operation. This train is everything that was in the roundhouse and on the whiskers around the turntable. They are cleaning house, which in turn makes me wonder about the roundhouse's and turntable's fates. Certainly somebody closer to the operation or was in attendance at the UPHS meeting this summer will know more.

Note that the tender behind 3985 is actually 4014's original, so the current 4014 use of the 3985 tender is a permanent deal. I was still shocked to see 5511, although I knew it was part of the museum donation. I will reiterate my thinking that 6936 will never run under its own power again. Neither will the steamers - 5511 will not be allowed to run on anybody's railroad; 3985 will just take too much work.

The office car "Selma" is actually in pretty good shape, but the upholstery coverings are beyond brittle and it could use a complete cleaning and spruce-up. What I don't know (...forgot to look for...) is whether it was converted to HEP and other modern standards or is going to require $100K's worth of upgrades to use as private varnish.

[CBQ Fan]

I had read somewhere that the two tenders would be swapped back after the 4014 is restored by the museum as a part of the agreement of the donation.

[learmoia]

That museum is located in a good spot where those steamers (if restored) may be allowed to run around a bit.. Iowa Interstate has a small steam program with 2 QJs. 

~Ian

[Ed Kapuscinski]

The only constant is change.

And the inevitable requirement to create shareholder value.

[davefoxx]

What’s up with the C&NW F-unit?  I had no idea that was lying around somewhere.  Clearly, it’s not in great shape, but it’s not met the scrapper’s torch yet.

DFF

[C855B]

The only constant is change.

And the inevitable requirement to create shareholder value.

And being a shareholder... maybe so, but I am wondering why the big cleanup/cleanout. The whole operation is/was pennies on the balance sheet. I can't imagine that land in and around the old roundhouse and shops is worth much, especially given the level of hazmat mitigation it's going to require. Anyway, I wouldn't exactly call Cheyenne the next big thing. Nice town, a regional commerce center, but not attracting new business. I suggest the cost of gathering and moving all of that stuff was more than the land is worth.

I'm casually acquainted with a couple of folks who retired from the heritage program. From that I'll have to admit that most of what was in and on that train were unfinished "wishful thinking" projects that Ed's progenitors kept in their pockets for "someday". Bob (Krieger) told me the E8B was acquired by Steve (Lee) with an eye on having an ABBA set. It was little more than a shell and trucks, and apparently Steve couldn't talk management into funding a rebuild, and any interest in the project left with him.

Dave, don't know what the deal was with the C&NW F. I think I asked somebody about it several years ago and basically received an eye-roll in response.

[nkalanaga]

Are the modern diesels included, or has UP decided that washing them costs too much?  If they're going to put a big flag on the side, it seems disrespectful not to keep it clean.

[C855B]

What’s up with the C&NW F-unit?  I had no idea that was lying around somewhere.  Clearly, it’s not in great shape, but it’s not met the scrapper’s torch yet.

After sleeping on it I remember the conversation. It was hiding out at one of C&NW's shops when UP acquired them, and some manager in charge of cleaning-up the new-to-them facility discerned it was kept around as somebody's personal shop project of the roundtuit variety. IOW, recoverable and/or restorable, but not official RR business. "They figured maybe Cheyenne could do something with it," is the quote I'm recalling. I'm sure there's a C&NW fan or several who know the backstory.

[learmoia]

I believe the F-Unit is going to Boone and Scenic Valley -- To be set out in Boone, IA en route to Sylvis, IL

~Ian

[learmoia]

Well, the train is now stuck in Council Bluffs with no UP Crews, so it's going to travel east on Iowa Interstate tomorrow.