Union Pacific Railroad - Railfan Travel

Quick Facts

Year Founded	1862
Total Track Mileage	32,200 miles
Total Locomotives	8,300
Number of Employees	32,124
Number of States located in	23
Headquarters	Omaha Nebraska
Websites	https://www.up.com/index.htm https://up.jobs/index.htm https://www.up.com/heritage/steam/

Information

The Union Pacific Railroad (reporting marks, UPP, UPY), legally known as Union Pacific Railroad Company and also usually called merely Union Pacific, is a freight-hauling railroad that runs 8,300 engines over 32,200 miles paths in 23 U.S. states west of Chicago as well as New Orleans. Union Pacific is the second biggest railroad in the United States after BNSF, with which it shares a duopoly on transcontinental freight railway in the Western, Midwestern as well as the Southern United States.

Founded in 1862, the original Union Pacific Rail Road belonged to the First transcontinental railroad effort, later on called the Overland Route. Over the next century, UP merged with the Missouri Pacific Railroad, the Chicago as well as North Western Transportation Company, the Western Pacific Railroad, the Missouri– Kansas– Texas Railroad and also the Chicago, Rock Island and also Pacific Railroad. In 1996, the Union Pacific combined with Southern Pacific Transportation Company, itself a huge system that was merged by the Denver and Rio Grande Western Railroad. The Union Pacific Railroad is the major running firm of the Union Pacific Corporation, which are both headquartered at the Union Pacific Center, in Omaha, Nebraska.

History

The original company, the “Union Pacific Rail Road,” included on July 1, 1862 under the Pacific Railroad Act of 1862. President Abraham Lincoln had approved the act, which licensed railroad building from the Missouri River to the Pacific to ensure the stability of the Union throughout the American Civil War, however building and construction did not begin until after conflict’s conclusion. The resulting track ran westward from Council Bluffs, Iowa to meet in Utah with the Central Pacific Railroad line, which had been created eastward from Sacramento, California. The combined Union Pacific– Central Pacific line ended up being called the First transcontinental railroad as well as later on the Overland Route.

The line was created largely by Irish labor who had actually learned their craft during the recent Civil War. Under the assistance of its dominant investor Dr. Thomas Clark Durant, the namesake of the city of Durant, Iowa, the initial rails were laid in Omaha. Both lines were joined at Promontory Summit, Utah, 53 miles west of Ogden on May 10, 1869, thus developing the initial transcontinental railroad in North America.

Over the years the Union Pacific bought up and merged with several other railroads. In most recent times the railroad has merged with the Missouri Pacific, Western Pacific, Missouri Kansas & Texas, Southern Pacific, and Chicago & Northwestern.

UP Steam

One of the most famous things about the Union Pacific is that as part of their public relations, they own and operate steam locomotives. No other class 1 railroad in the United States is currently doing this.

Currently they operate two steam locomotives. The UP Steam operations are operated out of the Cheyanne Wyoming roundhouse.

Locomotive	Type	Builder	Notes
844	4-8-4	Alco	The only steam locomotive in the United States to never be retired by a major class 1 North American railroad. Renumbered to 8444 between 1962 and 1989. Taken out of service in 2013. Returned to operation in 2016.
4014	4-8-8-4	Alco	Reacquired by the Union Pacific in July 2013. Restored to operation on May 1, 2019. Converted to burn oil. Temporarily uses the tender of UP 3985. Became the first-ever steam locomotive to be equipped with Positive Train Control. Largest operating locomotive

In addition engine 838, another 4-8-4 locomotive, is stored at the Cheyanne roundhouse as a parts source for 844.

Heritage and special Diesels

Union Pacific also has two E9A and one E9B units that are used in excursion service.
There are also several commemorative paint schemes on locomotives to give tribute to the heritage railroads that are now a part of Union Pacific.
Additional special paint schemes include units painted for the Boy Scouts of America, Susan G. Komen for the Cure, US Armed Forces, Junteenth, and Operation Lifesaver.

Union Pacific also owns a fleet of passenger cars that are used for excursion service.

Riding the line

If you wish to ride the line, the first place to check is the UP Steam web site:

https://www.up.com/heritage/steam/

If there are any planned excursions, they will be listed there.

Amtrak has several trains that travel over the UP.
amtrak.com

These Include:
Amtrak Cascades
California Zephyr
Capitol Corridor
Coast Starlight
Lincoln Service
Missouri River Runner
Pacific Surfliner
San Joaquin
Sunset Limited
Texas Eagle

In addition there are several commuter lines that use UP:
Altamont Corridor Express
Caltrain
FrontRunner
Metrolink
RTD commuter rail
Trinity Railway Express

Notable places

The Tehachapi Loop, located in California, double loop to gain altitude
Moffat Tunnel, In Colorado, Notable tunnel under the continental divide
Promontory, Utah, Location where the Golden Spike was driven
Cheyanne, Wyoming, location of the UP Roundhouse
Union Pacific Railroad Museum, located in Council Bluffs, Iowa

PLEASE NOTE: DO NOT TRESPASS UPON RAILROAD PROPERTY. NOR TRESSPEASS ON PRIVATE PROPERTY WITHOUT THE PERMISSION OF THE OWNER.