UP8144> not sure what you mean?

Eric,

This photo was taken on my lunch break today with my spouse's camera. Here it is non-cropped version.

Regards,

John

I see both of them fine...

I do.

The Great and Powerful.... No Not Really, Just Fast Fingers

Your cut/paste didn't work. I happen to read your post seconds after you made it. The image was not present but the image URL was. I quickly used the URL and the Drupal image editor to insert your picture in your post.

Pay no attention to the man behind the curtain!

I see them...

No problem here. Windows 7, Google Chrome. I've never had a problem seeing pictures in posts. Or posting pictures for that matter.

Odd unit

John,

I have to agree; that is an odd unit in a service application where you expect GP15 to 40.  In fact, many of UP's GP40s are now normally aspirated for less maintenance, so they're really GP38s.  The horsepower is not necessary.    That's what we see here in Ventura County, CA.

Is that a GP60 on the point.  Haven't seen one of those in years.

Second Unit is UP2026

Don,

The second unit is GP60 #2026. I had to look on line to find out. I thought the dynamic brake blister was different

Alan,

Thanks for the help. I'm using Firefox 10 to post with, not sure why the cut and paste did not work right.

Regards,

John

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Nobody in football should be called a genius. A genius is a guy like Norman Einstein.  Joe Theismann

U.P. used to use whatever was available.

Before I retired, the shop was right next to the U.P. mainline in the City of Industry in So Cal.   The mainline was triple tracked right there so that they could work local industries off the main without blocking it.  More often than not, I would see them working the industrial job with their newest "super power."  I recall that they had one G.P. 40-2 that was still in U.P. colors, but with a leasing company logo that U.P. had apparently sold and leased back, but I don't remember ever seeing a second smaller G.P. type unit working with it.  It was always paired with a 6 axle G.E. or EMD Sd, and sometimes they were using two of the 6 axle units without the G.P. 

SD9043MACs not a hit with the engineers

I have done some poking around on the internet this weekend. The net is full of pictures and comments about the great looking SD9043MACs. The Union Pacific pulled them from captive coal service and placed them in general pool service. This could be the reason they are in local service.

The few comments I have found from the engineers that operate these units, do not speak well of their reliability. They say they do not work well in tandem with anything but other SD9043MACs. They have brake system problems. They also complain of the many computer glitches and electrical gremlins that make them unreliable. One comment described them as the "biggest piece of crap the UP owns!" This is based on about 3 comments from engineers. I did not find any positive comments about the reliability of these locomotives.

I guess the railroad industry has it's lemons too!

Regards,

John

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I'm not offended by all the dumb blonde jokes because I know I'm not dumb... and I also know that I'm not blonde.  Dolly Parton

They also complain of the

I'm a die-hard EMD fan, but even I have to admit that all the computers on the 70 and 90 series (possibly 80 series as well, though I've never run one to find out) are extremely poorly designed and nothing but a pain in the neck for engineers.  For starters, EMD in their infinite wisdom decided to use embedded Windows XP to run the.  Do you know what happens when you get the blue screen of death on a locomotive's controls and gauges?  Ever try rebooting a locomotive?  Also, every time the computer thinks I need some new piece of information (like the current time, phase of the moon, flavor of the month at Baskin Robbins, etc.) up pops a new window to share the earth-shattering news - and never mind what useful thing I was trying to do, like use the counter to know when my rear has cleared some speed restriction.

Oh yeah, and in order to be more fuel efficient, the '90s now load just like a GE - in their own sweet-a** time.  Thanks, but I'll take a set of SD40-2's any day, and outrun all the new garbaGE that's supposed to be hauling trains these days.  It'll be a smoother ride, too.  Just please, for the love of all that is holy, don't paint them Conrail blue, or all bets are off.

The 9043s have been in

The 9043s have been in general service for years and years. In fact I don't think they ever were in captive coal service. At least not over the last decade. 

I know that the 90HMACs had computer issues. I did not know that the 9043s shared those problems. They are odd duck units on the railroad, but UP certainly seems to run them a lot. I see them regularly around Roseville yard usually in secondary service. So seeing them on a local isn't unreasonable.

The main power for locals in Roseville yard has been a pair of GP60s for some time now. Every once in a while one of the 2 is still in SP/SSW paint. 

one derailment and that will stop

I would like to see that unit head down some 90lb industrial track that has not see maintenance in years. It almost seems like the Road Foreman is not on top of his/her game, allowing that engine to be used as a switcher.

Explaining a $30,000 rerailing fee from one of the rail service companies is going to be a little difficult and possibly career ending.

Of course, there might be more to the story. Perhaps, there is a large shipper that the railroad is trying to keep happy. They may need the power to pull a grade or large cuts at one time. The other little shippers are just serviced by the same crew on their way to or from the bigger client...

No explanation needed

Obviously you don't know much about how modern railroads work.  Explaining almost anything is easy.  It's the crew's fault.  Always.  It's sort of like the old stereotype about being married - even when he's right, the husband is always wrong.

Track

As a General Manager told me 30 years ago, either track is in service or its out of service.

In any case, since this is a common occurance (SD40's have been bumped to yard service on most class 1 railroads), I doubt this is as big a problem as people are worried about.

Short Line Junk Yard Dogs!

My wife and I visited the casino in Hobbs New Mexico this weekend. The trip was to leave some of our money.

I was surprised to find  these locomotives switching the local junk yard.

Prior to this visit all that was on this line was a chopped nose GP-7.  I will admit It has been a few years since I have been in Hobbs. 8,600 HP sure is a lot for a short line,

I wish I had bought a new T&RGRR steam engine instead of the casino visit! Oh well at least I had a chance for  some photos.

Regards,

John

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The soldier above all others prays for peace, for it is the soldier who must suffer and bear the deepest wounds and scars of war. Gen Douglas MacArthur

Similar units

I saw a pair of similar units on what's left of the Modoc line dragging some grain cars east from Klamath Falls recently.  The following weekend the units and some of the cars were at a grain elevator somewhere around Merrill OR.

I couldn't identify a modern unit by type even with the manufacturer's type lettered on the side. The only thing I could identify was the wide cab.

I think the Modoc Northern either owns or leases the track as part of their line from KF to Lakeview.  A couple of their units were tied up further east of the UP ones.

Terry

Roseville has had a ton of

Roseville has had a ton of 9043s moving in and out over the last few weeks. They've been in all sorts of service. I've even seen them lead.