Union Pacific Passenger E Units

[CBQ Fan]

All the resources I have on UP passenger trains shows one of the following combinations:  ABA ABB ABBA

So my question is am I just seeing photos in books of the classic appearance, or is this how they always ran their consists.   So in addition, if I wanted to run ABAA would this have been really unusual or odd?  Anyone have pics supporting this consist?

[Jbub]

All the resources I have on UP passenger trains shows one of the following combinations:  ABA ABB ABBA

So my question is am I just seeing photos in books of the classic appearance, or is this how they always ran their consists.   So in addition, if I wanted to run ABAA would this have been really unusual or odd?  Anyone have pics supporting this consist?

What year are you modeling? I'm not sure but it's possible that near the end of class 1 passenger service, engine consists probably didn't matter much

[C855B]

Given how image-conscious UP was in the heyday, three A units would have been unusual, with the odd A likely only as a backup in a consist if a B failed (the major terminals had assigned "protection" power).

There are photos on the web of ABBB, ABBBA and even ABBBB. The "City of Everywhere" combined train might have had ABBAB arrangements from time to time to facilitate one of the train splits or as a result of combining the City of St Louis into the mix, but that's just conjecture. I'll thumb through UPHS journals and other books I have laying about to verify.

But in so many words, ABAA would have been quite rare. They even held MILW's feet to the fire for "neat" lashups preserving the streamliner look.

What year are you modeling? I'm not sure but it's possible that near the end of class 1 passenger service, engine consists probably didn't matter much

Nope. UP remained a class act up to the end.

[Jbub]

Nope. UP remained a class act up to the end.

I knew I picked the right road to model 
My era might be in question to some though.

[Point353]

Did (pre-Amtrak) UP E units cabs have MU connections on the front?

[CBQ Fan]

It would be pulling the Kato COLA.  I currently have an ABA, but really like the UP lettering on the upcoming release.  I have been on the watch for a cheap B unit, but figure the new release is the way to go.  But that means I have to buy both units to get the classic ABBA with red nose lettering, but that leaves me with an odd A unit out. I also still have an AB set in the old Kato UP yellow that are excess.  So to add another A unit to that is not ideal!  I guess I could go ABABA.

[C855B]

Did (pre-Amtrak) UP E units cabs have MU connections on the front?

Good catch. A few did, but not many. Pictures in Diesels of the Union Pacific, The Classic Era, Vol. I by Don Strack show 904, 930, 939, 951 and 960 with m.u. sockets on the nose next to the headlight, plus the reservoir equalizer hoses down on the pilot. Based on photo dates, 951's m.u. was apparently added proximate to the Amtrak takeover, so it's not certain it ran on UP's trains that way. Interestingly, of the rest I can find no pictures before 1968 with nose m.u., which leads me to conclude that, no, UP did not run anything other than AB... or AB...A consists before the City of Everywhere.

[C855B]

It would be pulling the Kato COLA.  I currently have an ABA, but really like the UP lettering on the upcoming release.  I have been on the watch for a cheap B unit, but figure the new release is the way to go.  But that means I have to buy both units to get the classic ABBA with red nose lettering, but that leaves me with an odd A unit out. I also still have an AB set in the old Kato UP yellow that are excess.  So to add another A unit to that is not ideal!  I guess I could go ABABA.

Sorry to dash your plans, but based on what I found so far a true COLA would never have an A anywhere but on the ends of the lashup, even in the City of Everywhere days because the COLA set would have been split off.

[CBQ Fan]

Sorry to dash your plans, but based on what I found so far a true COLA would never have an A anywhere but on the ends of the lashup, even in the City of Everywhere days because the COLA set would have been split off.

I appreciate the confirmation. That is what I suspected. Now I have to decide just how much I like red lettering. I also am planning on buying the FP Mil Rd units in the UP scheme once Kato releases it.  I am pretty sure I have seen photos of F7B units mixed in with E units on these trains.

[Mark5]

In somewhat related vein, isn't the new release of Kato E units 1960+ era? I keep hoping the train also coming out will match the locos, but I fear it will have gray trucks which means a mis-match with the new E's.

Mark

[CBQ Fan]

Kato has photos of the new unit on their webpage.

[Mark5]

Kato has photos of the new unit on their webpage.

Yup, so if the loco scheme is 1960+, the the COLA should have silver trucks (http://utahrails.net/pass/pass-paint.php). Can anyone nail down the timeframe for the E unit scheme?

Update, the gray ends on this Kato E9 release suggest 1960+:

http://utahrails.net/up/up-diesel-paint-classic-era.php

(1960 - Color Of Ends On Cab Units)

Mark