Alcos On The Union Pacific

[BCR751]

Did the Union Pacific ever have any of the big Alco road power other than the experimental C855?

Doug

[C855B]

Ten C630s, bought as part of a 3000hp evaluation program in 1966 - SD40 vs. U28C vs. C630. All sold to DM&IR in '73-'74.

[BCR751]

Ten C630s, bought as part of a 3000hp evaluation program in 1966 - SD40 vs. U28C vs. C630. All sold to DM&IR in '73-'74.

Thanks for that.  Of all the videos I've seen on the UP, none showed any of those 630's which led me to ask the question.  I just couldn't believe UP cold go very long without some of those big Alcos.

Doug

[C855B]

Not that they really wanted 'em after Alco screwed-up big time on the C855s, they were giving the three remaining makers equal opportunity to perform. It was their last Alco purchase, and their only Centuries other than the doubles. Heck, even the U28Cs didn't last for very long - they went first! That test program was the beginning of the end of oddball power on the UP - after the U50Cs in '69 and '70, it was SD40s all day, every day for new mainline power.

Here's a mind-blower pic: http://railpictures.net/photo/419747/

I am convinced that a hostler was playing a cruel joke on the crew.

[thomasjmdavis]

Did the Union Pacific ever have any of the big Alco road power other than the experimental C855?

Doug

Lest we forget, the 4-8-8-4 Big Boys were built by American Locomotive Co, and those were pretty big road power.

[Point353]

Of all the videos I've seen on the UP, none showed any of those 630's which led me to ask the question.  I just couldn't believe UP cold go very long without some of those big Alcos.

See the three trailing units at 1:20 to 1:25 in this video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RwBKGPEg6uA

[Missaberoad]

All sold to DM&IR in '73-'74.

The 10 C630's were short lived on Missabe as well, off the roster by 1975 and the final ones being shipped to sister railway Quebec Cartier by 1976. (two were shipped north in 1974).

Missabe acquired them as a stopgap due to their 1973 order for SD38-2's being delayed until 1975. Used mostly in yard and transfer service they were kept close to the shops, and were sent north still wearing UP paint.

http://www.railpictures.net/photo/366986/

[sirenwerks]

Watching that clip, I am speechless about how clean the communities were back then.

[Spikre]

 
   don't forget the 6900 Centennial Class locos were the last of the
   U.P. Double Diesels,they started arriving about 4/69,and at
   least 1 is still in the Heritage Program.
   how about a 6900 - Big Boy - Challenger - 844 Quartet someday ?
     as for the 855s,once the wiring glitch was sorted out they lived a
   normal ignored life on the U.P.,the fate of unpopular power.
     Spikre
       
       

[Spikre]

 
   do the 4 ex-demo RS-27s count as Big Power ?
    they lasted awhile,with maybe 3 going on to lead
    interesting after lifes.
    they weren't popular.but did seem to work better
    for later owners than for U.P.
    believe that MLW reconditioned them before sending
     them to the later users.
       at 2400 HP they are sort of big power,or at least were
     in 1960.
      there has been a book and magazine series in TRP about
    the various roads that sampled them.
       Spikre
       
         

[C855B]

[D]on't forget the 6900 Centennial Class locos were the last of the U.P. Double Diesels, ...

No, they were not. The U50Cs were later, by a few months.

[D]o the 4 ex-demo RS-27s count as Big Power ?

Doubtful. They were GP30/U25B equivalents.

[CBQ Fan]

Ten C630s, bought as part of a 3000hp evaluation program in 1966 - SD40 vs. U28C vs. C630. All sold to DM&IR in '73-'74.

I have a photo in one of my Burlington books showing a C630 on the race track in Chicago that was part of a power sharing arrangement. UP SD24's and I think GP30's were common in this arrangement as well.  I was happy to see the Alco photo since I model the Q and picked up a UP Alco cause they are just cool to have one layout. 

[nkalanaga]

Mike:  I don't know about the trailing unit, but the SP&S had good luck with their C636s.  Unless the C630s were much different, they should have at least been reliable.

[Missaberoad]

Mike:  I don't know about the trailing unit, but the SP&S had good luck with their C636s.  Unless the C630s were much different, they should have at least been reliable.

Reliable is subjective... BN had shop staff familiar with the eccentricities of the big ALCO's and were able to keep them running.
CP was another, they were able to keep their M630's and M636's running well into the 1990's,

Other Railroads weren't so lucky, Illinois Central for one hated their C636's and they wound up being short lived.

[Xmtrman]

Here's a mind-blower pic: http://railpictures.net/photo/419747/

Thanks for that shot of an '855B I've never seen before!

Confirms the color of the horizontal walkway surface on the bump-ups near the end.