Union Pacific ES44AC's left in Southern Pacific livery..?

[UP 7076]

Hello all.

A British enthusiast and from many visits to Las Vegas have managed to get a good few locomotives of the UP fleet there among some more rare visitors from other operators, older types and what used to be Southern Pacific. I saw 6248 in this guise back in March and am curious as to how many still fly the fallen Southern Pacific flag of this company? Across this class; I'm back to the USA again in 2018 and if enough are left I'll try and find another for a photo before Little Rock's paint spree gets them all. The question is how many are left? I have a list below looking at recent photos of those that have carried the livery and their most recent photos shows them as still in Southern Pacific. Can anyone add or indeed report if any of the below now carry Union Pacific livery or if I have missed any of the type still in Southern Pacific? A big ask but I figured someone may well know?

I have the following possible 63 examples still in it; how many survive?

6149, 6150, 6156, 6169, 6172, 6183, 6187, 6192, 6194, 6208, 6213, 6215, 6216, 6219, 6228, 6229, 6236, 6243, 6426, 6248 ,6255, 6257, 6259, 6262, 6270, 6272, 6290, 6295, 6298, 6307, 6310, 6311, 6318, 6319, 6321, 6322, 6331, 6340, 6345, 6355, 6358, 6359, 6362, 6365, 6367, 6370, 6374, 6378, 6379, 6380, 6383, 6392, 6394, 6398, 6400, 6401, 6403, 6406, 6408, 6411, 6415, 6424 all patched with just SP319 unpatched.

Any assurance is appreciated.

For what it's worth on a different note UP 7076 is my username as it's one I have seen twice! Not bad from visiting from the UK once a year. If smaller GE builds are of interest we have those in the U.K. And I can gladly assist with any stuff built in the USA now over here.

Thanks.

Michael

[UP 7076]

Edited; 6171, 6193, 6209, 6271, 6346, 6352, 6377, 6396 all removed from the list as reported in Union Pacific colours now.

[NorthWest]

The best summary I've found on the web is here: https://www.heritageunits.com/locomotive/sub/12

They're also AC4400CWs, not ES44ACs.

[UP 7076]

Many thanks for that worth nosin into. Thanks for the correction too.

Do you know how often that website is updated?

[NorthWest]

It's part of the Heritage Units website and is updated almost daily. The latest update to that page was on May 31, when 6352 was removed from tracking as it was repainted. The patched units are tracked on the main screen, though less frequently than other units.

[UP 7076]

It's part of the Heritage Units website and is updated almost daily. The latest update to that page was on May 31, when 6352 was removed from tracking as it was repainted. The patched units are tracked on the main screen, though less frequently than other units.

Brilliant many thanks again. I am curious as I next fly to Nevada in March 2018 which if any survive I'll need some kind of info as to weather they are running locally as I'm aware Vegas is very much a 'through' stop for most freight between UT, TX and CA?

[NorthWest]

The line through Las Vegas isn't terribly busy, seeing around 12 trains a day in daylight hours. Better bets are the Overland Route Omaha-Roseville, CA and the Sunset Route New Orleans-Los Angeles. It's really hit or miss with the patches as they simply run around the system in a more or less random pattern with the other units.

[UP 7076]

The line through Las Vegas isn't terribly busy, seeing around 12 trains a day in daylight hours. Better bets are the Overland Route Omaha-Roseville, CA and the Sunset Route New Orleans-Los Angeles. It's really hit or miss with the patches as they simply run around the system in a more or less random pattern with the other units.

How far are these places out of town? I ask as this is generally a family holiday and any trains are usually seen between 7-10am with just two days with trains being enjoyed until 3pm. The rest of the holiday being Vegas you can imagine. If time affords a trip to either Utah or San Francisco will be made plans allowing.

I appreciate units operate at random - the same to locomotives here - though we have a system which locomotives can be looked up by number and their workings/current location/allocated train can be found for the day or next day. Though access isn't fully public and info shared from rail teams. Does the US have any system in place so for example if you travelled out could you get heads up for what is coming your way locomotive wise on the day or the day in advance?

Again thank you for your detailed answers

[NorthWest]

How far are these places out of town? I ask as this is generally a family holiday and any trains are usually seen between 7-10am with just two days with trains being enjoyed until 3pm. The rest of the holiday being Vegas you can imagine. If time affords a trip to either Utah or San Francisco will be made plans allowing.

I feel your pain as I'm always trying to work trains into family trips. Unfortunately, both the Sunset Route and Overland Route are several hours drive from Las Vegas through a lot of desert nothing. If you have time, Sacramento and the California State Railroad Museum is a great place to visit.

I appreciate units operate at random - the same to locomotives here - though we have a system which locomotives can be looked up by number and their workings/current location/allocated train can be found for the day or next day. Though access isn't fully public and info shared from rail teams. Does the US have any system in place so for example if you travelled out could you get heads up for what is coming your way locomotive wise on the day or the day in advance?

Heritage Units is the major website for special locomotives here... otherwise not really. If you have a radio or scanner often you can pick up the number of the lead locomotive but not much else.

[Backshophoss]

If you don't mind a 450 mile trip north on I-15 to Salt Lake City Utah,you might find some of what you are looking for.
The Salt Lake City-Ogden Metro area is a Major location on the UP RR,so just about every Locomotive type passes thru that
Metro area.
The "Overland Route" passes thru Ogden then after dropping south to S.L. City to head west to Donner Pass.
The Former WP and DRGW RR's,now part of UP are now active secondary routes to the west(WP) or to the east(DRGW)

At Boulder NV at the end of a former UP Branch is a RR museum(Nevada Southern RM) that's full of vintage UP Equipment,and not too far from
Hoover Dam to boot.
Believe that branch is severed at the RR Pass Casino/Hotel.

[UP 7076]

Thanks both of you for your information

I have been to the Nevada railroad museum so that I can cross my list.

I see off 1-15 on maps the Utah railroad station has a museum is this worth a visit? Also of note near this museum to the back is a triangle of routes merging into a massive railroad yard which I assume is all UP. To the south of this yard (and museum) many roads run parallel with the railway. Would these be ideal on photography? More so of particular units? Where would be the best vantage points?

As I don't wish to set foot in the wrong place and UP's own railroad police on my case. Any thoughts?

Can't thank you both enough for you help

[Backshophoss]

Ogden Union Station/Museum is worth a stop to look at,believe there's a hobby shop in that building ,the UP equipment on display
and is an UTA Frontrunner commuter train stop.
The former WP mainline to the west starts at Ogden,as does the UP main line that heads to the NW to Portland Or,and the UP line
to Montanna,the "Overland route" turns south to Salt Lake City.

[John_Perkowski]

I feel your pain as I'm always trying to work trains into family trips. Unfortunately, both the Sunset Route and Overland Route are several hours drive from Las Vegas through a lot of desert nothing. If you have time, Sacramento and the California State Railroad Museum is a great place to visit.

???

A great spot to railfan in Las Vegas is the Plaza Hotel and Casino. Right on the railroad. You are precisely on the Overland Route.

Sunset Route? Go to Palm Springs, Palm Desert or Indio. You're right on the mainline.

[NorthWest]

The line through Vegas is the old LA&SL. The Overland Route is traditionally the Omaha-San Francisco route through Ogden that the LA&SL is a feeder of.
Palm Springs is around 4 hours from Vegas, but pretty close to Cajon and Los Angeles which may have cheaper flights.

[UP 7076]

Many thanks both again for the update. Upon review and looking at google street view I just can't make a trip to Utah viable for photography if there simply isn't much to point the camera at. I may visit Arden again but don't know if any viewing points that are suitable I would assume at the south end given UP's new offices are at the north end?

Judging from the website mentioned around 50 or so units left in SP - though an additional one exists and for some reason isn't listed having checked photos. So with some luck should manage one example.

Thanks again and any further updates are welcome