UP Road Units-EMD

Union Pacific has a deep roster of EMD products, many inherited from its component roads and acquired through those mergers. There is still a large number of 4-axle locomotives working in various capacities, even though none are now manufactured. The dominant road power, however, consists of big 6-axle units– many acquired since the year 2000.  UP ordered over 1400 SD70Ms and several hundred SD70ACe’s, added to the more than 300 AC-traction SD90 series from the mid-1990s. There also continued to be a large number of older SD40 and SD40-2 types, and a smattering of SD50 and SD60 models plying the rails into the 21st century.

Jump to: SD40 Series  SD60/70 Series  SD9043MACs

EMD 4-AXLE DIESELS

It’s a little fuzzy whether these are road units or actually just switchers. In the modern era they are often used on branch lines outside of yard limits, so that technically makes them “road” power. It’s interesting that so many of these yard goats began life as top-of-the-line road units.

	GP40-2 No. 1350, switching at Grand Junction on 4/28/2014. This is the former D&RGW No. 3100.Built April 1972, Patched to UP 1350 Jan 2006 (last D&RGW unit so treated), full repaint circa December 2011.
	GP40-2 No. 1363, switching at Grand Junction on 4/28/2014. This is the former D&RGW No. 3111.Built December 1972, patched to UP 1363 in Aug 2005, full repaint
	GP40-2 No. 1373, at Roubideau, CO on 4/15/2010. This unique unit, one of only three built, started out as a Southern Pacific GP40P-2, equipped with a steam generator for passenger service around San Francisco.  Later these units were converted to freight-only.  Notice the boxy end to the long hood.  These units are 30 inches longer than a standard GP40-series locomotive, and the flared radiator is certainly unique amongst 4-axle models. Two now survive on UP’s roster.
	GP40-2 No. 1396, working the local at Delta, CO on 8/10/2007.  It was originally SSW 7640, built January 1979 and repainted this way in August 2005.
	GP40-2 No. 1510Top two views: Photographed on the Potash turn, a local train out of Grand Junction that serves Intrepid Mining’s Moab Salt facility west of Moab– terminus of the Cane Creek branch. This unit was formerly SP’s GP40M No. 7132. Re-designated by UP as a GP40-2.Bottom: Serving as the switcher in Colorado Springs, shown here at dusk on 2/19/2022.Built Feb 1969 for the B&O, rebuilt April 1991 by MK for the SP, numbered UP 1510 in December 2001, full repaint circa August 2010.
	GP40-2 No. 1526, two views. Photographed on the Potash turn, same day as No. 1510 above. This is the former GP40M SSW No. 7291. Based on these photos and the linked pic of it as SSW, this one has been around Grand Junction a lot over the years.Built Sept 1967 as L&N 3024, to Seaboard 6820, rebuilt Jan 1991 by MK as SSW 7291, patched as UP 1526 in Aug 2005, full repaint circa December 2010.
	GP60 No. 1019, two views in Colorado Springs on 4/16/2022. This unit began life as SSW No. 9646 in September 1989.After the UP merger, it was renumbered 1948 circa 2007, then renumbered as shown here in Sept. 2014. Anecdotally it was recently repainted as shown here after a particularly severe coat of graffiti.Note the rear deck-mount ditch lights, and the illuminated rear step light.  NEW PHOTOS
	GP60 No. 5702, in Pueblo on 9/19/1999.  It was originally ordered for the D&RGW in 1990 as No. 3156, built to Cotton Belt specs.  It was repainted in UP colors in May 1998, and has since been renumbered to 1902 (January 2001).
	GP38-2 No. 695. This non-dynamic brake unit was built as MP 2195 in 1980.  Though not in the UPY series of locomotives, it is being used as a yard switcher. Note that it is equipped with twin amber beacons on the cab.Top: seen in the yard at Denver on 7/29/2007.Bottom: A much better view, skylined on a fill just off the Belt Line off 58th Street in Denver on 12/17/2014.
	GP38-2 No. 2395, working a local at Delta, CO on 8/10/2007.  It was built in 1975, and came to UP in 1997.  It’s scheduled to be renumbered to 895, but it’s been waiting since 1999 for that to happen…
	GP40-2 No. 5338, ex-SP No. 7955, idling at Montrose, CO in September 2004. Southern Pacific giveaways are the low-nose headlights and the antenna plate. Renumbered to UP 1438 in 2006.
Jump to:  4-Axle Units  SD60/70 Series  SD9043MACs
EMD 6-AXLE DIESELS: SD40 SERIES
	SD40-2 No. 3215, running third at Granby, CO, 8/9/2007.  This unit arrived in 1973.  It was unusual, and nice, to see such an old unit on a mainline freight train after so many years.
	SD40-2 No. 3354. This was once the most numerous class of locomotives in the United States, with thousands in service (plus their slightly-longer sisters, the SD40T-2).  This unit was photographed at Cedar City, UT in June 2004.  It had been renumbered from No. 3798 the previous October, to make room on the roster for new SD70M’s.  It was built in 1980.
	SD40-2 No. 3311, built July 1976, seen in Cedar City in June 2004.
	SD40-2 No. 3394, at Houston on 9/17/2007.  This unit came in April 1977, part of a series of SD40-2’s that came equipped with the 116″ nose.
	SD40N No. 1552, in Denver on 12/16/2014.  It’s being turned on the wye at North Yard.Built as SD40-2 No. 3295 in March 1975.
	SD40N No. 1640, switching in Denver on 9/04/2021.  It was originally UP SD40-2 No. 3708, built in 1980.  Rebuilt and renumbered as shown 8/25/2011.NEW IMAGE
	SD40N No. 1672, in Denver on 12/16/2014.  It’s being turned on the wye at North Yard.Built as SD40-2 No. 3671 in January 1980.
	SD40-2 No. 4741, at Tucumcari in March 2001.  Originally built as D&RGW SD45 No. 5328 in March 1968. Rebuilt and acquired by UP Feb 1999, and later renumbered to UP 2791 about 6 months after this photo.  Retired April 2002.
	SD40-2 No. 4768, rebuilt from an SD40 originally built for the Pennsylvania RR.  UP acquired it in October 1999.  Here it’s seen at Tucumcari in March 2001.  It was renumbered UP 2818 in December of that year.  See here for a photo of it leading the Ski Train on February 10, 2002.
	SD40T-2 No. 2925, seen in Houston in April 2005.  This unit was originally SP 8545, repainted to UP No. 4490 in 1999, and renumbered in 2001, as shown here.
	SD40T-2TR No. 2937, in Houston on 10/17/2007. This is the ex- SP No. 8264, first renumbered in 1997.  She and the other units in the series 2866 – 2949 were refurbished by UP, hence the “R” suffix.For a 1992 photo in SP paint, see here.
	SD40T-2 No. 4370 is in the engine service area at Denver North Yard in November 2000.  It was originally Southern Pacific No. 8304, delivered in 1974.  It was repainted in UP colors in July 1999.  Four months after this photo it was renumbered 2867. Directly behind it is UP No. 5661, a GE B40-8 that was originally SSW 8053, delivered in 1988, repainted in August 1999, and renumbered 1852 in October 2002. UPDATED IMAGE
	SD40T-2 No. 4056 sits third in an eastbound consist in the yard at Tucson, AZ on 3/31/2000.  This unit was originally D&RGW No. 5369.  It was renumbered to UP 8626 shortly after this photo (see UP 5999 below).  It was originally delivered in August 1975.
	SD40T-2 No. 8725 working in the yard at Grand Junction on March 7, 2002.  This unit was originally SP No. 8525 and was delivered in December 1978.  Renumbered to UP 4455 in  November 1997, it was changed to 8725 in May 2001. It was later retired, in April 2005.The photo was backlit on an extremely dim evening.  I did my best to bring it to life with Photoshop, but there’s only so much you can do with a dark scan…
Jump to: 4-Axle Units   SD40 Series  SD9043MACs
SD60, SD60M, SD70M, SD70ACe Series
	SD60 NREX 5962, former UP 5962, former C&NW 8036. Here it’s on a BNSF train just departing Denver on the Front Range sub. Built September 1986 for C&NW. To the UP number in September 1998; off the UP roster in January 2002.
	SD60 No. 5999 and SD40T-2 No. 8626 head a rail train at Coal Creek Canyon (west of Denver) in August 2001.  No. 8626 is the renumbered 4056 (see above).  No. 5999 is the ex-C&NW 8050, which was new in 1986, repainted UP 5999 in 1996, and returned to the lessor at the start of 2002.
	SD60M No. 2317, both sides. This unit delivered June 1989 as No. 6162 and renumbered as shown in November 2004. Note that the “triclops” cab windows are vertical, as compared to the sloped glass in the later, 2-pane design as seen on the SD70 series.Top: switching at the west end of Grand Junction yard, 4/27/2014.Bottom: following day on freight MGJNY rolling through Palisade.
	SD60M No. 6231, at Tucumcari in March 2001.  It was received in 1990 by UP.  These units were some of the first units to come with the wider “safety” cab.  In 2005 it was renumbered to 2386.
	SD60M No. 2413, at the LA intermodal yard on 10/30/2015.Built 11/1990 as UP 6258, renumbered in September 2004.
	SD60M No. 6335 is the trailing unit on an unusual auto-rack movement over the Moffat, on 12/26/1998. This unit was delivered in September 1992. Subsequently it was renumbered to 2490, in October 2003. Apologies for the grainy, distant image; despite the quality you can still make out the faded gray patches on the hood.  This train was tied down in Rollinsville, pointed east.
	SD60M No. 6353 leads a westbound stack train out of Carrizozo on the gloomy afternoon of July 25, 2002.  The train was really flying and my film camera didn’t do well with the low light.  Oh well. Delivered October 1992; renumbered to 2509 in September 2004.
SD70M Series
	SD70M No. 3813 is leading a northbound ribbon-rail train at Palmer Lake, Colorado. It’s the evening of May 23, 2020. This beautiful flared unit is rather eclipsed by the presence of UP 1989, the D&RGW Heritage Unit, on the drawbar.Delivered June 2004.
	SD70M No. 3838 is spotted coming into Cisco, Utah on 4/27/2014 in full dynamic braking. Note the replacement battery box doors.Delivered July 3, 2004.
	SD70M No. 3876 is third in a westbound consist seen east of Gila Bend, AZ on 9/12/2019.Built 2003.
	SD70M No. 3889 is fourth in a westbound freight seen east of Gila Bend, AZ on 9/12/2019.Built 2003.
	SD70M No. 3940, a Phase 2a unit, at Granby, CO on 8/8/2007.  Here’s the builder’s plate for this unit. TOP: Note the flared radiators distinctive of the later series of SD70M’s.  They hearken back to the SD45’s of the 1960’s.  Compare to the flat radiators on the earlier SD70M’s in photos below of the first SD70Ms.  Note the brakewheel location at back right of the long hood, also like the SD45.MIDDLE: Opposite side view.  See the squared traction motor duct, which looks like nothing in older EMD models.  Note the 4-panel radiators, indicative of EPA Tier I compliance.BOTTOM: Front view.  Note: high-mounted, side-by-side headlights, the large winged herald, and the ditch lights above the walkway (rather than pilot-mounted as on some earlier UP units).
	SD70M No. 3971, a Phase 2b unit (with flared radiators and boxy nose), is on the point of a westbound freight at Sulphur. CO.  It’s 8/09/2007.  The “flag” applique on these units does not seem to hold up very well.
	SD70M No. 4015, one of UP’s initial order.  Here it’s shown serving on the Big Boy 4014’s exhibition train, which explains the silver trucks. It’s also been repainted sometime recently.Top: the conductor’s side, trailing behind 4014 just west of Strasburg, Colorado on 9/05/2021. Bottom: stopped in Greeley during an exhibit stop on 9/07/2021. This shows the engineer’s side and the rear-mounted brake wheel. Built June 2000.
	SD70M Nos. 4029 and 4007 lead the ZRODV-10 (eastbound intermodal train) through Glenwood Canyon on October 10, 2000.  This was the typical power arrangement during the years 2000 – 2001. Part of UP’s first order of SD70Ms, these units arrived in June and July 2000, respectively, which makes them brand new as of the photo.
	SD70M No. 4082, trailing unit on a westbound doublestack train on the Sunset Route, a couple of miles west of the AZ-NM border. This unit built December 2000, almost 13 years prior to the photo.
	SD70M No. 4085 is spotted in Los Angeles at the intermodal yard above the port on 10/30/2015. This is from the first group of SD70M’s, November 2000. It had just arrived from a cross-country run from Illinois.
	Going-away shot of SD70M No. 4340 at Carrizozo, NM.  It was running second on a westbound stack train on 7/25/2002, an incredibly gloomy afternoon for July in New Mexico!
	SD70M No. 4344 on the Sunset route, trailing unit on an eastbound doublestack train just east of Casa Grande. This unit built March 2001.
	SD70M No. 4356, facing south (and in a good location for a decent photo) at the LA intermodal yard on 10/30/2015.Built May 2001.
	SD70M No. 4385 is spotted in Los Angeles at the intermodal yard above the port on 10/30/2015.  Typical first-batch SD70M and showing it age– and also its continuing utility some 15 years later.
	SD70M No. 4530 is on loan to the BNSF as it passes eastbound through Gallup, NM on 9/11/2010.  It’s a Phase IA but one of the higher-numbered ones not to receive the flared radiators.  (Apologies about the image– one can only do so much when one is stuck in traffic!)
	SD70M No. 4645 is trailing remote on a westbound freight approaching Gila Bend, AZ on 9/12/2019.Built May 2001.
	SD70M No. 4875, both sides. Delivered February 2002. Top: Switching at the west end of Grand Junction yard, 4/27/2014.Bottom: The following day leading freight MGJNY rolling through Palisade.
	Cell phone shot of SD70M No. 4902, running second at Palmer Lake, Colorado on 6/18/2022. Built March 2002.
	SD70M No. 4922. It was parked along with several GE units just beyond the Cargill elevator at North Yard, Denver (12/16/2014).Built April 2002.
	SD70M No. 4937 is leading the Potash local, west of Moab, Utah on 6/23/2023.Built May 2002. NEW IMAGE
	SD70M No. 5007 is the second unit on a westbound doublestack train, 12 miles east of Gila Bend on the Sunset Route. (9/12/2019).Built August 2002.
	SD70M No. 5017, leading the Potash local out of the MK cut north of Moab, Utah on 6/23/2023. Built August 2002. NEW IMAGE
	SD70M No. 5176, rear view. This angle shows the end details and radiator profile to good effect. Spotted in Denver (North Yard) 12/16/2014.Built November 2004.
	SD70M No. 5217 is the leader on a westbound intermodal train on the Sunset east of Gila Bend, 9/12/2019.Built November 2004.
	SD70M’s: Three versions are visible in this photo.  No. 4677 is a first-order Phase 1 with flat radiators.  Behind it, No. 3870 is a Phase 2a with angled 2-panel radiators.  To the right, No. 5204 has the Phase 2b boxy nose and 4-panel radiators (trust me). Another photo showing these units here. Better angle, but more distant.
SD70ACe Series
	SD70ACe No. 1989 is the D&RGW Heritage Unit.  I captured it on a northbound rail train at Palmer Lake, Colorado on May 23, 2020.Delivered May 2006 and renumbered to 1989 the following month.
	SD70ACe No. 8332, at Shawmut on the Sunset Route near Gila Bend, 9/12/2019.Built 2005.
	SD70ACe No. 8551, on the BNSF Transcon west of Winslow, AZ (3/29/2008).  It wears the “flag” scheme.  Per Don Strack’s site, these units are equipped with larger radiators in a flared carbody to accommodate separate radiator cores for diesel engine jacket water and for aftercoolers.  In that sense, they resemble the SD9043’s below. Delivered in April 2007, it’s 11 months old in this photo.
	SD70ACe No. 8657 is the trailing remote on an eastbound freight entering the Moffat Tunnel on 2/20/2022. The train was really grinding up the 2% but now is humming right along on the lesser grades in the tunnel.Delivered July 2008.
	SD70ACe No. 8671, trailing DPU on an eastbound coal load descending the Moffat. A friend of mine refers to this style of nose as having “a face that only a mother could love”. Although I will agree they are not artistic, something about them says “high-tech” to me. Not sure why. Delivered August 2011.Top: exiting tunnel 21, with a hi-railer in hot pursuit.Bottom: Going away from us. That’s tunnel 20 in the background.
	SD70ACe No. 8724, waiting in Denver’s North Yard next to the tower. This is an unusual view, being from above and behind; it shows the interesting filter assembly in the rear access door. (12/16/2014) Built sometime in the first 5 months of 2012; likely February or March.
	SD70ACe No. 8847, UP type SD70AH, a typical late-model unit.  What is untypical is its location in this photo– it’s in Las Cruces, NM, running in a BNSF autorack train headed for El Paso. Too bad it was backlit.  (4/05/2015)Built 2014.
	SD70ACe No. 8848, UP type SD70AH, part of a four-unit mid-train helper set on an eastbound coal train at West Portal. It’s just completing the shove up the 2% grade to the Moffat Tunnel.  (2/18/2018)
	SD70ACe No. 8876, UP type SD70AH, leading a freight towards Brighton and Denver on 9/07/2021. It was due to meet with the northbound steam special led by Big Boy No. 4014 in a few minutes. We and half the state of Colorado were out to photograph that. This train was just a routine movement (bonus). NEW IMAGEBuilt June 2014.
	SD70AH No. 8907 is the middle unit in a consist waiting in Glenwood Springs on 9/01/2018.Evidently built early 2015.
	SD70ACe No. 9018, UP type SD70AH, leads a westbound freight at Shawmut, east of Gila Bend on the Sunset Route. This unit is Tier 4 compliant.  (9/12/2019)Bottom: a closeup of the conductor’s side front. Same time/date.Built April 2016.
Jump to:  4-Axle Units  SD40 Series  SD60/SD70 Series
SD90/43MAC Series
EMD’s SD9043MAC  model was built with a 4300-hp prime mover.  UP’s order was originally intended to receive a replacement H-block 6000-HP engine when these were available.  Delays with EMD’s development of the H-block, and a growing realization by railroads that a 6,000-hp locomotive was overkill for most applications, meant that the 9043’s kept their original prime movers.  UP refers to this type as the SD9043AC. UP did order 62 of the full-blown SD90MACs in two variants, receiving them in 1997-98.  UP refers to this model as SD90AC. The full SD90MAC’s numbered 8500 and 8522-8561 were returned to EMD when their leases expired in 2005-2006.  The number series was recycled, with some being used by SD70ACe’s such as No. 8551 above.
	SD9043MAC No. 8041, seen at Coal Creek on 8/14/2001.  Power on this train was set up in 2 + 2 + 2 configuration, each pair consisting of an SD9043MAC and an SP AC4400.Built August 1996, the month before the SP merger took place.
	SD9043MAC No. 8044, at the Colorado 72 overpass between Clay and Plain, west of Denver, on August 14, 2001.  These units are difficult to fit into a single frame, when standing trackside!Built August 1996.
	SD9043MAC No. 8065, in Glenwood Canyon in late June 2003.  It’s in the swing helper of an eastbound coal load.Built September 1996, the same month as the SP merger.
	Top view of SD9043MAC No. 8066.  It’s part of the swing helper (remote) on an eastbound train at Plain (west of Denver) on September 4, 1999.  Note the complete revamping of the traditional EMD fan arrangement.  Of particular note is the movement of the dynamic brake radiators to the end of the hood, as opposed to being located just behind the cab.This unit was received in September 1996.
	SD9043MAC No. 8135, in Grand Junction, CO in November 2002.This unit arrived in April 1997.
	SD9043MAC No. 8155 is waiting in the yard at Glenwood Springs on 9/01/2008.Delivered in May 1997, evidently there is some confusion between its builder number and frame number…
	SD9043MAC No. 8256 is waiting for its turn in Glenwood Springs, 9/01/2008.Delivered in April 1998, she has now received yellow FRA sill striping.
	SD9043MAC No. 8257, rear helper on a train at Rocky, CO on 9/04/1999.  This unit arrived in April 1998, so it’s about a year and a half old in this photo. This photo shows the opposite side from No. 8135 above, and gives you a good idea of the size of these monsters.  The SD90 series were not always liked by some of the crews– they loaded up very quickly (power transferring to the AC motors), causing them to buck and slip more than their counterparts from GE.
	* SD90MAC No. 8533 leads a westbound coal empty past No Name (Glenwood Canyon) in June 2003.  This unit actually has the 6,000 HP prime mover. Paired with a C60AC, the two locos had plenty of power for this train.  All the full SD90s were retired around 2006.
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