[NOTE: sorry about the thread on MILW 261, didn't mean for that to get so out of hand]

Anyway, on Union Pacific switchers that start appearing during the 40s (at least i think thats when it starts showing up) and on boxcars, there is a infamous logo that is a debateable topic, as union pacific declairs itself as the "Road of the Streamliners."

Was this logo supposed to be used in contest with the CNW's "Route of the 400s" and the CB&Q's "Route of the Zephyr's" as well as Santa Fe's "Route of the Chief?"

Also, there ar enot many surviving examples of this logo that I know of so any pictures of it would be greatly appreciated.

I suggest you Google "Road of the Streamliners" and you'll find lots of stuff. No need to ask here.

FYI, The UP did not really compete with the CB&Q passenger wise. The CNW was its portal to Chicago so the roads complemented each other. AT&SF and UP did compete for Chicago to West Coast traffic but not really in between.

Anyhow your question is really off topic, i.e., not railroad preservation related.

Marty -

On the contrary, I think it IS railroad preservation related. WabashCannonball1522 is looking for surviving examples of the logo. I seem to recall seeing a photo of a boxcar with that "Road of the Streamliners" slogan, but I can't remember where. And maybe even on an old preserved diesel. Perhaps someone can tell us, or even furnish a photo.

Les

The two roads did compete in the Chicago - Denver market. City of Denver and Denver Zephyr were two of the early diesel-powered streamlined trains and were in competition with each other.

I think this was the first place that two railroads had competing daily, diesel-powered passenger trains.

There are two boxcars here in Cheyenne, one of which is on my wish list.


http://car57.zenfolio.com/p412775893/h3 ... #h35f99734

Mike Pannell

Mike -

Two nice car bodies for sure. Only one is on your wish list? Maybe you could wish the other one for us! Does wishing get you anywhere? Maybe you could wish for a "sugar daddy" to come along and pay for the move. Seriously, your photos are great, but appear to be of both cars, and I'm a bit confused as to which photos go with which car. Looks like one car is U.P. 189440 which has subletters for the O.S.L. up in the corner. The other cars number is harder to read; U.P. 1x3x92 is a partial. Nice thing is that both of these cars appear to be built by the Union Pacific in their own shops. One says built in Grand Island 10-36. The built data on the other car is there too but hard to read because no closeup. Looks like built in 1940. The two cars apparently are different U.P. classes; one B-50-27 and the other possibly B-50-19 or maybe B-50-49. Anyway, nice find. Hope you can save at least one of the cars.

Les

One of the famous streamlined wood boxcars taken 10 Jun 2009. I believe this was on Kiowa-Bennett Rd, North of Bennett, CO.

Adam -

Rather surprising that the railroad even put their "Road of the Streamliners" slogan on wood boxcars! Well, the idea behind it was advertising the service, so I guess wood cars could go to different locales as well as the steel cars.

Great find! Thanks for posting the photos.

Les

My friend, nothing competed with the Denver Zephyr. Stainless steel Budd from the beginning. Then domes. Then the square end obs car. A more direct/faster route. And it went through my home town!

I took this picture of her on the Zephyr track flying through Downers Grove, IL in August 1968. No way Uncle Pete could do that!

Wishing got me Car 57, Caboose 2516 and the remains of DSP&P car 56 'Geneva' so yes its great, but wishing so far hasn't brought much help in the way of volunteers !
Mike Pannell

>> Nice thing is that both of these cars appear to be built by the Union Pacific in their own shops. One says built in Grand Island 10-36. The built data on the other car is there too but hard to read because no closeup. Looks like built in 1940.<<

Believe it says Built in Albina (Portland), Oregon.

Lincoln -

Thanks for pointing that out. Another good thing about these cars is that the underframes look intact. Most wooden cars sold for storage use had the metal frame underneath removed by the railroad for its scrap value. Not so with steel cars. Thus, although the couplers are missing and most likely, the various valves/cylinders, these can be replaced. In the case of these two U.P. cars, I wonder if they are "abandoned" or still privately owned?

Les