UP DD40A 6944 to Altoona for cosmetic restoration

PaulWWoodring · **Posted:** Wed Jul 16, 2014 10:29 am

Photographed passing through Cleveland yesterday:

Link: http://akronrrclub.wordpress.com/2014/0 ... ound-here/

Bob Davis · **Joined:** Sat Aug 28, 2004 3:25 am **Posts:** 1025

This has been a major topic on subscription website Trainorders.com. Since I don't follow Eastern developments that closely, I learned about the move while it was already in progress. From the preservation point of view, seeing a diesel gathering such interest is a big change from 1963, when I first got into preservation at what was then Orange Empire Trolley Museum. Neither the DD40AX nor the FP45 (OERM has Santa Fe 108) was even on the drawing board back then, and GE had just gotten into the main-line diesel business with the U-25B (OERM has SP 3100). Had someone suggested that of one of these machines would wind up in the Orange Empire collection would have been in the "Have you been smoking old journal packing again?" category.

Alexander D. Mitchell IV · **Posted:** Thu Jul 17, 2014 7:43 am

Arrived in Altoona this morning after a night run from Conway (west of Pittsburgh) to Altoona over Horse Shoe Curve.

iamdarb · **Joined:** Tue Jul 08, 2014 2:40 pm **Posts:** 24

It arrived in Altoona late last night.

[Edit: Sorry, Alexander. I overlooked your update!]

Lincoln Penn · **Joined:** Wed Feb 02, 2011 9:40 pm **Posts:** 841

VERY nice job!!

dinwitty · **Joined:** Wed Oct 22, 2008 8:18 pm **Posts:** 2226

Bulby wrote:

crij wrote:

Bulby wrote:

The NS head of motive power was heard saying it would be taken to Altoona, painted black, converted to long hood forward and assigned to the Pocahontas Division..

SO a stretch centercab... or are you talking about both long hoods forward?

Neither, I'm talking about relocating the control stand to what was originally the conductor's side, and orienting it to face down the long hood. The cab itself doesn't move, just the control stand.

I suppose putting a fuel tender behind it and slapping some quasi-fake steam engine wheels on the side and we'd have something of a 2156? or a turbine or sumpthin?

CP O'Shea · **Joined:** Mon Jan 03, 2005 8:33 pm **Posts:** 121

dinwitty wrote:

I suppose putting a fuel tender behind it and slapping some quasi-fake steam engine wheels on the side and we'd have something of a 2156? or a turbine or sumpthin?

Eh ... no worries. There is already debate going on as to whether the shield is correct for 6944. There is speculation that UP dropped the word railroad before the locomotive was built.

robertjohndavis · **Joined:** Mon Aug 23, 2004 8:10 am **Posts:** 2499

CP O'Shea wrote:

dinwitty wrote:

I suppose putting a fuel tender behind it and slapping some quasi-fake steam engine wheels on the side and we'd have something of a 2156? or a turbine or sumpthin?

Eh ... no worries. There is already debate going on as to whether the shield is correct for 6944. There is speculation that UP dropped the word railroad before the locomotive was built.

So far, I have heard at least three complaints about the paint job from the online peanut gallery... Add these to the comments on BR&W "400" and you have pretty good proof for the old adage "no good deed goes unpunished."

Rob

Lincoln Penn · **Joined:** Wed Feb 02, 2011 9:40 pm **Posts:** 841

CP O'Shea wrote:

dinwitty wrote:

I suppose putting a fuel tender behind it and slapping some quasi-fake steam engine wheels on the side and we'd have something of a 2156? or a turbine or sumpthin?

Eh ... no worries. There is already debate going on as to whether the shield is correct for 6944. There is speculation that UP dropped the word railroad before the locomotive was built.

No. They had the word RAILROAD on the shield when they went into service.

Jason Midyette · **Posted:** Sat May 23, 2015 5:09 pm

Mr. Penn beat me to it, but a quick google search sows that the centennials did indeed have a shield with "Union Pacific Railroad" when built. Most clearly seen in a UP publicity photo of the 6900 in between 844 and a locomotive posing as UP 119 on a flatcar.

Jason Midyette

Dougvv · **Joined:** Sat Aug 21, 2004 10:52 pm **Posts:** 914

I think there is a secret here. Add pans and electrify NYC to LA. Vuola - a beg electric slug for transcontinental service.

robertjohndavis · **Joined:** Mon Aug 23, 2004 8:10 am **Posts:** 2499

Jason Midyette wrote:

Mr. Penn beat me to it, but a quick google search sows that the centennials did indeed have a shield with "Union Pacific Railroad" when built. Most clearly seen in a UP publicity photo of the 6900 in between 844 and a locomotive posing as UP 119 on a flatcar.

Jason Midyette

The frackas, as I understand it, is that some of the #6900's had "railroad" but it was changed before all were painted/delivered. There is no question #6900 had that herald, the question is did the later #'s have it. For my two cents, she looks great. I have no skin in the game. NS pulled off a great deal with MOT and its all gooooood. No one was asked to donate or lift a finger to get this done, so I find it hard to critique.

Rob

CP O'Shea · **Joined:** Mon Jan 03, 2005 8:33 pm **Posts:** 121

Jason Midyette wrote:

Mr. Penn beat me to it, but a quick google search sows that the centennials did indeed have a shield with "Union Pacific Railroad" when built. Most clearly seen in a UP publicity photo of the 6900 in between 844 and a locomotive posing as UP 119 on a flatcar.

Jason Midyette

Yes, the first order had them as described above. I believe the debate involves the fact that 6944 was part of the second order, built in 1971, and by then UP had supposedly changed the shield.

HudsonL · **Joined:** Mon May 24, 2010 10:22 am **Posts:** 548

rant on/

I think I am going to get a T-Shirt made that says "Give me your Wallet" to wear at the RR Museum.

Then the next time some "Daisy Picker" complains about how something was done, or why something has not been done, I will just point to my T-shirt.

rant off/

A late friend's line was; "They would complain if they were hung with a new rope, at a free lunch"

-Hudson

Dougvv · **Joined:** Sat Aug 21, 2004 10:52 pm **Posts:** 914

Hi,

I thought I heard that the DD40A was going to be repainted in PRR colors, have pans added, and used on transcontinental NYC to LA electrified freight. The DD40A will be a test version of an electrified slug.

Doug vV
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