This past Saturday Union Pacific unveiled the newest in its 'Heritage' series - Chicago and North Western #1995. I'm interested in what some RyPN Interchange users think of this and where it falls in the world of preservation.

For those who haven't seen photos of the newest in the series, or the Rio Grande one, here are some links to photographs. Also check out the flimsies to find a link to the UP Press Release.

http://www.railpictures.net/viewphoto.php?id=151633
http://www.railpictures.net/viewphoto.php?id=151494
http://www.railpictures.net/showphotos. ... =UP%201989

-Justin Franz

I applaud the UP for doing this. It isn't preservation per se, but it certainly honors the heritage of the railroads that make up today's Union Pacific. Of course no railway in North America is more history conscious than UP, although in recent years, Canadian Pacific is following suit.

I seriously question as to whether this really the UP preserving its' "heritage" or is it just a matter of preserving is share in royalties that they sought over from the modeling industry.

I can see lawyers on the Model side saying that while the UP has absorbed all of the said lines it has, it does not show any of those lines heritage within it's current all UP system. They made every effort to paint over the said lines equipent once it was absorbed into the Union Pacific Railroad System originally, with few exceptions.

This could be a way for UP to justify their position on wanting a piece of the pie from the Model Railroad Industry. Don't scoff at that either, how big is the model railroad industry now???....there is loads of money to be made.

I probably am wrong, and am sure I will be told so but this is just my opinion...one I don't think is so far off.

> where it falls in the world of preservation.

It is preserving the presence and image of the railroads that it has acquired. I wish there were more railroads as willing to recognize their heritage as Union Pacific is.

For all of you out there that begrudge an American corporation for making a dollar on something they spent millions of their own money to purchase, the next time you go to your local hobby shop, check the labels for the country of origin for the stuff you gleefully spend hundreds of dollars for that are produced by people making just a few dollars a day.