Sunday, June 2, 2019

Trains at Portland's Albina Yard in Spring 2001

Union Pacific GP15-1 #1598 at Albina Yard in Portland, Oregon, in May 2001
Photo by Cliff West

This group of pictures were taken by my dad, Cliff West, while railfanning with Fred Anderson at Union Pacific's Albina Yard in Portland, Oregon, in the spring of 2001, I believe in the month of May. First we see a Union Pacific locomotive switching some Canadian Pacific covered hoppers featuring the beaver herald that was revived in 2007.

Union Pacific GP15-1 #1598 at Albina Yard in Portland, Oregon, in May 2001
Photo by Cliff West

Union Pacific #1598 is a 1,500-horsepower GP15-1 that was built by the Electro-Motive Division of General Motors in July 1977 as Missouri Pacific #1598. It retained its original number after the Missouri Pacific was merged into the Union Pacific in 1982, and was repainted in Union Pacific colors on November 7, 1988.

Union Pacific SD70M #4626 at Albina Yard in Portland, Oregon, in May 2001
Photo by Cliff West

Here is a Union Pacific freight train arriving at Albina Yard with four Union Pacific locomotives.

Union Pacific SD70M #4626 at Albina Yard in Portland, Oregon, in May 2001
Photo by Cliff West

The lead locomotive is Union Pacific #4626, a 4,000-horsepower SD70M that was built by the General Motors Locomotive Group in London, Ontario, in April 2001. It was only about a month old when this picture was taken.

Union Pacific SD70M #4588 at Albina Yard in Portland, Oregon, in May 2001
Photo by Cliff West

Also part of this locomotive consist, Union Pacific #4588 is another 4,000-horsepower SD70M that was built by the General Motors Locomotive Group in London, Ontario, in February 2001.

Union Pacific Dash 8-40C #9054 at Albina Yard in Portland, Oregon, in May 2001
Photo by Cliff West

Leading a departing freight train, Union Pacific #9054 is a 4,000-horsepower Dash 8-40C that was built by General Electric in August 1990 as Chicago & North Western #8532. Following the merger of the Chicago & North Western into the Union Pacific on April 25, 1995, this locomotive was renumbered and repainted for Union Pacific on December 5, 1995.

Union Pacific Dash 8-40C #9054 at Albina Yard in Portland, Oregon, in May 2001
Photo by Cliff West

The last picture from this group shows the freight train led by Union Pacific #9054 departing the Albina Yard as another freight train led by two more Union Pacific 4,000-horsepower EMD SD70Ms arrives in the yard.

Saturday, June 1, 2019

Trains in Vancouver, Washington, in February 2001

Union Pacific Dash 9-44CW #9668 in Vancouver, Washington, in February 2001

I took these pictures at the Amtrak depot in Vancouver, Washington, in February of 2001. First, leading a southbound freight train, is Union Pacific #9668, a 4,400-horsepower Dash 9-44CW that was built by General Electric in April 1994 as Chicago & North Western #8699. Following the merger of the C&NW into the Union Pacific on April 25, 1995, it became Union Pacific #9668 on June 16, 1995. This was the first former Chicago & North Western locomotive to be renumbered and repainted for Union Pacific. Since then, it had received an air conditioner from an unrepainted C&NW locomotive.

Burlington Northern GP50 #3128 in Vancouver, Washington, in February 2001

Parked in the diesel servicing area near the Amtrak depot, Burlington Northern #3128 is a 3,500-horsepower GP50 that was built by the Electro-Motive Division of General Motors in August 1985. Since the merger of the Burlington Northern and the Atchison, Topeka & Santa Fe on September 12, 1995, to form Burlington Northern Santa Fe, this locomotive has had its headlight lowered into the nose following Santa Fe practice.

Burlington Northern Santa Fe Dash 9-44CW #4304 in Vancouver, Washington, in February 2001

Burlington Northern Santa Fe #4304 is a 4,400-horsepower Dash 9-44CW that was built by General Electric in January 1999. Here it is arriving with an eastbound freight train bound for Portland with its nose door opened.

Burlington Northern Santa Fe Dash 9-44CW #4304 in Vancouver, Washington, in February 2001

Naturally, after I took the picture, a member of the train crew closed the door.

Atchison, Topeka & Santa Fe Dash 9-44CW #630 in Vancouver, Washington, in February 2001

The second unit in this consist was Atchison, Topeka & Santa Fe #630, a 4,400-horsepower Dash 9-44CW that was built by General Electric in February 1994.

Amtrak Cascades NPCU #90250 in Vancouver, Washington, in February 2001

Arriving with southbound Amtrak Cascades Train #753 is Amtrak Cascades NPCU #90250, a Non-Powered Cab Unit, or NPCU, which had been recently rebuilt from Amtrak #250, a 3,000-horsepower F40PH that was originally built by the Electro-Motive Division of General Motors in 1977.

Amtrak Cascades F59PHI #468 in Vancouver, Washington, in February 2001

Bringing up the rear of Train #753 is Amtrak Cascades #468, a 3,200-horsepower F59PHI that was built in 1998 by the Electro-Motive Division of General Motors with final assembly by Super Steel Schenectady of Schenectady, Pennsylvania.

Amtrak P42DC #133 in Vancouver, Washington, in February 2001

Leading Amtrak's eastbound Train #28, the Portland section of the Empire Builder, is Amtrak #133, a 4,250-horsepower P42DC that was built by General Electric in December 2000.

Amtrak P42DC #133 in Vancouver, Washington, in February 2001

This was one of Amtrak's newest locomotives, being only about 2 months old.

Amtrak P42DC #133 in Vancouver, Washington, in February 2001

The Portland section of the Empire Builder had previously been pulled by a pair of 3,000-horsepower EMD F40PH locomotives, but a single P42DC could handle the train by itself.

Amtrak P42DC #133 in Vancouver, Washington, in February 2001

This locomotive was painted in Amtrak's new Acela-inspired Phase V paint scheme. Amtrak #133 was one of the first to wear this scheme; the P42DCs began receiving it with #123.