Trains in Albany, Oregon, in June & July 2006

I took these train pictures from my car on Interstate 5 at Albany, Oregon, in mid-late June and early July of 2006.

First, on June 14, 2006, I photographed this southbound Union Pacific freight train. The trailing locomotive is Union Pacific #5685, a 4,400-horsepower AC4400CW that Union Pacific designates as a C44ACCTE. It was built by General Electric in December 2004 and delivered on December 26, 2004.

Later on June 14, 2006, I photographed Amtrak’s southbound Coast Starlight, powered by Amtrak #115 & #119, a pair of 4,250-horsepower P42DC locomotives that were built by General Electric in September 1997.

Further up Interstate 5, I also photographed these Union Pacific locomotives on a freight train. Union Pacific #5853 is a 4,400-horsepower AC4400CW that Union Pacific designates as a C44ACCTE. It was built by General Electric in March 2002 and was delivered on April 2, 2002. Union Pacific #5486 is another 4,400-horsepower AC4400CW that Union Pacific designates as a C44ACCTE. It was built by General Electric in May 2005 and was delivered on June 3, 2005. Union Pacific #9675 is a 4,400-horsepower Dash 9-44CW that was built by General Electric in December 1993 as Chicago & North Western #8611. After the Chicago & North Western was merged into the Union Pacific on April 24, 1995, this locomotive became Union Pacific #9675 on July 21, 1999.

On June 15, 2006, I photographed Union Pacific #5763 leading a southbound freight train. It is a 4,400-horsepower AC4400CW that Union Pacific designates as a C44ACCTE. It was built by General Electric in March 2001 and was delivered on March 27, 2001.

Just down Interstate 5, I photographed another southbound freight train, with an unknown Union Pacific SD40-2 leading Union Pacific #9209, a 4,000-horsepower Dash 8-40C that was built by General Electric in September 1988.

Later that same day, I photographed the first southbound freight train again, with Union Pacific #5763 still leading. The second locomotive is Union Pacific #5250, a 4,400-horsepower ES44AC that was built by General Electric in February 2006 and was delivered on March 1, 2006. Union Pacific gives its ES44AC locomotives the designation C45ACCTE. The third locomotive is Union Pacific #5687, a 4,400-horsepower AC4400CW that Union Pacific designates as a C44ACCTE. It was built by General Electric in December 2004 and was delivered on December 29, 2004.

On June 21, 2006, I photographed this southbound Union Pacific freight train, led by an unknown Union Pacific 4,400-horsepower GE AC4400CW followed by a 4,000-horsepower EMD SD70M, two 4,000-horsepower GE Dash 8-40Cs and two 3,800-horsepower EMD SD60Ms.

On June 30, 2006, I photographed this southbound Union Pacific freight train with an unknown Union Pacific General Electric locomotive leading five additional units.

On July 3, 2006, I photographed this southbound Union Pacific freight train powered by at least five locomotives, one of which appears to be wearing the orange and green paint scheme of Burlington Northern Santa Fe.

On July 5, 2006, I photographed this northbound Union Pacific intermodal train with an unknown Union Pacific 4,300-horsepower EMD SD70ACe leading an unknown Union Pacific 4,000-horsepower EMD SD70M.

On July 7, 2006, I photographed this southbound Union Pacific freight train led by what appears to be Union Pacific #4506, which was a 4,000-horsepower SD70M assembled for the General Motors Locomotive Group by Bombardier in Mexico and was delivered on November 27, 2001.

On July 11, 2006, I photographed these two southbound Union Pacific freight trains. The closer train is led by an unknown Union Pacific 4,000-horsepower EMD SD70M. The second unit is Union Pacific (UPY) #2310, a 2000-horsepower GG20GE battery diesel hybrid locomotive that was built by Motive Power Industries using the frame of Union Pacific #262, a retired 3,000-horsepower B30-7A locomotive that was built by General Electric in March 1980 as Cotton Belt (SSW) #7776. The Cotton Belt was a subsidiary of the Southern Pacific. After the Southern Pacific merged into the Union Pacific on September 11, 1996, SSW #7776 became Union Pacific #262 on June 7, 1997. It was first retired on December 19, 2001, then permanently retired on February 28, 2005, for its frame to be used for UPY #2310, which was delivered on June 3, 2006. The third locomotive is Union Pacific #5768, a 4,400-horsepower AC4400CW that Union Pacific designates as a C44ACCTE. It was built by General Electric in March 2001 and was delivered on March 27, 2001. The fourth locomotive is Union Pacific #9752, a 4,400-horsepower Dash 9-44CW that was built by General Electric in January 1994 as Chicago & North Western #8648. After the Chicago & North Western was merged into the Union Pacific on April 24, 1995, this locomotive became Union Pacific #9752 on April 12, 2000.

Union Pacific Freight Trains in Albany, Oregon, in Early May 2006

I took these pictures of Union Pacific freight trains from my car on Interstate 5 at Albany, Oregon. First, on May 3, 2006, is this southbound train led by Union Pacific #4635, a 4,000-horsepower SD70M that was built by the General Motors Locomotive Group in London, Ontario, in December 2000. This was one of five pre-production prototypes for EPA Tier I SD70M locomotives, featuring larger flared radiators to accommodate separate radiator cores for diesel engine jacket water and for aftercoolers. Locomotives 4635-4637 were retained by GMLG as test units throughout 2001 and part of 2002 before being delivered to Union Pacific in July 2002. This locomotive was delivered on July 27, 2002. This train’s second unit is CIT Group (CEFX) #7097, a 3,000-horsepower SD40-2 that was built by the Electro-Motive Division of General Motors in November 1978 as Burlington Northern #7097. Following the merger of the Burlington Northern and the Atchison, Topeka & Santa Fe on September 22, 1995, this locomotive became Burlington Northern Santa Fe #7097. It was acquired by CIT Group by 2003. The third locomotive is Union Pacific #4366, a 4,000-horsepower SD70M that was assembled for the General Motors Locomotive Group by Bombardier in Mexico and was delivered on May 16, 2001.

On May 8, 2006, I photographed this southbound train powered by a pair of Union Pacific 4,000-horsepower SD70Ms. The road number of the lead unit is not visible, but the trailing unit is #4703, which was built by the General Motors Locomotive Group in London, Ontario, and was delivered on October 2, 2001.

I photographed this southbound train on May 10, 2006. The number of the lead locomotive is not clear, but it is a 4,000-horsepower Union Pacific SD70M. The second locomotive is Union Pacific #4241, another 4,000-horsepower SD70M that was assembled by Bombardier in Mexico for the General Motors Locomotive Group in October 2000 and was delivered on October 19, 2000. The third locomotive is Union Pacific #9219, a 4,000-horsepower Dash 8-40C that was built by General Electric in September 1988.

Union Pacific Freight Train at Albany, Oregon, on April 27, 2006

On April 27, 2006, I photographed this southbound Union Pacific freight train from my car on Interstate 5 near Albany, Oregon, powered by an unknown Union Pacific 4,400-horsepower GE AC4400CW that Union Pacific designates as a C44ACCTE, followed by at least three more locomotives, including a Union Pacific 4,000-horsepower EMD SD70M and a Union Pacific 4,000-horsepower GE Dash 8-40C.

Union Pacific Freight Train at Salem, Oregon, on April 22, 2006

I took these train pictures on April 22, 2006.

I photographed this southbound Union Pacific freight train at the undercrossing of Portland Road NE in Salem, Oregon.

The lead locomotive is Union Pacific #4280.

This is a 4,000-horsepower SD70M that was built by the General Motors Locomotive Group in London, Ontario, and delivered on December 24, 2000.

The second locomotive is Union Pacific #9338, a 4,000-horsepower Dash 8-40C that was built by General Electric in February 1989.

The trailing locomotive is Union Pacific #5760.

This is a 4,400-horsepower AC4400CW that Union Pacific designates as a C44ACCTE.

 It was built by General Electric in March 2001, and was delivered on April 2, 2001.

Union Pacific Freight Trains at Albany, Oregon, in early April 2006

I took these pictures from my car on Interstate 5 near Albany, Oregon. First, on April 4, 2006, I photographed a northbound Union Pacific freight train led by a pair of 4,000-horsepower SD70M locomotives. I can’t make out the road number of the lead unit, but the second is Union Pacific #4593, which was built by the General Motors Locomotive Group in London, Ontario, and delivered on April 9, 2001.

On April 5, 2006, I photographed this southbound Union Pacific freight train, powered by a pair of 3,000-horsepower SD40-2 locomotives. In the lead is Union Pacific #3424, which was built by the Electro-Motive Division of General Motors in March 1978. The second unit is Union Pacific #7896, which was built by the Electro-Motive Division in June 1974 as Union Pacific #3257 and was renumbered to Union Pacific #7896 on November 26, 2003.

I photographed these locomotives pulling a southbound Union Pacific freight train on April 6, 2006. The lead locomotive is a 4,400-horsepower General Electric AC4400CW, which Union Pacific designates as a C44ACCTE. The road number is difficult to make out, but I believe this is Union Pacific #5803, which was built in February 2002 and delivered on March 8, 2002. The second unit is Union Pacific #9175, a 4,000-horsepower Dash 8-40C that was built by General Electric in July 1988. The third unit is a Union Pacific AC4400CW. I did not get the cab in the frame to know the road number, but the fact that it is painted with the lightning stripe but without the large American flag and “Building America” slogan leads me to believe it is a C44ACCTE from the #5700-5769 group built in early 2001. This group were the first AC4400CWs to feature the Controlled Tractive Effort software that allows these AC traction locomotives to mimic the operating characteristics of DC traction locomotives when desired in certain circumstances.

Trains in Vancouver, Washington, and Rainier, Oregon, in June 2002

I took these pictures at the Amtrak depot in Vancouver, Washington, in June 2002.

First, leading a light motive power move to Portland is Burlington Northern Santa Fe #5370 is a 4,400-horsepower Dash 9-44CW that was built by General Electric in December 2000.

In the middle of the consists is Atchison, Topeka & Santa Fe #809, a 4,000-horsepower Dash 8-40CW that was built by General Electric in June 1992.

Bringing up the rear is Oakway, Inc. #9046, a 3,800-horsepower SD60 built in November 1986. It is one of 100 such locomotives built in late 1986 by the Electro-Motive Division of General Motors, and leased to Oakway, Inc., a subsidiary of Cornell Rice & Sugar. These locomotives were assigned to the Burlington Northern under a “power-by-the-hour” arrangement in which the railroad purchased only the kilowatt-hours of electricity produced by the locomotives while in use.

Arriving with the eastbound Empire Builder, Amtrak #42 is a 4,250-horsepower P42DC built by General Electric in December 1996. It has been repainted in an updated version of Amtrak’s Acela-inspired Phase V paint scheme, with only a single large Amtrak locomotive and a lower-positioned red sill stripe, with the lower blue band removed.

Leading a westbound freight train from the Columbia River Gorge, Burlington Northern Santa Fe #6331 is a 3,000-horsepower SD40-2 that was built by the Electro-Motive Division of General Motors in February 1972 as Burlington Northern #6331, part of Burlington Northern’s first order of SD40-2s. Following the merger of the Burlington Northern and the Atchison, Topeka & Santa Fe on September 22, 1995, this locomotive became Burlington Northern Santa Fe #6331 on August 11, 2001.

Trailing is Burlington Northern Santa Fe #4416, a 4,400-horsepower Dash 9-44CW that was built by General Electric in April 1999.

Leading a southbound freight train, Union Pacific #7574 is a 6,000-horsepower AC6000CW that was built by General Electric in December 2000. Called a C60AC by Union Pacific, it was among the first units to wear Union Pacific’s new paint scheme with the wings on the nose and the lightning stripe on the sides between the yellow and gray.

The AC6000CW was one product of a mid-1990s horsepower war between General Electric and the Electro-Motive Division of General Motors, spurred on by railroads’ desire for 6,000-horsepower locomotives to replace existing 3,000-horsepower locomotives nearing retirement on a two-to-one basis. Powered by a 16-cylinder 7HDL diesel engine developed in a joint venture with Deutz Motoren Werke Mannheim AC (MWM) of Mannheim, Germany, the AC6000CW was introduced in 1995. Ultimately, neither GE nor EMD found success with their 6,000-horsepower models, and the railroads ended up standardizing on locomotives with 4,300-4,400 horsepower. AC6000CW production ended in 2001, with Union Pacific and CSX the only domestic purchasers.

The second unit is Union Pacific #9351, a 4,000-horsepower Dash 8-40C that was built by General Electric in December 1988.

Bringing up the rear is Union Pacific #9547, a 4,135-horsepower Dash 8-41CW that was built by General Electric in November 1993.

Finally, running down the middle of A Street in Rainier, Oregon with an eastbound local freight train on another day, Willamette & Pacific #1802 is a 1,750-horsepower GP9 that was built by the Electro-Motive Division of General Motors in July 1956 as Denver & Rio Grande Western #5944. In June 1984 it was retired and sold to Mid-America Car Leasing. It was leased to the Kyle Railroad as their #5944 from July 1984 to December 1986. It was used on the Austin & Northwestern Railroad as #44 from April 1987 to November 1995, where it received the paint scheme shown here. It went to the Central Oregon & Pacific in December 1995, and was sold to the Willamette & Pacific in June 1998. The Portland & Western overtook the Willamette & Pacific in December 2000 but this locomotive retained its Willamette & Pacific lettering and reporting marks. This locomotive would be damaged in a derailment south of Albany, Oregon, in August 2004, and would be scrapped in January 2005. This was the Willamette & Pacific’s second GP9 #1802; the first, a former Southern Pacific GP9E, had been retired in 1995 and scrapped.

Trains at Portland's Albina Yard in Spring 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.

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.

Photo by Cliff West

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

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.

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.

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.

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.

Railfanning Portland's Albina Yard in 1999

I took these pictures with my dad at Union Pacific's Albina Yard in Portland, Oregon, in August or September of 1999. Just a few years after Union Pacific's mergers with Chicago & North Western and Southern Pacific, it was still common to see locomotives wearing the paint schemes of these predecessors, as well as leased locomotives.

Electro-Motive Leasing (EMDX) #7021 is a 4,000-horsepower SD70M that was built by the General Motors Locomotive Group in London, Ontario, in 1995 for lease service. It is painted in the later solid-burgundy paint scheme.

Southern Pacific #9811 is a 4,000-horsepower SD70M that was built by the General Motors Locomotive Group in London, Ontario, in June 1994.

Way back in the engine terminal was Union Pacific #419, a 3,000-horsepower C30-7 that was built by General Electric in June 1978 as Union Pacific #2519. It was renumbered to Union Pacific #419 on February 4, 1997 to clear the 2400-series & 2500-series for GP38-3 units leased from Helm Leasing beginning in late 1996. Union Pacific's C30-7s were rare in the Pacific Northwest by this time.

Chicago & North Western #8501 is a 4,000-horsepower Dash 8-40C that was built by General Electric in June 1989. This particular locomotive was CN&W's first Dash 8-40C, and also C&NW's first new GE road locomotive since it purchased 7 U30Cs in 1968. Starting with this locomotive, all of C&NW's new locomotives came from General Electric until it merged with Union Pacific in 1995.

Southern Pacific #1010 is an SL-4B Yard Slug; it has no engine of its own, only traction motors, and must get its power from another locomotive. It is one of four such SL-4B slugs owned by Southern Pacific, which operated them with MP15AC locomotives #2732-2735. This slug was originally built by the Electro-Motive Division of General Motors in March 1950 as Louisville & Nashville #2247, a 1,000-horsepower SW7 diesel switcher. In June 1979 it was rebuilt into a slug by the General Electric Apparatus Service Shop in Minneapolis, Minnesota, and it entered service as Southern Pacific #1010 on June 26, 1979.

Union Pacific #3973 is a 3,000-horsepower SD40-2 that was built by the Electro-Motive Division of General Motors in April 1980 as Missouri Pacific #6073. This was the last of a group of 69 Missouri Pacific SD40-2s built to Burlington Northern specifications for unit coal train pool service with the BN, and was the highest-numbered SD40-2 on the Missouri Pacific. After the Missouri Pacific was merged into the Union Pacific in 1982, this locomotive was renumbered to Union Pacific #3973 on August 14, 1987, and was the highest-numbered SD40-2 in the 3900-series.

Union Pacific #1312 is a 1,500-horsepower MP15DC that was originally built by the Electro-Motive Division of General Motors in May 1975 as Pittsburgh & Lake Erie #1588. It was purchased by Union Pacific in December 1984 and was delivered in mid-February 1985. It was painted in Union Pacific colors and became Union Pacific #1012 in May or June of 1985, and was renumbered to Union Pacific #1312 on September 21, 1987.

Union Pacific #9345 is a 4,000-horsepower Dash 8-40C that was built by General Electric in February 1989.

Union Pacific #3652 is a 3,000-horsepower SD40-2 that was built by the Electro-Motive Division of General Motors in December 1979.

Union Pacific #3080 is a 3,000-horsepower SD40-2 that was built by Electro-Motive Division of General Motors in February 1975 as Chicago & North Western #6917. After the C&NW was merged into the Union Pacific on April 24, 1995, this locomotive became Union Pacific #3080 on December 16, 1996.

Southern Pacific #9803 is a 4,000-horsepower SD70M that was built by the General Motors Locomotive Group in London, Ontario, in July 1994.

Electro-Motive (EMDX) #7017 is an SD70M that was built by the General Motors Locomotive Group in London, Ontario, in March 1995 for lease service. It is painted in the earlier burgundy, silver & gray paint scheme.

Union Pacific #9384 is a 4,000-horsepower Dash 8-40CW that was built by General Electric in February 1990.

Union Pacific #9178 is a 4,000-horsepower Dash 8-40C that was built by General Electric in July 1988.