Great train. It is a different strategy when compared to BNSF in which BNSF has 3 - 4 units on the front and 2 units DP'ed on the rear where as UP uses the DP's in mid-train. This train is actually 2 trains that were combined in Chicago to make 1 train to LA. To the best on my knowledge, BNSF trains are 1 train from origin to destination.
The Challenger by herself pulled a 8900' double stack train, 143 wells and 7657tons back in 1990 through Archer Hill in Wyoming, so yeah, a Big Boy and a DDA40X should have no problems.
@Hiei2k7 This train was not that much heavier than many unit coal trains. It's not necessarily the 'length' that results in a pull-apart, but the weight on a drawbar.
If you have failures on a train the entire load stops. If a truck breaks down one trailer is held up. Just saying...and don't get me started on the merits of terrorism protection....
Your usual good job. This train is a model of railroad efficiency... the equivalent of more than 340 highway trucks, off the road, moved from Chicago to LA (?) by a crew of only two people. Too bad there isn't more pressure to get all those inefficient trucks off the public highways!
The truckers aren't necessarily dirty, but the trucks themselves are inefficient, dangerous and environmentally unsound. Trucks should deliver, not haul. As for the truckers' families, their kids will be better off the sooner the trucks stop poisoning the air.
Have you ever gone to a school when they (the kids) are getting out of school? Have you noticed the way they line up the school buss' and the location of the exhaust? This happens every school day of every year. How often do kids get near truck exhaust? How often do trucks haul produce? How often are trains delayed due to track maintenance or derailments or equipment failure?
Ya UP combined two of the stack trains that go from LA to Chicago and Chicago to LA: they put 2 trains into 1 going both ways. The first one was from Chicago to LA and the units were UP 1995, UP 2001, UP 2002 (front) UP 1996, UP 1989 (DPU)
Great work on vid, as always, im sure stack trains are heavy too, but maybe the well cars have less resistance and require less power. UP does the helpers like Southern Pacific which i love, oh the memorys :))
This sort of exemplifies how relatively light stacktrains are in comparison to other cars. Only (repeat, ONLY) 5 locos totalling 21,800HP for such a long train. Note, however, that they were all AC units.
I regularly see doublestacks going through Sacramento on the old WP tracks with a lead ES44AC and a trailing ES4AC. (Occasionally, they will use an SD70ACe.) It's an interesting strategy when compared to BNSF, who tends to put most of the power out front
The train came down Cima Hill at 20 mph to prevent runaway, and accelerated to 40 mph where I was standing. It can go 60 mph on level track, which it probably did past Barstow.
I saw one of those in Wyoming once, they are MASSIVE, especially stretched out across the wide open empty plains where you can see the whole thing end to end.
could you imagine if the SD90MAC's worked to what they were advertised to be, this train would be 4 miles long
MrZkr123 5 months ago
this is the first time i've ever seen an EMD locomotive on a stack train
MrZkr123 5 months ago
how long was the train?
mdpptjlepage 6 months ago
@mdpptjlepage: As posted in my comments, more than 12,000 feet long according to the crew who said so on the radio.
cchan006 6 months ago
@cchan006 In other videos of this train the people says it's 18,000 ft long
wishfuldjtill 6 months ago
@wishfuldjtill: That was probably a different train. Ran on a different route, on the Sunset Route.
cchan006 6 months ago
Great train. It is a different strategy when compared to BNSF in which BNSF has 3 - 4 units on the front and 2 units DP'ed on the rear where as UP uses the DP's in mid-train. This train is actually 2 trains that were combined in Chicago to make 1 train to LA. To the best on my knowledge, BNSF trains are 1 train from origin to destination.
signalman71 1 year ago
could a challenger in front of a bigboy(the 2 together) pull this monster stack train?
MegaZsolti 1 year ago
Excellent work!
LGLG69 1 year ago
Where is Kelso?
09JDCTrainMan 1 year ago
@09JDCTrainMan: Kelso is in the Mojave Desert, between Barstow, CA and Las Vegas, NV.
cchan006 1 year ago
FANTASTIC!
gillart 2 years ago
Wait, what happend to all the Palm trees that used to surround the depot?
ThomasRivette 2 years ago
Good question. Looks like the ground around the depot were renovated with new landscaping. It was my first visit there, so I can't tell you anymore.
cchan006 2 years ago
WOW, I bet a Big Boy and a Centenial together would have pulled that whole thing without any help at all.
ThomasRivette 2 years ago
The Challenger by herself pulled a 8900' double stack train, 143 wells and 7657tons back in 1990 through Archer Hill in Wyoming, so yeah, a Big Boy and a DDA40X should have no problems.
cchan006 2 years ago
@cchan006 Keep in mind that 7657 is not a heavy train. That's about 1/2 the weight of a unit coal train.
Boss302fan 5 months ago
@ThomasRivette
Would have probably snapped the drawbar either on the locomotive or the cars. But the DDA40X in the middle....maybe.
Hiei2k7 7 months ago
@Hiei2k7 This train was not that much heavier than many unit coal trains. It's not necessarily the 'length' that results in a pull-apart, but the weight on a drawbar.
Boss302fan 5 months ago
Damn, that is a monster train!! Thanks for posting this.
greywolf45 2 years ago
A great train, a great view, and another great video. Thank you!
shafferfox 2 years ago
Trains are very efficient but totally impractical when it comes to local deliveries and you can't put tracks everywhere. It would cost a fortune....
elrodjones 2 years ago
If you have failures on a train the entire load stops. If a truck breaks down one trailer is held up. Just saying...and don't get me started on the merits of terrorism protection....
elrodjones 2 years ago
Great video! What a monster!
elrodjones 2 years ago
Your usual good job. This train is a model of railroad efficiency... the equivalent of more than 340 highway trucks, off the road, moved from Chicago to LA (?) by a crew of only two people. Too bad there isn't more pressure to get all those inefficient trucks off the public highways!
flare40x 2 years ago
Yeah, we should put all those truckers out of work! Dam dirty truckers, the hell with their family's!
elrodjones 2 years ago
The truckers aren't necessarily dirty, but the trucks themselves are inefficient, dangerous and environmentally unsound. Trucks should deliver, not haul. As for the truckers' families, their kids will be better off the sooner the trucks stop poisoning the air.
flare40x 2 years ago
Have you ever gone to a school when they (the kids) are getting out of school? Have you noticed the way they line up the school buss' and the location of the exhaust? This happens every school day of every year. How often do kids get near truck exhaust? How often do trucks haul produce? How often are trains delayed due to track maintenance or derailments or equipment failure?
elrodjones 2 years ago
Nice video.I counted 169 plus cars locomotives
generationll 2 years ago
Ya UP combined two of the stack trains that go from LA to Chicago and Chicago to LA: they put 2 trains into 1 going both ways. The first one was from Chicago to LA and the units were UP 1995, UP 2001, UP 2002 (front) UP 1996, UP 1989 (DPU)
SP4449BN9444 2 years ago
I can't remember the way they order except that UP 2001 and 2002 were the 2nd and 3rd units.... They might have had different heritage units on it.
SP4449BN9444 2 years ago
Great work on vid, as always, im sure stack trains are heavy too, but maybe the well cars have less resistance and require less power. UP does the helpers like Southern Pacific which i love, oh the memorys :))
spacecalander 2 years ago
One word... DANG!!
This sort of exemplifies how relatively light stacktrains are in comparison to other cars. Only (repeat, ONLY) 5 locos totalling 21,800HP for such a long train. Note, however, that they were all AC units.
I regularly see doublestacks going through Sacramento on the old WP tracks with a lead ES44AC and a trailing ES4AC. (Occasionally, they will use an SD70ACe.) It's an interesting strategy when compared to BNSF, who tends to put most of the power out front
seabulls69 2 years ago
Good catch! A nice example of modem US railroading....
allyn788 2 years ago
Jesus! That's a load of truck traffic off the road!!!! Great Catch!!!
bitterman112 2 years ago
wow
amazing train!!! HOw fast does it go?
"long" trains (means 3000 feet long) in Europe (pulled by 1 locomotive) go about 60 mph
EnjoyFirefighting 2 years ago
The train came down Cima Hill at 20 mph to prevent runaway, and accelerated to 40 mph where I was standing. It can go 60 mph on level track, which it probably did past Barstow.
cchan006 2 years ago
thanks for the information :)
EnjoyFirefighting 2 years ago
:O wow!!!
this is a bigger train!! Excellent video and well patience XD
Grettings from Chile.
Frrolove 2 years ago
Wow 12,000ft long! Its amazing what 3 locomotive can handle!
Tcostello105 2 years ago
5 locomotives.
DaringDramis 2 years ago
my mistake
Tcostello105 2 years ago
Dude that thing was huge! Great catch!
Amtrakdavis22 2 years ago
I saw one of those in Wyoming once, they are MASSIVE, especially stretched out across the wide open empty plains where you can see the whole thing end to end.
mafarnz 2 years ago
NICE!!!!
sd80macrswt 2 years ago
Awesome catch. Great video*****
iusetano 2 years ago
there is an article about monster trains like this in trainsmag
eeeman07 2 years ago 2
wow!!
now that's a big train, excellent video!!
Jeffwecker81 2 years ago 2