Worlds Largest Diesel RR Loco on Turntable UP6936

The Worlds Largest Diesel Railroad locomotive takes a spin on the Cheyenne Wyoming Turntable for the Denver Post 2009 Cheyenne Frontier Days Train
UP6936 is a Centennial DD40X: Union Pacific has retained only one of its 47 Centennial diesel-electric locomotives, No. 6936. The Centennials were the largest diesel-electric locomotives ever built. Actually comprising two engines on one frame, they delivered 6,600 horsepower. Designed and built exclusively for Union Pacific Railroad, the units were named in honor of the railroad's centennial anniversary celebration in 1969. Accordingly, they were numbered in the 6900 series, from 6900 to 6946.

The first Centennial was delivered in 1969, in time to participate in the Golden Spike celebration in Utah. The remaining units were delivered during the next two years. They operated in fast freight service over most of the UP system until their retirement in 1984. Eleven of the locomotives were donated for public display in various parks and museums.

Category:

Autos & Vehicles

Tags:

• CFD
• train
• UP
• 6936
• Turntable
• Cheyenne
• WY

[SupernalOne]

What's the rated horsepower of this behemoth, I wonder - 12,000 hp?

[SkipW]

@SupernalOne Nicknamed "Centennial" and "Big Jack", it uses two diesel engines (each providing 3,300 hp (2.5 MW)), and although recent locomotive designs such as the AC6000CW, SD90MAC and the China Railway DF8C have come close, the DDA40X remains the most powerful single-unit diesel locomotive type ever built. It is also the longest single-unit diesel locomotive ever built.at 98 feet long - from wikipedia

[jarhead4God]

Do you have any idea where the 11 engines that where donated could be seen.

[SkipW]

@jarhead4God according to wikipedia

6900 - Kenefick Park, Omaha, Nebraska 6901 - Ross Park, Pocatello, Idaho

6911 - Mexico Institute of Technology, Mexico City 6913 - Museum of the American Railroad, Dallas, Texas

6915 - Pomona, California 6916 - Ogden, Utah 6922 - North Platte, Nebraska

6925 - Stored at Chamberlain, South Dakota 6930 - Union, Illinois. 6938 - North Little Rock, Arkansas 6944 - St. Louis, Missouri 6946 - Western Pacific Railroad Museum, Portola, California. Hope this helps

[harjoz]

Can't imagine if this loco is turned in Jatinegara turntable in Indonesia.

We still operate old and human powered turntable......

Greeting from Indonesia.

[SkipW]

@harjoz they still use those human powered turntables here on some narrow gauge lines

[SupernalOne]

@SkipW

wow! thanks for the info - nice that the US is still number one in some areas -

Hmm, then one might wonder whether one long unit like this is more efficient than coupling together as many locomotives as necessary to get the same rated horsepower - this one would certain look cooler going over bendy stretches of track :)

[NSalex12]

Damn this thing makes the EMD SD MACS look like midgets!

[ben1594567]

that thing is huge. I have never seen one that big before. I want one.

[MikeInPlano]

@SkipW Size and weight is of little importance if the turntable is well balanced and it's wheels are properly maintained. A human powered turntable could handle this or any other large loco.

[MikeInPlano]

@SkipW There's one in Dallas in the Museum of the American Railroad, located at Fair Park. The museum is about to move out to a new facility it's building in Frisco, a suburb about 25 miles north of downtown. They also have a BIg Boy (intentionally rendered inoperative for some reason), and a nice collection of other steam and diesel locomotives and other rolling stock. If you're in the Dallas area it's worth the time to visit.

[OmahaTom]

@johnbrown651 I was there! I have video of it here on Youtube! I just posted a video response to this clip, but if u dont see it, go to my YouTube page and look for my video: "6900 being moved to Kenefick Park" Cool stuff! -Greetings from Omaha

[johnbrown651]

im in uk by the way,you may find it on the quest channel (tv)cable ,big moves i think it was.hope this helps.

[johnbrown651]

saw a documentry some years ago about moving a bigboy and dd/sd40 from railyard up to a museum on a hill,if that helps.