1960s when 40 GP30Bs were delivered
beginning in spring 1963. The final 13 had
steam generators installed at the factory and
were frequently paired with new SDP35s
built only two years after the GP30Bs.
The following year was the beginning of
the double diesel B units on Union Pacific.
EMD’s cabless DD35s were the first to
arrive, with 27 copies purchased, including
the two demonstrators. Curiously, the
cabless DD35 was the first locomotive in
the EMD double diesel lineup; later, when a
cab-equipped model was added it was
dubbed the DD35A. In addition, a single
C855B from Alco was also delivered in
- It was the only cabless Alco hood
unit built for UP.
A decade later, UP would order, then
cancel, a 10-unit order of high-speed-
geared SD40-2Bs from EMD. Scheduled to
arrive in 1975, the locomotives were de-
signed for 80-mph operation and intended
to be used between pairs of DDA40Xs in
high speed intermodal service.
In the early 1990s, Union Pacific would
resurrect the spirit of the B unit by strip-
ping the cabs of 19 SD40-2 and C30-
locomotives of usable equipment such as
seats, toilets, and refrigerators, restricting
them to trail-only status. The converted
locomotives were “renumbered” by simply
adding a “B” in front of their existing road
number. Most only lasted a few years
before being converted back.
2019 — Chris Guss
27,738 Big Six locomotives on 2 pages!
F59: WGO wouldn’ttake no foran answerhen
MISSION CONTROLHow Wabtec remotelymonitors locomotivesaround the globe
Union PacifiThe fi rst and fi nal milesA-B-B-B-B-A revival: c 4141:
BNSF-styleLIVES50 years afterSchenectady closed,its legacy lives on
RESERVE YOUR OWN COPY
OF LOCOMOTIVE 2019 AT
KALMBACHHOBBYSTORE.COMTrainsMag.com 17UP purchased 40 GP30Bs in 1963; the last 13
had steam generators installed at the factory
for passenger service. TRAINS collection
The SD24B was the only cabless model to
outnumber cab-equipped units on the
railroad’s roster. Union Pacific
LIMITED TIME OFFER Canadian National’s commemorative “100 CN” won’t be around long.
Following the company’s 100-year-anniversary celebration, the temporary decals will be
removed. ET44AC No. 3226 heads south through Burlington, Wis., on June 14, 2019. Chris GussNEW BEGINNING Wabtec has begun to overhaul Union Pacific’s AC4400CWs after convert-
ing many of the railroad’s AC6044CWs. These locomotives are part of a 1,000-unit rebuild
program at GE. The first AC4400CW to be upgraded was UP No. 6691. Stephan KoenigCOWL FINALE? Canadian National has begun storing its GE C40-8M locomotives as
demand warrants. The unique locomotives, built in the early 1990s, appear to be the next
group of locomotives CN will retire when business levels permit. Jonathan QuinleyNEWS PHOTOS