Wednesday, 4 March 2026

Tucson, April 2000 (part 1)

It is now rather a long time ago, a business trip to Tucson which lasted just over two weeeks. These pictures were probably taken on Saturday 8th April 2000.


Union Pacific GP38-3 2417 (EMD builder number 33367). New as B&O GP-3849 in November 1967, later CSX 2049). Rebuilt as GP38-3 by MPI for UP, delivered January 1998. Returned to lessor Helm Financial November 2007, and ran as HLCX 2417. More recently South Branch Valley Railroad (in West Virginia) 101.


SP 8680, a SD40M-2, by then in Union Pacific ownership through acquisition. Bult as D&RGW SD45 5327 (EMD builder number 33759) delivered in March 1968. Rebuilt to SP 8680 by Morrison Knudesn, completed in November 1994. Renumbered to UP 2756. Retired in October 2010,  sold to National Railway Equipment Co as NREX 2756 in 2013, and scrapped at Metro East Industries, East St Louis, in 2014.


SD40-2 UP 3037. Delivered to C&NW as 6872 in September 1974 (EMD builder number 74639-7), and to UP via acquisition. "was the first unit in this group to be repainted to Union Pacific, completed on 30 June 1995". Retired by UP in December 2008, assumed scrapped. Location.


At this time, SD60Ms were established road power across many railroads. UP 6330 with 2nd generation North American Safety Cab leads this eastbound train, at West Ina Road, near a Motel 6 which I had used on a previous visit, when I was funding my own travel. Now developed with storage units, and in 2019, an upgraded intersection and overpass. 6330 was delivered to UP in September 1992 (EMD builder number 926302-15 ), later renumbered to 2485. At some time, UP retired it, and it now is listed in the roster of Larry's Truck & Electic (LTEX 2485), seen working for Indiana & Ohio RR (IORY).        

The second locomotive was SP 9349, a "Tunnel Motor" SD45T-2, built in January 1975 (EMD builder number 73674-6). By this time a rough looking late survivor, later retired under UP ownership in August 2001. Noted as stored at Larry's Truck & Electric in December 2004.


UP 650 was next, a GE C36-7 (builder number 45090) originally delivered to Missouri Pacific in October 1985. Retired in April 2001, when all 58 surviving locomotives were sold for use in Estonia, becoming EVR 1553.


UP 644 has a similar history to 650. GE C36-7 (builder number 45084 ) originally delivered to Missouri Pacific in October 1985. Retired in March 2001, to Estonia, becoming EVR 1531.

UP 6103, a SD60M (EMD builder number 886010-19) delivered in January 89, with 1st generation North American Safety Cab.  Renumbered in 2003 to 2258, and still on the current roster.