Feather River GP40s

Feather River GP40s

THE LONG GOOD-BYE

UP GP40-2 907 works the Portola Yard in 1994, a far cry from the fast freights the unit once hauled through the Feather River Canyon. (Ken Rattenne Photo)

Because of their status as rebuilds, WP's GP40s survived their smaller GP35 cousins, but not by much. Union Pacific retired their last GP35 in early 1992; by 1993 it was announced that the GP40s would be retired by year's end. True to their word, Union Pacific pulled the 15 ex-WP GP40s (651-665) from service and retired them that fall. The units eventually found their way to granger Kansas City Southern, which renumbered them 4765-4779.

And then there were 19.

As 1994 began, only 19 units from WP's entire diesel fleet were left on UP's roster: The 15GP40-2s and four rebuilt SW9 switchers (now designated as SW10s)

How long the GP40-2s will operate depends on UP's ever-changing locomotive program and their need for switching and local power.

MOTHER AND MATE

In 1991 UP was interested in creating a small fleet of road slugs, more formerly known as electrical slave units. To supply the electrical power for these lobotomized units, the railroad chose seven former WP GP40-2s. The former WP 3545-3551 were modified to allow electrical mating with the newly constructed mate units, and labor on today as part of the small exclusive club of WP graduates. These units, and the remaining nine still assigned to the general freight pool, are the lone survivors of WP's GP40 fleet.

HOW LONG?

UP2501.gif (33256 bytes)

UP GP38-2M 2501, Warm Springs, CA.
5/24/97

As we approach the end of the decade 645-engined locomotives are becoming prime candidates for retirement. No doubt the ex-WP GP40-2s will become an endangered species and eventually will be cut from the roster. But railroads cannot live by high horsepowered six-axle units alone, and UP still needs locomotives to haul locals and do branchline and yard switching. Even with the infusion of Southern Pacific's large fleet of GP40-2s and GP40Ms, the railroad has found itself short on B-B power to fill these roles, forcing it to long term lease a number of 2000-hp "GP38-2M" rebuilds.

The GP38-2M is a Morrison/Knudsen concoction that is basically a lobotomized GP40. The units have the internals of a GP38-2 grafted onto a GP40 frame and hood, and are numbered in UP's 2500-series.

In light of this, WP's GP40-2s may indeed survive through the millenium, representing the the final remnants of Western Pacific's once proud diesel fleet.