On Track, with Deano

CNWman

CNW Fan
Deano...What an AWESOME engine..!!! Are they still in service..??

Keep up the GREAT work...!!!:thumb:

UP DDA40X #6936 is the only one of the UP-exclusive Centenials (all 47 of the class were built for the UP's 100th aniversary, hence the "centential" moniker") still running, and UP uses it for private excusions, sometimes with either 3985 or 844 as well. 12 other DDA40X's have been preserved in various condition, like the one pictured above. The other 34 DDA40X's were all 'withdrawn', or probably scraped. The DDA40X actually is quite interesting, although I'll let Deano tell you the details, for he could probably take one apart and put it back together without blueprints (now kiddies, DON'T try that at home!sign1)
 

CNWman

CNW Fan
CNWman, the Gas Turbine is 17''1/2'' long:eeki: . My CURRENT layout here at home is just to small to run my big stuff:frowns:

Considering you want ANOTHER one of those, maybe you should consider making more space for the Rock Valley Division, complete with Odge..no,too large an area needed, maybe just an engine servicing/display area:mrgreen:
 

Sarge_7

Member
Deano, here is some info I found last night on wikipedia about the sandboxes on the DD35As

"The DD35s were initially quite unreliable; some of this was blamed on sand from the internal sandboxes getting in electrical gear, so new sandboxes were fitted on the walkways in 1969."

These were the same ones used on the DDA40X.

As the Athearn ones seem to be easy to find, I think I may resurrect a couple of the 35's. Who knows maybe Crazy Larry will take on the project:twisted:
 

viperman

Active Member
Deano, are you sure you didn't steal those pics from me? I've taken pictures of that same DDA40X at IRM, from those same angles! Then again, as big as it is, I'm sure many people have
 

UP SD40-2

Senior Member
Gus, THANKS!, for the complements:mrgreen: .

CNWman & Jim, THANK YOU guys for posting the extra info on the DDA40X & DD35's:thumb::thumb::mrgreen:

Steve, NOPE, sorry Steve, but those pics were taken by ME on 7/14/07 at the IRM:winki::mrgreen: , PLEASE FEEL FREE TO POST YOUR SHOTS on here though!:thumb: , I don't think we can really ever get enough of UP's DDA40X's:mrgreen: .

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Heres a pic i took of the DDA40X on 7/15/06, this was the FIRST time i have EVER seen the DDA40X out of its usual spot:eeki: . the prime movers in this engine don't run, if they are even there:confused: , but the engine was controlled by engineers in the cab of it, power was provided by an SP SD7 behind it:thumb: .

:deano: -Deano
DDA40X.JPG
 

steamhead

Active Member
Why would they discontinue their use..?? The costs to set up and fabricate these units must have been astronomical, and then just build 47..?? And..worse yet...just run them for a relatively short time....
 

DeckRoid

Member
A buddy of mine at our club has one of these in HO. Its a freakin' MONSTER on the layout. He is thinking of handing it over to the Wire Guy in our club to switch it to DCC. It looks really nice, as Marv does a great job weathering his stuff, but when you see it coming down the track towards you, even though you KNOW it's on the track, you still step back a pace to give it space to go on by.
 

CNWman

CNW Fan
CNWman & Jim, THANK YOU guys for posting the extra info on the DDA40X & DD35's:thumb::thumb::mrgreen:
You're welcome!:thumb:

but the engine was controlled by engineers in the cab of it, power was provided by an SP SD7 behind it:thumb: .

Actually, the prime movers in 6930 are indeed still there, and although currently non-functional, the 6930 still can M.U. and act as a control cab for the engine(s) linked up to it, therefore technically the only other working DDA40X in the world, with 6936 obviously being the first.

Oh, I think I should also mention UP #1234, an SW10 in use as a shop switcher in Chyanne.:thumb:
 
To be honest, i am not a fan of UP, infact i consider the banana colours abit too bright for me, but Deano, your pics are converting me to a UP fan!
 

Sarge_7

Member
Now I will have to get out my Centenial pics from '91 and scan them:p Probably not till later this weekend. It was with 3985, 8444 and one or two other engines in salt lake city.:mrgreen:
 

UP SD40-2

Senior Member
Gus, THANKS!:mrgreen:

George, your right, even in model those DDA40X's are HUGE:eeki::mrgreen: .

Steven, NICE PICS!!:thumb:

CNWman, THANKS!, for the info:thumb: .

darkcurves, so I'm starting to convert you into a UP fan eh?:mrgreen: THATS AWESOME!!!:thumb: theres no shame in being a UP fan:twisted: ,WELCOME!:mrgreen:

Jim, WHOA!:eeki: , you have pics of the Centennial AND steam/ers:eeki: , oh man, you just gotta post 'em:thumb: .

**A couple more pics i took in Rochelle...
:deano: -Deano
DSC08042.JPG

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Sarge_7

Member
Jim, WHOA!:eeki: , you have pics of the Centennial AND steam/ers:eeki: , oh man, you just gotta post 'em:thumb: .

Yup,It was some sort of special raildays celibration, I don't remember exactly what for, but I think I have a news paper article on it too. I think there was also a FT as well as another steamer on a flat car.

I just happened to luck out and be there visiting mt Dad after I got home from desert storm.

I will get it dug out this weekend, I remember being totaly blown away, especialy when they double headed 3985 and 8444 and steamed out of town:p
 

Chessie6459

Gauge Oldtimer
Great Pictures Deano. Those DD35's and the rest of them were huge engines. Sure would have been nice to see them rolling down the main line. :D
 

viperman

Active Member
After seeing the DDA40X at IRM last year, that made me want to become a volunteer there, just so I could try to work on it. Its a shame to see that thing in that condition
 

UP SD40-2

Senior Member
Jim, i would have been in heaven if i seen what you did:mrgreen: , your lucky, i cant wait to see the pics:thumb::mrgreen: .

Matt, your 100% right, i sure wish the DDA40X's & DD35's were running the rails today:thumb: . i would love to see UP's last running DDA40X:winki::mrgreen: .

Steven, it would be AWESOME to help at the IRM:thumb: , the only thing is, you couldn't pic the engines you want to work on, and sadly, there are a few engines in line to be fixed before they get to that DDA40X:frowns: .

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UP F-E-F Class 3 excursion rolls through the Rock Valley Sub...
A few lucky railfans happened to be at the same location i was when i got these shots of the event:winki::119: .

**a THANK YOU to Josh(jbaakko) for the idea i got from a comment he made:winki: , THANKS JOSH!:thumb:

:deano: -Deano
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viperman

Active Member
Deano, I know. I just didn't like seeing this thing in that condition. You also have to be a membership holder to volunteer at IRM, which I am not
 

UP SD40-2

Senior Member
Steven, i know exactly what your saying, it does make you want to help. if i lived closer to the IRM i would have liked to help, i was a paint & body man for MANY years, i know my services would have been put to good use:thumb: .

:deano: -Deano
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CNWman

CNW Fan
Steven, i know exactly what your saying, it does make you want to help. if i lived closer to the IRM i would have liked to help, i was a paint & body man for MANY years, i know my services would have been put to good use:thumb: .

:deano: -Deano

Rent a motor home, leagaly theme it for the UP, live close by temporarily to the IRM and volenteer your services when you have the time:mrgreen: That's what I'd do if I could...sign1
 

Triplex

Active Member
Why would they discontinue their use..?? The costs to set up and fabricate these units must have been astronomical, and then just build 47..?? And..worse yet...just run them for a relatively short time....
Short time is right. The Centennials were built in '69 and '71 and all stored in '80, then taken out again in '84-'85. So the average Centennial got less than 11 years of actual operation.

Most locomotives get downgraded to lesser service as they age. The Centennial was so big and powerful that it was only suitable for fast mainline freights. Once they had enough newer power for those, there was no work left for the Centennials.
 
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