Union Pacific Diesel Locomotive Paint Schemes
Paint Schemes from 1934 to Today
By Don Strack
This page was last updated on August 23, 2008.
1934-1937 — Armour Yellow First Used
Union Pacific's first diesel fleet paint scheme was on the M-series Streamliners, which were painted in Armour Yellow and Leaf Brown, and Roman (serif) lettering. The first two of the three turret-cab Streamliners, M-10000 and M-10001 came in 1934, and the third, M-10002, came in 1936. On the earliest Streamliner, M-10000, the two-axle trucks had sheet metal covers to enhance the streamlining effect. To match the color of the upper body, these covers on M-10000 were painted Leaf Brown. The two later trains had exposed two-axle trucks, also painted Leaf Brown.
In March 1935, UP repainted two McKeen motor cars (M-23 and M-24), along with two matching trailers (T-18 and T-19) into the Streamliner yellow and brown colors. These two cars had originally be built as mechanical transmission motor cars and had been rebuilt as electric transmission cars in January 1929. After receiving the new yellow and brown Streamliner colors in 1935, these two train sets (motor car and trailer) entered service as the Capital Cities Limited between Kansas City, Mo., and Lincoln, Neb., by way of Topeka. Both train sets were later repainted to the standard passenger car color of Pullman green.
In May to July 1936, UP received four motive power sets numbered as M-10003 to M-10006. These, too, were painted in the yellow and brown Streamliner colors. The new 14-car City of Los Angeles and City of San Francisco E2 sets came in October 1937 in yellow and brown. The trucks on the E2 units were EMC's new Blomberg three-axle, A1A passenger truck, and were also painted Leaf Brown. The E-3 set, numbered as LA5 and LA-6, were delivered in March 1939 painted yellow and brown.
Notes on Armour Yellow
Research has found that Armour Yellow was Dupont Master Color Code 9356, deck 540, also known as Dupont No. 93-9356 Dulux Yellow Enamel. The same color was used by Akron, Canton & Youngstown on their four H20-44s from Fairbanks Morse after the road's officials saw the UP H20-44 in July 1947 at the Railway Equipment expo in Atlantic City. The same yellow was also used by Atlantic Coast Line, Detroit & Toledo Shore Line, Erie, Kansas City Southern, Louisiana & Arkansas, Meridian & Bigbee, and Phelps-Dodge Morenci Mine. (information by Bob Lucas, AC&Y Historical Society, March 17, 2001)
Other railroads that used Armour Yellow include Florida East Coast Railway, which used the color on their passenger locomotives into the 1960s. (information from Ken Olsen via email to Dick Harley on March 22, 2008)
Armour Yellow color was also used by General Motors on their Chevrolet line of pickup trucks, from 1936-1952. For the 1939 models, the color was used as the body and box color, along with a blue color for the body stripe called "Export Blue," with the fenders and running boards being black. Another combination in 1940 was Armour Yellow matched with Omaha Orange, a color well known to Great Northern fans. (information from "The Stovebolt Page", a web page about Chevrolet's pickups with the "Stovebolt" flathead six-cylinder engine.)
(click here for information about simulating UP colors using HTML coding.)
July 1937 — Gothic Lettering Replaced Roman Lettering On Steam Locomotives
In a reflection of Union Pacific's new awareness of its public appearance, lettering on steam locomotives was changed from Roman (serif) to the new Gothic (sans-serif) Streamliner style lettering in March 1937. At the same time, the use of the UP medallion (shield) on steam locomotive tenders was dropped and Union Pacific was spelled out on the tender sides in the new Streamliner style. Locomotive numbers were moved from the tender sides to the cab sides. Possibly the first use of Gothic lettering was on the 4-6-2 (UP 2906) and 4-8-2 (UP 7002) that were modernized with roller bearings and other up-to-date features in late 1936, prior to their being streamlined in April 1937 for use on The Forty-Niner. The first new steam locomotives to receive the new lettering were the first order of 800-class 4-8-4s, delivered as UP 800-819 in July 1937, and the second order of 4-6-6-4 CSA-class Challengers, delivered as UP 3915-3939 in August 1937. (click here for more information about the 1937 changes to UP steam locomotive painting and lettering)
March 1939 — First Use of Nose Medallion
The EMC E3 set (LA-5, LA-6) was delivered in March 1939 with the apparent first use of UP's distinctive nose medallion, sometimes known as the winged shield. This is seen in a photo dated April 22, 1939.
At about the same time, LA-1 was for a brief time during the premier of the "Union Pacific" movie in May 1939, also given a version of the chrome nose medallion. This can be seen in a photo of the unit in The Streamliner, Volume 20, Number 3, page 35, and in the closing scenes of the movie itself. A later photo of LA-1 as UP 921A shows it with its original "T- shaped chrome multi herald emblem", a feature it was delivered with in October 1937. The unit's as-delivered appearance is shown in a dated photo in Denver on November 27, 1937.
June 1939 — Gothic Lettering Replaced Roman Lettering On Freight Cars
The lettering on UP's freight car fleet was changed to Gothic in June 1939.
June 1939 — Gothic Lettering Replaced Roman Lettering On The Streamliners
The first use of Gothic lettering on the Streamliner diesel fleet was possibly on the City of Denver trains. The three trains had their car consists expanded in mid-1939, which required an added second booster diesel unit on each train. This change in configuration of each train's consist likely required repainting, and thus an opportunity for the application of the new lettering style. The first unit added was the former LA-4 booster unit; it was simply renumbered to CD-05-C in July 1939. The former LA-4 lead unit was rebuilt without its cab and numbered as CD-06-C in September 1939. The third unit, CD-07-C, completed in December 1939, was a new carbody with components from the retired M-10001.
1940 — Harbor Mist Gray First Used
The EMD E6A units delivered in August 1940 were the first units in Armour Yellow and Harbor Mist Gray. The new yellow and gray scheme continued in February and March 1941 with the delivery of the new E6s for the new City streamliners. This new paint scheme was also the first to use gray trucks.
The road's first switchers were delivered beginning in May 1940 in their all-black scheme with yellow striping and 11-inch yellow lettering. The lettering on the cab sides was "Serves All The West" on the left (fireman's) side and "Road of the Challengers" on the right (engineer's) side, with the words "The Challengers" in red. The trucks on these all-black units were also painted black.
The first use of the black switcher scheme was actually on the NW2 demonstrator from EMC, numbered as UP 1000, received for a six month demonstration period that ended in March 1940, when UP decided to buy the unit. During that demonstration period, UP 1000 had multi-colored Overland shields on both cab sides.
All switch locomotives delivered between 1940 and 1947 (when the yellow and gray scheme became standard for switching locomotives), were delivered in the black switcher paint scheme. Included were the EMD NW2s 1000-1075, Alco S-2 1036-1054 (later renumbered to 1100-1118) and 1119-1153, Baldwin VO-1000s 1055-1060 (later renumbered to 1200-1205), Fairbanks Morse H10-44s 1300-1304, and GE 44 ton 1399. Until 1953, locomotives were lettered with "D.S." prefixes on their numbers, denoting "Diesel Switch", similar to the "M" character in the road numbers of the road's Streamliner passenger motive power, which denoted "Motor".
1946 — Two-Tone Gray First Used
UP began using two-tone gray on all non-Streamliner passenger equipment in time for the inauguration of transcontinental Pullman sleeper service via Union Pacific on March 1, 1946. The first run of the new City of St. Louis streamliner was on June 2, 1946, and this was the only streamliner to receive the two-tone gray scheme, due to connections that the train made. Several steam locomotives assigned to passenger service received matching two-tone paint schemes, but no diesel locomotives did because they were all assigned to Streamliner service. The new two-tone gray scheme may have been inspired by an earlier scheme used on The Forty-Niner train. Since 1937, the Pullman Company had been using a similar gray scheme, with black stripes above and below the windows, on its lightweight sleepers. When the all-Pullman, heavyweight Forty-Niner made its first run in July 1937, it was painted in this Pullman scheme. (click here for more information about UP's use of two-tone gray on UP steam locomotives)
1947 — Freight And Switch Locomotives Painted Yellow And Gray
With the inauguration of daily service for the Streamliners in 1947 (City of Portland in February, City of Los Angeles in May, and City of San Francisco in September), and to promote the new daily service, the all-black switcher scheme was changed to yellow and gray Streamliner colors. The previous 11 inch lettering was retained, changed from yellow to red, with a 1/4 inch black edging added (the drawing is dated August 8, 1947). The cab side slogan "Road Of The Challengers" was changed to "Road Of The Streamliners" and the red lettering was retained, with an added 1/8 inch black edging (drawing dated August 16, 1947). The last switch units delivered in the black scheme were the 25 NW2s, numbered 1051-1075, delivered in February to June 1947. Fairbanks Morse H10-44s 1301-1304 were delivered in February 1947 in the black scheme.
The first switch units delivered in the new yellow and gray scheme were the 20 NW2s from EMD in March to September 1948, numbered as 1076-1095. The five new DS-4-4-10s from Baldwin, numbered 1206-1210, also delivered in September 1948, arrived in the new Streamliner colors.
Union Pacific's first road switcher freight units were delivered in the new yellow and gray scheme: two units from Alco-GE, RSC-2 1190 and RS-2 1191, both delivered in February 1947. The 11 Fairbanks Morse H20-44 road switcher units in the 1360-1370 number series were delivered beginning in August 1947, in the new Streamliner colors, and were immediately placed in helper service in Southern California.
The yellow and gray scheme, with gray trucks, was already in use on the road's passenger power, since 1940. The scheme was continued on UP's first combination freight and passenger units, the Erie builts from Fairbanks Morse in 1945. In 1947, 85 car body units were delivered, all in the new Streamliner colors. These included: EMD F3As and F3Bs in May; Alco FAs and FBs in June; Alco PAs and PBs in September; and the A-B-B-A set of FM Erie-builts in November.
Also to reflect the overall change to Streamliner colors, in June 1947, the color of cabooses was changed from Freight Car Red, with white lettering, to Armour Yellow, with red lettering. But since the caboose fleet was so large, it took as long as three years to repaint all of the cars to the new yellow scheme.
1949 — Striping Changed From Yellow To Light Gray
The color of striping and lettering on the two-tone gray scheme on passenger steam locomotives was changed from Armour Yellow to Silver Gray (the letter of instruction was dated June 2, 1949). When first used in 1946, the striping between the two tones of gray had been yellow to match the yellow in the Streamliners whenever power shortages forced the use of two-tone gray steam locomotives. By mid 1949, there were sufficient numbers of yellow diesels that the bit of yellow color in the striping was no longer needed on the two-tone gray equipment.
1950 — Medallion Changed
The word "Railroad" was added to the nose medallion, under the words "Union Pacific."
1951 — Passenger Cars Painted Yellow And Gray
In November 1951, it was announced that all passenger cars would be painted in yellow and gray Streamliner colors, replacing both the two-tone gray adopted for non-Streamliner cars in 1946, and the few remaining olive green cars.
1953 — Diesel Switch (D.S.) Prefix Removed
The change to remove the "D.S." (Diesel Switch) prefix on road numbers for switching power was made on February 11, 1953. On the South-Central District, the D.S. prefix was removed from 78 road-switch and switch units between February and July 1953; 13 units were completed in February, 62 in March, and one each in April, May and July. A publicity photo of a UP-painted EMD GP7, with the road number of 1953 in the number board, was lettered on the unit's ends as D.S. 1953, possibly meaning that the GP7s were originally intended to be delivered (in 1953) with the D.S. prefix.
1953 — Nose Medallion Changed
The nose medallion on cab units and on Turbines was changed from a metal medallion fastened into place with screws, to a Scotchlite medallion that was applied as a decal. Apparently the first units delivered with Scotchlite nose medallions were E8As 931-942, delivered to UP in March to May 1953. Turbines 57-60 were delivered in May to August 1953 with metal medallions, and Turbines 61-75 were delivered in March to October 1954 with Scotchlite medallions.
1953-1957 — Aluminum Color On Trucks
The color used on locomotive trucks was changed from Harbor Mist Gray to Aluminum.
The aluminum color for trucks was first used on propane-fueled Turbine 57 in early June 1953. Harold Ranks took a photograph of Turbine 63 in 1954 with newly painted aluminum trucks. A photo of Turbine 55 in June 1955 shows it with aluminum trucks, and the revision of the painting diagram for Turbines 61-75 (new in March to October 1954) was changed in September 1955 to include aluminum trucks. Turbine 61 is shown in a November 1955 photo with aluminum trucks.
The passenger units would have to wait to get their aluminum-colored trucks until either 1955 (948-662, 960B-974B) or 1956 (900-907, 900B-904B). The E9s delivered in 1954, numbered as 943-947 and 950B-959B, have been confirmed in photographs as having gray trucks. The switchers delivered in 1955, Alco S-4s 1154-1188 came with gray trucks.
The first new freight units with aluminum trucks were the 100 GP9s and GP9Bs in the 300-class from EMD, delivered between July and October 1957 (the painting diagram for these units is dated March 29, 1957, and shows aluminum-colored trucks).
1959 — Dependable Transportation
With the delivery of new SD24s in June 1959, the slogan on diesel units was changed from "Road of the Streamliners/Serves All The West" on cab sides to "Dependable Transportation." First used on the new SD24s in June to September 1959, and on the GP20s in July and August 1960.
The SD24s were the first units on UP with low noses. This feature brought with it the addition of non-skid dark green paint to top of low nose units. Previously, dark green had also been used on the tops of the noses for all UP's cab units.
The words "Union Pacific" were added below the upper headlight on the noses of all of UP's cab units, including the E8s, E9s, F3s, F7s, and Alco units. The change that added the lettering to the Painting, Lettering & Numbers drawing was dated January 1, 1959. Depending on the locomotive model, the lettering was either in 6-inch, 8-inch, or 10-inch letters.
1960 — Color Of Ends On Cab Units
The ends of F units and E units were changed from yellow and gray, matching the side colors, to just gray. The ends on the 500-class F9s, rebuilt from F3s by EMD in 1958-1959, were delivered with yellow and gray ends. The same change was apparently done on the Alco FA and FB cab units in about 1957. Unfortunately, there is no documentation for the exact date that the color of the ends was changed from the body color (yellow and gray) to just gray alone.
1962 — Spokane International
The 11 Spokane International RS-1s are leased to UP in 1962 and painted yellow and gray, with Spokane International spelled out in UP's unique gothic red lettering, with black outline.
October 1969 — Medallion Changed
In October 1969, the wording on the UP medallion (shield) was changed from "Union Pacific Railroad" to just "Union Pacific." This change reflected the new Union Pacific Corporation, organized in January 1969 as a holding company for the railroad and all of its non-rail subsidiaries.
March 1972 — Imron Paint
UP began using DuPont Imron paint, as evidenced by the following stenciled information seen on GP30B 737B: "Dupont Test Painted, Imron, N. Y. OM 3-13-72. Do not paint or touch up unless authorized by F. D. Acord, Omaha, Neb." Imron was introduced by DuPont in 1970 as their brand name for a two-part polyurethane enamel introduced for added chemical resistance and durability.
July 1972 — No Black Edging On Lettering
To reduce the cost of painting a locomotive, the lettering on diesel locomotives was changed in July 1972 by elimination of black edging (3/16 inch on the 5-inch Dependable Transportation, and 6-inch front end letters and numbers, and 1/4 inch on 8-inch, 10-inch, 11-inch letters and numbers). The first units completed at Salt Lake City included GP9Bs 302B and 323B, SD24 413, SW9 1841, and SD40 3032, all in July 1972.
Although none are known to have received it, the black edging was also removed on the painting diagrams for the larger lettering used on the road's U50C and Centennial units: 1/4 inch on 13-1/2 inch numbers (U50C and DDA40X cab numbers); 3/8 inch on 24-inch (U50C); and 1/2 inch on 35 inch letters (DDA40X). As mentioned, none of these large double-diesels are known to have actually been repainted without black edging on their lettering.
September 1972 — We Can handle It
Cab-side slogan on diesel units was changed from "Dependable Transportation" to "We Can Handle It," without black edging on the letters. The first units to be completed were GP9s 202 and 206, done at Council Bluffs, Iowa, both in late October 1972 (the drawing is dated September 28, 1972).
GE 44 ton 903999, maintenance of way shop switcher in Pocatello, Idaho, was completed at Omaha with "We Can Handle It" in mid February 1973.
March 1973 — Black Edging Returned
When first applied in September 1972, the "We Can Handle It" slogan was without black edging. The other lettering was also without black edging. Within a few months, members of the railroad's upper management observed the new scheme and ordered that the black edging be reinstated. The order to officially reinstate black edging was issued in March 1973. The black edging used returned to the previous 3/16 inch for end 6-inch numbers, 1/4-inch for the 8-inch end letters and 11-inch side letters, and 5/16 inch for the 20-inch side letters. The first new units to receive the new style were SD40-2s 3203-3242, delivered without lettering in April through June 1973, and these units had their lettering applied by UP at Omaha upon delivery.
January 1975 — Anti-Skid Green Added to Rear Rooftop
In January 1975, non-skid dark green paint was added to roof top at the rear of each unit, extending four feet from rear. Previously, only the top of the low nose of units so equipped was painted with non-skid dark green paint, a practice that began with the SD24s in 1959.
October 1975 — 20-Inch Lettering
In October 1975, the use of 11-inch numbers and lettering ( with 1/4-inch black edging) on the hood sides was changed to 20-inch numbers and letters ( with 5/16-inch black edging), except on GP7s, GP9s, GP20s, and SD7s, which retained the 11 inch letters due to lack of space. (The 20-inch letters had been used earlier on the DD35s and DD35As in 1964-1965, but with 1/4 inch black edging.)
At the same time, a 24-inch UP medallion (shield) replaced the "We Can Handle It" slogan on the cab sides. The use of 10-inch numbers, with 1/4-inch black edging, was retained on the air equipment door below the cab-side.
The first repainted unit with the new 20-inch lettering scheme was U30C 2867, completed in January 1976. The second known unit was SD24 446 when it was mated with newly rebuilt yard slug S5, in March 1976.
The first new units to be delivered with the new scheme were U30Cs 2920-2959, received in July to October 1976, and new SD40-2Hs 8035-8064 in July 1976. When UP 3240-3274 were renumbered to UP 8000-8034 in February to July 1976, most received the newer large letters and numbers, except at least three, UP 8000, 8020, and 8021, which also retained their previous "We Can Handle It" cab-side slogans. The lettering on cabooses was changed to 20-inch at the same time.
June 1976 — White Vertical Handrails On Switch Units
In June 1976, white paint was adopted for handrail verticals and step edges on switching locomotives, including all NW2s, SW7s, SW9s, and TR5s, and after June 1980, on GP7s, GP9s, GP20s, GP30s, GP35s, and SD24s assigned to switch service. (from GP7 PL&N drawing 357-ST-6541, revision H, dated 6-2-80)
This change came from UP's participation in developing rules that would enhance overall safety on the nation's railroads. When the new safety rules were formally adopted by the Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) in March 1977, they stated that:
1) All locomotives used in switching service built after March 1977 must be equipped with illuminated step treads, and that all locomotives used in switching service built after March 1977 must have their vertical handholds painted a contrasting color at least 48 inches above the step tread surface.
2) After September 1979, all locomotives used in switching service built before April 1977, and not equipped with illuminated step treads, must have the outer edge of each step tread painted in a contrasting color, and that after September 1979, all locomotives used in switching service built before April 1977 must have their vertical handholds painted a contrasting color at least 48 inches above the step tread surface.
Union Pacific selected white as its contrasting color on switchers, and yellow on road units. The first new units with contrasting handrails were the 25 C30-7s, UP 2415-2439, which started delivery in June 1978. All later new C30-7s, to UP 2539, also received yellow handrails. The 89 SD40-2s numbered as UP 3410-3498, delivered in March to May 1978, and the five GP40Xs delivered as UP 9001-9005 in March 1978 did not receive contrasting color handrail verticals or step edges. Only the last SD40-2s delivered in 1980 received contrasting handrails. (The contrasting color on road units was changed from yellow to white in February 1983, although there are photos of SD40-2s with white handrails as early as June 1982.)
April 1979 — Change In End Road Number
A further change for only UP's GE road units took place in April 1979. On GE U28Cs, U30Cs, and C30-7s, the 6-inch UP initials on low nose were removed, and 6-inch road number was centered. This was done to accommodate the blanked-off headlight opening on the new C30-7s. The first new units were UP 2460-2539, delivered in January to October 1980.
1972 to 1980 — Lettering Schemes On SD40-2s
- UP 3123-3202 (January to August 1972) were delivered with "Dependable Transportation".
- UP 3203-3304 (April 1973 to April 1975) were delivered with "We Can Handle It."
- UP 3305-3334 (as UP 8035-8064, delivered in July 1976) were among the first units delivered in the new 20-inch hood-side numbers scheme.
- UP 3769-3808 (delivered in October and November 1980) were among the first to receive cab-side numbers.
May 1980 — Cab-Side Numbers Changed
On May 9, 1980, the numbering scheme was changed to remove the 10-inch road numbers from air equipment door below the cab-side. The 24-inch medallion was retained on the sides of the cab. The 20-inch number was retained on the sides of the hood. The change was to take place only on units that were completely repainted.
Only a few locomotives actually received this combination (24 inch medallion, without cab-side numbers), including some of the former Rock Island GP40s and U28Bs in 1980. The last 40 C30-7s, 2500-2539, were delivered in August to October 1980 in this scheme; SD45M Sulzer 60 is another example, when it was completed in August 1980.
June 1980 — Yellow Vertical Handrails On Road Units
On June 23, 1980, the paint scheme was changed to include yellow handrail verticals and step edges on all units. Previously, only the switchers and the E units had received white handrails, and new GEs had received yellow handrails. The first units were completed during June 1980.
June 1980 — Sub-Lettering On Units Leased To WP.
During June 1980, 15 SD40-2s were leased to future merger partner, Western Pacific. The leased units were lettered on the cab side, below the cab window, with "Leased To Western Pacific" in 3-inch black letters. Included were UP 3352, 3360, 3419, 3421, 3424, 3475, 3478, 3504, 3519, 3528, 3536, 3542, 3546, 3565. Eleven of the units were returned to UP in October 1981. The merger with WP was approved in December 1982.
July 1980 — Fuel Conservation Slogans On SD40-2s
In July 1980, UP began installing 15 different fuel conservation slogans. These slogans, mounted on 30 x 98-1/2 inch placards on the unit side handrails, were first used on new SD40-2s. Apparently, other than a sole repainted unit, the slogans were only applied to the newest SD40-2s delivered in September 1979 through March 1980, including UP 3609-3658 (50 units) and UP 3659-3768 (110 units). The only report of a repainted unit receiving a fuel slogan was in July 1980 when UP 8073 received the first example. (UP 8073 was renumbered to UP 3408 in August 1981.)
To allow visibility of the hood-side road number, the slogan placards were at first located on the first three handrail stanchions on both sides, immediately behind the cab. After November 1980 when the road number was moved to the cab side, the location of the slogan was moved to be centered on the length of the handrails.
Based on photographic research, and the railroad's 1982 calendar, an incomplete list of SD40-2s with fuel conservation slogans shows at least 17 units: UP 3292, 3408, 3611, 3617, 3619, 3632, 3639, 3672, 3675, 3681, 3687, 3701, 3720, 3723, 3738, 3753, 3754. All units' slogans were located in the early forward position, except UP 3292 in March 1981 with the later, centered position.
November 1980 — 20 inch Cab-Side Numbers
During early 1980, UP began using video cameras at its major yards and terminals. Many bugs had to be worked out, including the fact that due to the cameras' low resolution, the vertical handrails on locomotives interfered with the visibility of road numbers on the hood sides. To improve visibility to video cameras, the 20-inch red road numbers on the hood sides (first used in late 1975) were moved to the cab sides, and the black edging was changed from 5/16-inch to 1/2-inch. At the same time, the placement of the 24-inch medallion was changed from its location on the cab side, right below the cab window, to being centered on the low nose at the front of the unit (replacing the earlier combination of 8-inch Union Pacific lettering, and 6-inch UP initials and road number). On the rear, the change retained the previous UP initials and number as 6-inch red letters and numbers, with 3/16 inch black edging. Although planned as early as May, the change did not take effect until November.
New units were still being delivered without lettering, so red numbers were used on these units' new cab-side location. The first new units known to receive the new red 20 inch numbers on their cab sides include the 36 SD40-2s delivered in October and November 1980, numbered as 3769-3804, along with the four upgraded SD40-2s, 3805-3808. Based on photo research, the first unit to receive red cab-side numbers appears to be 3779, completed by UP's Omaha shops in mid November 1980.
At first, the new cab side placement used red 20-inch numbers, with 1/2 inch edging replacing the previous 5/16 inch black edging. The thicker edging on the 20-inch red numbers did not solve the video visibility problem, so the numbers were changed to all-black.
December 1980 — Black Cab-Side Numbers
UP's Painting, Lettering & Numbering drawing for black 20-inch numbers is dated May 13, 1980. In preparation for the change in the location of road numbers, there were two general arrangement drawings for typical units with cab-side numbers, both were completed on November 26, 1980. Both drawings show an SD40-2 and a C30-7 with 20-inch numbers, and an SW10 with 16-inch numbers. One drawing shows the units with red numbers, and the other drawing shows the same units with black numbers. UP's Chief Mechanical Officer, J. F. McDonough, instructed all locations in a letter dated December 11, 1980 to begin using the new paint scheme.
No official record was kept of units that received black numbers, because they were completed in accordance with the painting and lettering specification in effect at the time. Photographic research shows that units repainted between late November 1980 and late April 1981 received black numbers on their cab sides. An incomplete list includes:
| Model | Road Number |
| SD45 | UP 1, 19, 46 |
| SD45M | UP 60 |
| GP7 | UP 112 |
| GP9 | UP 180, 188, 231, 265, 336, 338, 345 |
| SD24 | UP 425 |
| GP35 | UP 745 |
| GP30 | UP 859 |
| NW2 | UP 1039 |
| SW10 | UP 1214, 1215, 1216, 1217, 1218, 1219 |
| GP38-2 | UP 2028 |
| SD40-2 | UP 3215, 3243, 3292 |
The on-going completion of SW10s during this time frame gives a close indication of the period that black numbers were being applied. UP 1214, 1215, 1216, 1217, 1218 were completed between January and April 1981, all with black numbers. UP 1219 was first released in mid April with black numbers, but was returned to Omaha shops for some final mechanical adjustments. When it was released a week later, it had red numbers, with 1/2-inch black edging. UP 1220 was completed in late April with red numbers.
September 1981 — Lower Red Stripe Changed
In a letter dated September 9, 1981, Chief Mechanical Officer, J. F. McDonough, instructed all locations that the lower Scotchlite reflective red stripe on all units had been changed from 4-3/4 inches to 4-1/2 inches. The letter stated that all remaining stock of the 4-3/4 stripe was to be used before changing to the new 4-1/2 inch stripe. No reason was given for the change; a likely reason would be that a production change in the stripe material itself would have required special handling to produce the wider stripe.
October 1981 — Red Cab-Side Numbers
The black 20-inch cab-side numbers were officially changed back to red in October 1981. The previous 1/2-inch black edging was replaced with 7/8-inch black edging. A 10-1/2 inch medallion was added to the air equipment door. There was a report that UP 3763 was the first unit completed following minor wreck repairs.
A test was completed to see if 7/8 inch black edging could replace the all-black numbers. In a letter dated May 13, 1981, J. W. Rettie informed J. F. McDonough that the test had been "entirely satisfactory", and that the use of black edging would provide a positive television image under both day and night lighting conditions. McDonough then informed UP Vice President of Operations, J. R. Davis, on May 14, 1981 that the use of a 7/8 inch black edging, replacing the previous 1/8 black edging, produced "striking results," and included a video tape of the test.
The six GP40Xs were upgraded in October and November 1981, and received 20-inch red numbers on their cab sides at that time.
In a letter dated August 10, 1981, all locations were instructed about the change to the lettering scheme on the 6900-class DDA40X units. This new scheme, although never used, included 20 inch numbers with 7/8 inch black edging, and 35 inch UNION PACIFIC letters, with 1-1/4 inch black edging.
July 1982 — Cab Interior Color
The cab interior color of all UP locomotives was changed from light gray to beige in July 1982. The interior color of the engine compartments remained as light gray.
February 1983 — White Vertical Handrails On Road Units
The color of the handrail verticals and step edges was changed from yellow to white in February 1983, to standardize the color scheme and match the existing standard used on switch engines. (J. F. McDonough letter to all locations, February 2, 1983; drawing dated January 28, 1983) The original yellow color had been adopted in 1980.
March 1983 — First WP Units In UP Yellow And Gray
The merger of Union Pacific with Missouri Pacific and Western Pacific was approved on December 22, 1982, with an effective date of January 1, 1983.
The only WP locomotive to be painted in UP yellow and gray and lettered for Western Pacific was GP40 3532, painted in UP's standard yellow and gray scheme in March 1983 and lettered with UP's gothic style red lettering. A new drawing was completed on March 7, 1983 that showed the approved painting and lettering scheme for Western Pacific locomotives, making use of a newly completed design for the word "Western" in UP standard lettering style. WP 3532 was renumbered and relettered to UP 680 in December 1983.
The first former WP unit to receive full UP paint and lettering was GP40 3509, completed as UP 658 in November 1983. Several others were completed during December. The last former WP unit to receive UP paint, number, and lettering, was wreck-repaired WP GP35 3020, completed as UP 798 in February 1987.
February 1984 — Gray Color On Trucks
The use of aluminum-colored trucks, dating from 1953, has always been one feature of Union Pacific's trademark paint scheme. In 1953 the new aluminum color was first used on turbines, and from 1954 and 1957 on the newest E9s and GP9s. The use of aluminum paint on locomotive truck assemblies replaced UP's use of Harbor Mist Gray, which was first used on the E6s when they were delivered in 1940/1941, and on the Erie-builts with their delivery in 1945. The use of gray paint was changed to aluminum paint on selected units in 1953 to 1955.
With the projected costs of repainting the entire MoPac locomotive fleet, the cost of aluminum paint was considered, along with its high maintenance costs, since aluminum color wears off rapidly, and must be refreshed at least three times as often as most other colors. To save the added cost of aluminum paint on upcoming MP and WP repaints, in 1984 the aluminum color was changed to gray on the railroad's locomotive trucks. The change to the painting diagram was dated February 15, 1984.
One of the first units to be completed was DDA40X 6922, which had its trucks painted gray in late May 1984 in Salt Lake City, in preparation for a Memorial Day excursion special between Denver, Colo., and Speer, Wyo.
During mid 1982, possibly as a brief test of different colors, some units were reported as having received gray trucks, but the gray was a bit lighter than the standard Harbor Mist Gray. During mid 1986, the gray trucks of the six GP40Xs were repainted back to silver because of these units' high visibility on Amtrak trains and on special passenger moves for company directors and shippers.
May 1984 — First MP Units in UP Yellow and Gray
No Missouri Pacific locomotives are known to have been painted to UP's yellow and gray until mid 1984, almost a full 18 months after the January 1983 date of control of MP by UP. On May 31, 1984, because Missouri Pacific was to remain as a separate corporate entity, the two roads announced that they would paint MoPac's locomotive fleet into UP's standard yellow and gray colors, but with Missouri Pacific lettering. The formal announcement actually came two weeks after the first unit was completed. Between May 1984 and November 1985, there were 395 locomotives painted in MoPac yellow (including 120 new units: 60 SD50s and 60 C36-7s), all with the unique MoPac North Little Rock style lettering. Most were lettered for Missouri Pacific, but a few UP units were completed with Union Pacific spelled out in the MoPac style lettering, at least temporarily.
The last unit to be painted in MoPac's blue was SD40-2 3270, completed sometime in late March or early April 1984. According to an article by Robert R. Harmen in the Missouri Pacific Historical Society's Eagle newsletter (Volume 11, Number 3, Fall 1986), the first MP unit to receive UP colors, with MP lettering, was MP SD40-2 3291, completed on May 14, 1984. The last MP unit to receive UP colors and MP lettering was MP GP38-2 2214, completed on November 21, 1985.
A group of five Missouri Pacific units repainted to UP yellow and gray, with Missouri Pacific lettering, were displayed to the public on July 14, 1984, the day that the new Jenks Shops in North Little Rock were dedicated. The five units were: B30-7A 4800, MP15 1357, GP15 1708, SD40-2 3291, and GP50 3501. (Extra 2200 South, Issue 81, July-August-September 1984, with photo)
1984 — Experimental Paint Schemes
During 1984 as MP units were being painted to UP's yellow and gray scheme, with Missouri Pacific lettering, the combined roads were searching for a simplified paint scheme that could be adopted for the entire post-merger locomotive fleet.
In the first known attempt at a common paint scheme, in February 1984 UP's paint shop in North Platte, Neb., completed a single locomotive with an experimental scheme, consisting of a solid yellow unit, with 20-inch Missouri Pacific lettering and the MP buzzsaw logo. Originally a Missouri Pacific unit was sought for the test, but UP SD40 3030 was next in line for a standard paint job, and was selected as the test unit, giving it the distinction of being an MoPac unit for at least a single day. After its brief stint as MP 3030, UP 3030 was immediately returned to the North Platte paint shop for its standard UP yellow and gray scheme.
In June 1984, an SD40-2, UP 3391, was given a different test scheme that was all-yellow, with black undercarriage (trucks, fuel tank). The unit was finished with standard 20-inch red lettering and numbers, and a red stripe separating the yellow and black paint.
Also in June 1984, UP another SD40-2, number 3479, in a the standard yellow and gray scheme, without red stripes separating the yellow and gray, with just "UP 3479" in 20-inch letters and numbers on the side of the long hood.
These three test paint schemes, on UP (MP) 3030, and UP 3391 and 3479, were really more of an attempt to save painting costs rather than an attempt to give the merged roads a new image. The resulting simplified paint schemes were seen as unsuitable by upper management, including Mr. John Kenefick, the road's then-president, and were repainted to UP's standard yellow and gray, with black-edged red lettering.
No official photos are known to exist of these experimental paint schemes.
Notes on 1984 Experimental Schemes
Union Pacific was indeed in search of a new paint scheme at one time. After the merger with the MoPac, there were three locomotives repainted into experimental schemes as a way to simplify the paint scheme for the whole UP/MP fleet. The units were the UP 3030, 3391, and 3479. The UP 3030 was repainted in March 1984 in solid yellow paint, black trucks and underframe, and MoPac initials and numbers!! The other two were painted in June 1984, with the 3391 getting solid yellow paint, black trucks and underframe, and standard UP letters and numbers in the normal locations. The 3479 received UP yellow and gray in the normal locations, but no red stripes separated the colors. The 3479 also had only "UP 3479" on the long hood and a shield on the cab. (Trainorders.com, September 13, 2000)
The experimental paint schemes were attempts to save money, not change the image or establish a "new" livery. The results horrified Mr. Kenefick. (John Bromley, Trainorders.com, September 13, 2000)
1984 — Anti-Skid Color Changed
UP's previous standard of anti-skid green on each unit's short hood anti-glare panel and area around rear sand fill was changed to anti-skid gray in mid 1984, at the same time as the first former MP units were repainted to UP yellow and gray, with MP lettering and numbers.
1984-1985 — Faded Yellow Paint
During the mid 1980s, UP tried many different types of paint while searching for an environmentally friendly paint that matched the requirements of the federal Environmental Protection Agency. The best paint formula would be one that had low volatiles, known as "low VOCs," and low lead content, but which could be applied in a production paint facility like the new paint shop at North Little Rock. Many tests were done, both in the lab and on actual locomotives. The yellow on some of the test locomotives faded very rapidly, and the units were repainted with the winning formula. But others did not fade so quickly and were allowed to remain in service as a further test.
May 1986 — North Platte Paint Shop Closed
Prior to 1986 all of the locomotive painting on UP was done at individual shops, with North Platte, Neb., carrying most of the workload for about two years. North Platte had been the road's major paint shop since the shop opened in 1973. Up until the shop's opening, other shops such as Salt Lake City had been painting as many as three units per week. Beginning in May 1986, all of UP's painting was done at the new high-tech paint shop in the new Downing B. Jenks Shop complex in North Little Rock, Ark., and the North Platte shop was gradually shut down. In August 1986 the equipment at North Platte was removed and shipped to North Little Rock for use there.
June 1986 — Classification Lights Removed
In 1986, the Federal Railroad Administration made a published decision that called for the continued maintenance of all intact equipment on railroad locomotives. By that time many of the nation's railroads had gotten out of the habit of using the classification lights, a feature that had been installed on diesel locomotives almost from their first appearance in the 1930s. Due to lack of regular use on UP, most of the classification lights on locomotives were inoperable, and to comply with the new FRA ruling, if class lights were installed on the locomotives, they must be maintained in operating condition. The most common response by many of the nation's railroads was to simply paint over the class lights, making them the same color as the background sheet metal. UP was no different with its response, with UP GP15-1 1625 being the first to get painted-over classification lights, in June 1986. Later, UP began a program to actually plate over the classification light openings, with varying degrees of success in the finished appearance.
August 1986 — Use Of North Little Rock Lettering Stopped
In a reflection of the January 1, 1986 combining of Union Pacific and Missouri Pacific operating departments, in August 1986, the paint shop at North Little Rock stopped using MoPac's unique square lettering (known to railfans as "North Little Rock" style lettering) on repainted locomotives. From then on, although there may have been a couple stragglers, all repainted locomotives were lettered for Union Pacific, using the Union Pacific standard, rounded Gothic lettering, which dates from the first use on the Streamliners of the 1930s.
November 1987 — Rear Number Boards Painted Over
UP began painting over the rear number boards on all units assigned to road freight service. This change in number board configuration (dated November 12, 1987) reflected the MoPac practice of road freight units not having rear number boards installed when built. This MoPac practice continued with the delivery of UP's first post-merger motive power, the SD50s in late 1984, the C36-7s in 1985, and the SD60s in 1986.
On the same date, the 6-inch rear numbers were changed from red, with 3/16-inch black edging, to white, with 1/8-inch black edging, retaining the reflective Scotchlite feature.
August 1988 — MKT Repaints
Union Pacific's control of Missouri Kansas Texas took effect on August 12, 1988, and on December 1, 1989, MKT was formally merged into Missouri Pacific.
The first MKT locomotive to be repainted to UP's yellow and gray, with UP lettering was MKT GP38-2 315, completed as UP 2346 on 11 November 1988. The last former MKT unit to be repainted to UP was SW1500 53, completed as UP 1325 on 25 November 1993.
November 1988 — Operation Redblock
Three SD40-2 locomotives had an "Operation Redblock" logo added to the sides of their carbodies. UP 4238 was the first, upon being repainted and renumbered from MP 3238 on November 21, 1988. UP 3798 was completed as the second unit on November 29, 1988, and UP 3626 was the third unit, completed on December 1, 1988. Operation Redblock was started in 1983-1984 by UP and CSX, and the operating unions as a substance abuse prevention program.
February 1991 — Desert Victory
On February 27, 1991, UP SD40-2 3593 was released from Jenks shops painted with a U. S. Army-inspired camouflage paint scheme, named Desert Victory, to commemorate the 66 UP employees who participated in Operation Desert Storm. The unit was repainted back to standard UP yellow and gray on October 11, 1991.
November 1993 — Last MP Repaints
After MP 2310 became UP 2310 on 16 November 1993, there were only two more ex-MoPac units repainted, MP 2092 and MP 2103, both being part of a 37-unit group which UP had planned to return to their owner at the expiration of their lease in 1994. However, due to a motive power shortage, only 22 units of the 37-unit group were returned to their owner, Helm Financial.
The remaining 15 units of this 37-unit group were retained for an additional 10 years, until 2004. Included in this remaining 15-unit group were the two last ex-MoPac units to be repainted from MoPac blue to UP yellow and gray, numbers 2092 and 2103. MP 2092 became UP 2092 on June 2, 1994, and MP 2103, the last MoPac blue unit on UP, became UP 2103 on August 2, 1994. Other than these two units, there were no ex-MoPac units repainted from MoPac blue to UP yellow and gray during 1994. With the merger between UP and C&NW in April 1995, these 15 units were renumbered into the 1800 class, as 1829-1843, following the 29 former MoPac GP38-2s leased from Helm in 1989.
The last MP-lettered yellow unit to be relettered to UP was ex MP MP15DC 1382, completed on November 23, 1993. The last MP blue unit to be repainted and relettered to UP yellow was ex MP GP38-2 2103, completed on August 2, 1994.
August 1994 — United Victory
On August 18, 1994, UP released SD40-2 3300 in a special red-white-and-blue paint scheme to promote Union Pacific's, and its employees' involvement in the 1994 United Way campaign. Because of its age, at 32 years since being built in 1975, the unit was retired in July 2007. But due to its special paint scheme, and public relations value, it was returned to service within a week.
At about the same time in August 1994, SD40-2 3301 was released with special handrail placards celebrating Jenks Shop's "Pulling For Safety" campaign.
1995 — C&NW Repaints
UP was given regulatory approval to control C&NW on April 12, 1995, and the road was formally merged with UP on October 1, 1995. Former C&NW C44-9W 8699 was the first ex C&NW to receive UP yellow and gray paint, completed as UP 9668 on June 16, 1995. During that month of June 1995, a total of five units were completed, and another six units were completed in July.
Of the 776 units that came to UP in its merger with C&NW, 625 units were assigned new UP numbers. By January 2000, a total of 328 units had been completed (27 during 1999 alone), leaving 297 units still in C&NW yellow and green.
1996 — Minor Changes To Lettering Style
After no major changes in UP's standard paint scheme since 1987. With the increase in leased units, there were some minor variations in the scheme as it is applied by various paint contractors. The most noticeable variation is the rounded-top on the numeral 3. The Union Pacific standard numeral 3 has a flat top, but with the advent of computer fonts being used as patterns to cut the decals, the use of a graphic-standard numeral 3 with a rounded top has been approved to facilitate lower painting costs.
April to December 1996 — We Will Deliver
The "We Will Deliver" slogan was based on a mission statement by Ron Burns during his tenure as CEO of Union Pacific Railroad, from August 1995 to November 1996. The slogan was first used on a group of new covered hoppers delivered in early 1996, and first appeared on repainted locomotives coming out of North Little Rock in April 1996. On freight cars, the slogan included either three ending periods (known as an "ellipsis") or a single ending period. On the locomotive fleet, the slogan did not include an ending period.
Time span for use of "We Will Deliver" was between mid-April 1996 (UP 5081, completed on 18 April 1996) and mid-December 1996 (UP 1183, 5968, and 5999, all completed on 12 December 1996).
The slogan was used on 52 new units from EMD and on 36 new units from GE, delivered between June and September 1996. Although the ex-D&H GP39-2s in the 2729-2748 series were given their UP numbers between late August and mid-September 1996, they did not carry the We Will Deliver slogan.
At least 266 units (including 88 units delivered new) received the "We Will Deliver" slogan. Research during 2004 confirmed 234 units.
Apparently not all units repainted during the April to December time span received the new slogan. The following units have been confirmed as not having the slogan: UP 400, 407, 927 (possibly as 5536), 2749, 5999, 9055. UP 2987 was initially reported has having the slogan, but a photo taken on November 6, 1999 shows that it did not. UP 3074 was seen in July 1996 without the slogan; other reports show it as having the slogan. (A list of "WWD" units is here.)
Late 1996 — Cab Side Sublettering
In mid to late 1996, UP started applying the model designation (SD60M, GP38-2, etc.) to the cab sides of new and repainted locomotives.
1996 — SP/SSW/D&RGW Repaints
UP received approval to control Southern Pacific on September 11, 1996. A renumber plan was approved by early December 1996, and the first unit to be repainted was ex SP SW1500 2662, completed as UP 1183 on December 12, 1996. A revision of the plan was approved on March 5, 1997, and a final version was approved on September 2, 1997 that fully integrated all of UP's existing units and all of the SP, SSW, and D&RGW units that needed new UP road numbers.
The 1996 merger between UP and SP, and its D&RGW and Cotton Belt subsidiaries, brought the combined SP and SSW 2,196-unit fleet, along with D&RGW's 184-unit fleet into the UP roster. Of the SP/SSW units, 297 were not assigned UP numbers. By January 2000, with 1,899 SP and Cotton Belt units to be renumbered, 334 units had been completed (159 during 1999), leaving 1,565 units still in either SP's or Cotton Belt's gray and scarlet colors, although many of those had been retired by UP.
Of the 184 D&RGW units, 153 units were assigned UP numbers. By January 2000, of those 153 ex-D&RGW units that needed to be repainted and renumbered (including 26 units previously repainted to SP), 33 had been completed (19 during 1999), leaving 120 units that still needed to receive UP's standard yellow and gray paint. Many had already been retired, or would soon be retired before being repainted.
May 1997 — Operation Lifesaver
In May 1997, UP SD40-2 3459 received "Operation Lifesaver" lettering on the sides of its long hood.
Late 1997 — Cab Side Sublettering
In November 1997 (on new GEs) and January 1998 (on new EMDs), they added "Under Warranty" to the cab sides of new locomotives, which was replaced by www.up.com in November and December 2000.
2000 — Wings And Lightning Stripe
Union Pacific's standard yellow and gray paint scheme has remained unchanged since the E6 passenger units were delivered 1940. The lettering scheme has gone through several changes, but has itself remained unchanged since 1987. In late 1999, UP announced that its upcoming 1,000-unit order of SD70Ms would be delivered in a new variation of the standard colors. There would be a "lightning stripe" separation line between the yellow and gray colors, and the road would return to using the nose medallion, also known as simply "Wings."
April 2000 — Lightning Stripes
Lightning stripes first came to UP in late April 2000, when UP took delivery of the first of over 1,000 new SD70Ms. On the new SD70Ms, the location of the separation stripe was raised on the carbody to a higher position that allowed the red stripe's position of the locomotive cabs to remain in its original location. (click here for a list of units known to have wings and lightning stripes prior to 2003.)
May 2000 — Full Width Nose Wings
The first full width nose wings came to UP with the new SD70M units, which began arriving in May 2000.
UP 9826 (ex C&NW 8722) was repainted to full UP colors on December 13, 2000, becoming the first GE locomotive to enter regular service with the new Wings image; UP 7555, a new C60AC, was completed in the new image at the GE factory in Erie, Pa., at about the same time, but did not enter service until January 2001.
UP 8242 was the first SD9043AC to receive the full width nose wings, completed on April 8, 20901. UP 8242 had been wrecked on August 9, 2000 at Springfield, Colo., while in service on the C-CQEY1-08, unit coal train that shipped coal from Energy, Colo., to a power plant at Cochise, Ariz., to Energy, Colo. The wreck damage was repaired and the unit was returned to service on April 8, 2001 painted with full-width nose wings.
November 2000 — Cab Side Sublettering
UP began applying www.up.com on new GE locomotives, starting with UP 6430 in November 2000, and on new EMD locomotives in December 2000 with UP 4285.
On repainted locomotives, the www.up.com was seen as early as February 2001 on UP 680, a repainted and renumbered ex MP GP38-2 that also received the new lightning stripe on its long hood.
December 2000 — High Stripe vs. Low Stripe
In December 2000, seven months after the first SD70Ms entered service in April 2000, UP began using the lightning stripe on repainted units. There are two known variations: the "high stripe" variation has the red separation stripe on the cab in its original location, with the carbody separation stripe raised to accommodate the lightning stripe, like on the SD70Ms. For the "low stripe" variation, the carbody stripe is in its original location from the previous paint scheme, and the forward portion of the stripe, on the cab, is lowered. This latter variation uses more gray color on the cab, and is visibly apparent when a unit is viewed from the front by fact that the front of the cab is solid gray above the low nose.
The first in-service (not new) unit completed with lightning stripes was C44-9W 9826, renumbered from C&NW 8722 on December 13, 2000. This was also the first use of the larger, full-width nose wings on a repainted unit. (see photo in Diesel Era, March-April 2001, page 7)
February 2001 — Small Nose Wings
A short-lived variation was the application a smaller wings on units with normal width noses. A smaller 72-inch (six feet) wide winged decal was applied, rather than the full 10-feet wide version used on safety cab wide nose units.
The first unit to receive small nose wings was UP GP38-2 680, renumbered and repainted from UP 2178 on February 8, 2001. Railfans immediately coined the term "Baby Wings" for this new smaller medallion. After completing at least 50 units, the use of small nose wings on repainted units apparently ended with the release of UP GP60 1979, repainted from SSW 9677 without small wings on May 29, 2002.
These 50 units (except for UP 6936, a wide nose unit that also received small wings), all have standard cabs with standard-width low noses. Since all units that received small nose wings were fresh repaints, they also received the new lightning separation stripe between the yellow and gray colors.
Research has found that not all units fully repainted at Jenks Shop in North Little Rock between February 2001 and May 2002 received small wings. Although there were numerous units repainted, only the 50 known units completed at Jenks actually received small wings. (Click here for a list, including UPY units.) The program apparently came to an end in late May 2002, when on May 29th, GP60 1979 was released without small nose wings. Besides Jenks, no other location is known to have the personnel or special tools and materials for the application of the decal.
August 2001 — White Cab Roofs
Between August 22, 2001 and March 26, 2002 the paint shop at Union Pacific's Jenks shop in North Little Rock, Arkansas, painted at least 47 units with white roofs.
The white roof feature was originally meant to be a single-unit experiment on UP 6714 (ex C&NW 8812), but the unique and non-standard feature continued through an apparent miscommunication between Jenks personnel and planners in Omaha. It is not known if all units completed by the Jenks paint shop received white roofs.
There appears to be variations in how the white roof was actually painted. There are apparently several locomotives that received white paint on just the tops of their roofs. This feature is very hard to observe without being above the locomotive. The other, much more visible variation, includes a white roof, with the sloped sides also being painted white. Some railfans call this the CSX-style roof, after the method used by that road.
No units are known to have received a white roof without the entire unit having also been fully repainted. Some new SD70Ms in the 4700 series have been seen with white roofs.
Published reports suggest that the white cab roof treatment included some form of spray-on insulation material, and is only used on non-air conditioned units. Other reports show that UP began experimenting with white painted cab roofs, using white epoxy paint, to better reflect the sun and reduce cab interior temperatures. Epoxy paint was used to ensure durability and longevity on the painted cab roof surface. (see Extra 2200 South, Issue 123, April 30, 2002, page 33)
Before the formal program began in August 2001 at North Little Rock, and as early as the summer of 2000, at least three former SP units were seen with white roofs. These include SP GP40R 7677, SP GP40 3086 (ex D&RGW 3086), and SP MP15AC 2721. (see photo in Diesel Era, July/August 2002, page 6, photo taken on 12/15/2001) (SP 2721 information from Brandon Kilgore, posted to LocoNotes email discussion group, March 3, 2001)
(click here for a list of units known to have white cab roofs prior to 2003)
November 2001 — Flags and Building America Slogan
On November 16, 2001, UP unveiled a new variation on its standard yellow and gray paint scheme. Three new SD70Ms (UP 4526, 4527, and 4528) were the first units to wear a waving American flag on each side of each unit's hood, with the added slogan, "Building America". Both the flag and the slogan are in memory of the tragedy of September 11, 2001.
In addition to the first three units completed in November 2001, all new locomotives, beginning with new SD70Ms 4735-4999 in January 2002, and new C44AC-CTEs 5770-5864 in February 2002 were delivered with the new flag emblem and slogan.
There is a slight variation between the flag decals used on the first three units (UP 4526-4528) and the flag decals used on subsequent units. The earlier version used a wooden pole (versus a metal pole in the later version), and the flag's waving shape was slightly different.
The first repainted unit to receive the flag decals and Building America slogan was former SP SD70M 3974, repainted from SP 9800 on March 1, 2002.
UP stopped applying the flag decals and Building America slogan on repainted units in about August or September 2002. However, the decision may have come earlier, since SD70M 3991 was repainted in February 2002 and did not receive the flag decals or the slogan. SD60M 6101 was also repainted at about the same time without the flag decals and slogan.
2002 — Red Rear End Numbers
During 2002, UP began replacing the white unit numbers on the rear of each unit's carbody, first applied in November 1987, with red numerals, and lowered to about the middle of the yellow area. Also, the single white number on the rear was changed to two red numbers, one on each of the angled sides of the carbody rear-end.
2005 — Yellow Frame Stripes
In accordance with a ruling by the Federal Railroad Administration, effective on March 4, 2005, Union Pacific began application of a yellow reflectorized stripe along each and every locomotive's frame side sill. The FRA ruling called for a certain square feet of reflective material on each locomotive, freight car, and passenger car. For its locomotive fleet, Union Pacific elected to apply the needed amount of material in the form of a continuous yellow stripe. Although UP has used red Scotchlite striping since the early 1950s, FRA studies dictated that the visibility of super-reflectorized yellow stripes, and in some cases white stripes, exceeded the standard Scotchlite red stripes already used by UP. The FRA rule specifically calls for yellow "retroreflective sheeting" to be used on all applications, except where white material has already been applied.
The retroreflective material noted in the ruling is further described as, "ASTM standard D 4956–01a, Type V Sheeting," with a detailed description showing its full name as "super high-intensity retroreflective sheeting." The reflectorized material is to be placed at 42 inches above the rail level. The reflectorized material is to be placed at 42 inches above the rail level. Even in low light situations, with headlights of automobiles traveling parallel, the super reflectivity is very apparent when viewed from adjacent highways.
The schedule provided in the FRA ruling allows all railroads quite a long period of time to comply. It shows that all locomotives not already having the new reflective material as of January 3, 2005, must have the needed reflective material by May 31, 2010, allowing the railroads just five years to come into full compliance. A table was provided in the ruling that shows that a specific and increasing 20 percent each year of each road's fleet must be completed, so that by the end of the five years, the full 100 percent will have been given the new reflectorized stripes. With a fleet of over 7000 locomotives, this schedule means that UP must apply yellow frame stripes to 1400 locomotives every year, or about 115 locomotives each and every month. As of late August 2005, the new yellow frame stripe is only being applied to repainted units released from Jenks shop in North Little Rock, Ark., with no stripes known to have been applied to any in-service units, other than on SD70M 5015. A formal program will have to be initiated due to the special cleaning and application requirements on units that have not been freshly painted.
The first unit seen with the new frame stripe was SD70M 5015, which had a yellow stripe added as a test in January 2005. Selected at random as the test case, the test was done at Proviso in Chicago, and the unit immediately entered regular service. The second unit on UP to be finished with the yellow frame stripe, a new unit, was the environmentally friendly "Green Goat" yard switcher UPY 2004, a hybrid diesel and battery locomotive built by Railpower Technologies as their model GG20B. It was seen at Roseville, Calif., on March 10, 2005, en route from its builder to Fresno, Calif., for extended testing in the Fresno yard. The third unit, another non-new unit with just a yellow stripe added to its existing paint, was ex C&NW SD40-2 2980, seen in Chattanooga, Tenn., on April 17, 2005. Other repainted locomotives that have received the new yellow frame stripe during the initial April to June 2005 time frame include GP38-2 609; C44-9CW 9578 (completed on May 10, 2005); C44-9CW 9833; and SW1500 1221 (released from North Little Rock on June 1, 2005).
New Units With Yellow Frame Stripe
The first new unit to receive the new yellow stripe was UP 8334, an EMD SD70ACe delivered on April 21, 2005 to UP at Chicago. Its first trip was from the Global 2 intermodal yard in Chicago on April 22, to Oakland, where it arrived on April 27. For unknown reasons, the deliveries of new EMD units to UP has not been in numerical order, so the last unit to receive the original red stripe was UP 8326, delivered on May 29, 2005. In addition to UP 8334 delivered in April, six other units (UP 8332, 8337, 8339, 8341, 8342, and 8348) were delivered with yellow stripe in April 2005. In May, a total of 25 new SD70ACe units were delivered. Of those, 21 units had the yellow stripe, and four units (UP 8319, 8322, 8325, and 8326) had the red frame stripe.
The first new General Electric unit was UP 5454, a new C45ACCTE GEVO unit delivered to UP on May 10, 2005. According to one knowledgeable source, the use of yellow frame stripe on new GE units was begun with the 101st unit (UP 5454) of a 200-unit order (UP 5354-5553), with several other upgrades and enhancements being included at the same time.
