Union Pacific Steam Locomotives

The first Consolidation (2-8-0) wheel arrangement came to the UP as early as 1868 and that locomotive remained in service until 1904. Locomotives of this type were primarily built to handle freight trains; however, old photographs indicate they were used on non-priority passenger trains during their early service years. During the Harriman management, the UP and affiliated lines purchased hundreds of Consolidations between 1900 and 1908, all having the standard 57-inch drivers. This was the beginning for motive power designs that have become known as the Harriman Common Standard. Locomotives of this class were the super power of that era until replaced by larger power. Into the 1930-era many worked on main line runs where moderate gradients existed. Many were used in various yards for switching service, and continued to work main line local freight and branch line mixed train assignments until replaced by diesel locomotives in the mid-1950s. The majority of this class served the railroad for fifty years! One example, engine number 105, originally built in 1886 (as a Camelback) with a Wootten firebox, and rebuilt with a standard design boiler in 1894, was not retired until July of 1951, having performed for 66 years! Based upon their size, and the number of years in which they operated, it would not be an understatement if one said these locomotives more than paid for themselves many times over.

The Great Depression years took its toll on re-shopping many locomotives, especially those in need of heavy repairs such as firebox or boiler replacements. During a five year period (1936-1941) no less than45 Consolidations were scrapped. A motive power shortage during World War II kept most of them from being scrapped, but the post war years changed that considerably. Diesels had arrived taking over many yard duties as well as some branch line service. A drop in business after the war allowed the UP to retire 126 Consolidations in 1946 and 1947. An additional 37 were scrapped in 1948 and 1949. And, of course, during subsequent years one by one the total locomotives on the roster continued to decline in numbers as more diesels were purchased. During the 1950s several were placed on display in various communities as a relic of the steam era, with this wheel arrangement out-numbering any other that were preserved. The last 2-8-0 to be scrapped was OSL number 6537 (formerly 537, renumbered to make room for a diesel in the 500-series) at Denver on December 29, 1958. The remaining locomotives of this type (on the roster as of 1959) were subsequently donated to various communities along the UP.