Books About Union Pacific Diesel Locomotives
Index For This Page
This page was last updated on May 3, 2013.
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Locomotive Books (1972-1996)
Don Strack first started working on a roster of Union Pacific diesel locomotives in 1972. The first typewritten version was completed in fall 1974. In early 1978, the typewritten roster was updated and offered for publication to Don Dover at Extra 2200 South.
In 1979 and 1980, the five-part roster of Union Pacific diesel locomotives was published in Extra 2200 South.
In 1990, Don Strack was the co-author of an illustrated roster of Union Pacific diesel locomotives:
Union Pacific 1990 -- By Paul Withers and George Cockle, Roster by Don Strack -- A photo-illustrated review and roster listing of Union Pacific's locomotive fleet in 1990. Don Strack contributed all locomotive roster and history information. (Withers Publishing, ISBN 0-9618503-8-8)
In 1992, Don Strack was the author of an illustrated roster of Union Pacific diesel locomotives:
Union Pacific 1992 Annual -- A photo-illustrated review and roster listing of Union Pacific's locomotive fleet, between 1980 and 1992, along with current operations during 1992. (Hyrail Publications, ISBN 0-9628699-3-7)
In 1996, Don Strack was the author of a book about the switching locomotives used by Union Pacific in their switching yards:
Union Pacific Switchers and Slugs -- A expanded compilation of previously published magazine articles about UP's EMD switcher fleet, from the NW2s to the most current MP15ACs, with additional material on Union Pacific's ALCo, Baldwin, Fairbanks-Morse switchers, and yard slugs and other hump yard power. 116 pages; 238 black and white photos; 37 color photos; full rosters of all of UP's EMD, Alco, Baldwin, and GE switchers, plus its yard slugs and road slugs. (Withers Publishing, ISBN 1-881411-11-7)
Locomotive Directories (1998, 1999, 2000)
Between 1998 and 2000, Don Strack was the author of three illustrated rosters of Union Pacific diesel locomotives:
- Union Pacific 1998 Locomotive Directory (Withers Publishing, 1998) Covered the year 1997.
- Union Pacific 1999 Locomotive Directory (Withers Publishing, 1999) Covered the year 1998.
- Union Pacific 2000 Locomotive Directory (Withers Publishing, 2000) Covered the year 1999.
A Union Pacific 2001 Locomotive Directory, covering the year 2000, was prepared, but was not published due to poor sales of the previous issues.
After 2000, Withers Publishing has continued publishing subsequent updated UP Locomotive Directories. The photographic coverage make these books a valuable resource for modeling and general railfanning.
- Union Pacific 2002-2003 Locomotive Directory (Withers Publishing, May 2002) Covered the years 2001-2002.
- Union Pacific 2003-2004 Locomotive Directory (Withers Publishing, January 2004) Covered the years 2002-2003.
- Union Pacific 2005-2007 Locomotive Directory (Withers Publishing, March 2007) Covered the years 2004-2006.
- Union Pacific 2007-2012 Locomotive Directory (Withers Publishing, January 2013) Covered the years 2007-2012.
Classic Era Books (1999, 2005)
Diesels of the Union Pacific, The Classic Era, Volume I
(Withers Publishing Co., 1999)
Diesels of the Union Pacific, The Classic Era, Volume II
(Withers Publishing Co., 2005)
In 1999 (Volume 1) and 2005 (Volume 2), Don Strack was the author of a two-part illustrated history and roster of Union Pacific diesel locomotives, 1934 through 1982:
This two-volume set covers builder's data and dispositions for each unit in UP's diesel-electric and turbine locomotives, as well as a varied selection of photographs detailing each model, from the early Pullman articulated trains and early EMC E units and giant GE-built gas turbines to the varied EMD SD40-2 fleet that moved transcontinental freight into the 1980s.
Volume 1 has 224 pages; 308 black and white photographs; abbreviated bibliography; 14-page 1934-1982 timeline of Union Pacific diesel locomotives; four-page summary of road numbers, with years in service; four-page summary of locomotive model quantities; 40-page history of Union Pacific dieselization; 153-page unit-by-unit roster of Union Pacific diesel and turbine locomotives numbered from 1 to 999. (Withers Publishing, ISBN 1-881411-24-9)
Volume 2 has 176 pages; 257 black and white photographs; 73 color photographs; 12-page summary of Union Pacific diesel locomotive paint schemes and lettering for the 1934-1982 era; abbreviated bibliography; four-page summary of road numbers, with years in service; 129-page unit-by-unit roster of Union Pacific diesel locomotives numbered from 1000 to 903999. (Withers Publishing, ISBN 1-881411-29-X)
Online Rosters (2002-2009)
In June 2002, the roster of Union Pacific diesel locomotives was converted to a series of web pages at this link:
(Go to the online Union Pacific diesel roster)
The current roster was updated regularly through mid 2009. At that time, due to a lack of information direct from sources within Union Pacific, the "Modern Era" roster is no longer being kept up-to-date.
Corrections and minor updates to the early "Classic Era" roster have continued, and will continue as corrections and new information becomes available for the period through 1982, prior to the merger with Western Pacific and Missouri Pacific.
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