Union Pacific is modifying their paint scheme. The trademark red sill stripe is changing to yellow to comply with Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) regulations. This is to increase visibility for grade-crossing safety. Union Pacific will gradually begin applying the yellow sill stripe to comply with the FRA May 31, 2015 deadline for the entire freight locomotive fleet. The FRA also requires reflective materials to be installed on freight cars.
i wonder if they'll go the route of BNSF. change the logo to "we're trying to hurry UP"..... just kidding all you UP fans out there!!
I understand that even though the red sill stripe is reflective, the FRA found white or yellow to be more visible from a distance. Sooo... Who's gonna post the first pics???
Shouldn't be too hard- just head to any siding on the UP mainline, you'll find a train (sorry, couldn't resist.........)
How will making the red yellow help? You can't make out the color of the locomotive until it is almost on you because of the glare of the headlights.
So freight trains need to be made more visible ....... just how difficult can it be to notice a huge, noisy thing like a freight train People will still try to beat them to the grade crossing no matter how 'visible' they are
Hey, I already see plenty of UP units with the red frame stripe, only it is through the words "Union Pacific" Harold
Gentlemen, Gentlemen, GENTLEMEN! Hasn't anyone been reading the newspaper? In a bizarre twist, UP officials confirmed that they "accidentally" hired the SAME designing firm as the one that handled the recent BNSF logo change... resulting in the following: UP admits to reslulting to this measure because the design firm offered a substantial discount for their artwork.
I get sick and tired of Federal Agencies forcing local governments and railroad companies to spend their own limited funds in an effort to protect ignorent people from the consequences of their own stupid actions....GRRR! Last Friday morning a popular and well-liked 17 year old high school junior was killed at a well-maintained (free of visual obstructions) four-laned state highway grade crossing with the relatively heavy traveled CSX line between New Orleans, LA and Mobile, AL. The crossing has been marked by operating warning lights with a 30-second warning time required by the 59 mph freight speed restriction for at least 30 years that I know of, probably more. The local TV and newspaper published interviews with only those persons (including an eye-witness) who said that if that crossing had had barrier arms that blocked the crossing, the boy would still be alive. Give me a Break! More than 25% of the 120(+/-) grade crossings along our Coast have operating barrier arms. At least four vehicles each year are slammed when witnessed going around those arms. When will Government employees learn that you can NOT protect stupid people from the consequences of their own stupid actions? Sorry about the rant, but requiring UP (and other companies) to change the paint scheme of every one of their locomotives in the misguided concept that they MIGHT be more visible to someone who isn't paying attention in the first place is simply ridiculous and a major waste of MY tax money!
Nice logo, but I heard BNSF was going to charge a user's fee- something like 5 dollars for every $100r of cost. At least this is what I've heard from the law firm of Findum & Fleecum Hmm...............sound familiar?
Hank. I am with you on this.... I have seen example of folks passing thru crossing gates, etc. I noticed that in South Carolina, a lot of "unsignalled" crossings have STOP signs posted on them. I think this is a great idea! Unfortunately, I don't see many folks stopping for them either. I don't think that it is our responsibility to protect the stupid people. Harold
Harold, Mississippi has had a law on the books for over 100 years that requires ALL motorists to STOP at ALL railroad crossings. When I first arrived here 50 years ago, all RR crossings had stop signs in addition to crossbucks and/or flashing lights. Sometime in the late 60's or early 70's the State Highway Dept. began removing those stop signs because no motorists were stopping and no State, County, or local Law Enforcement were enforcing that law. I can't figure if it's public apathy, or just that nobody cares...
Bigpine-- Welcome aboard!!! Yep, UP swallowed up the good ole SP. Somehow though life carries on. Please feel free to drop in on the Southern Pacific forum here in the Fallen Flags group too. Oh and by the way, I just got a yellow frame striped SD70ACe contributed to my site so should be up in the next update or two.
