My money's on anywhere big power is needed for hot freight. Cajon would be a natural. I have seen old pictures of the big UP double diesels on Cajon. I don't specifically recall U50's, but they'd be plausible on anything but the lightest branchlines.
From what I've seen on the DVD's and VHS's on UP, the U50's were used primarily over Sherman Hill and east through Nebraska. But I wouldn't be surprised, (knowing the UP) that some managed to make it to the Ogden Sub and out to Cajon over the LA&SL. It's my understanding that the crews hated them because the huge fan behind the cab made a lot of noise. An old shop hand told me they were nicknamed 'whirly-birds' because they were about as noisy as sitting in a helicopter. It kind of seemed like all the cool looking, (from a modelers perspective) locomotives were crappy performers or hated by the crews and/or shop forces in real life, at least on the UP! Another loco I always thought looked cool was the big Alco Century series engines, but the UP crews and shop forces hated them with a passion too! 2slim
Thanks Thank you to all for the quick answers. That would make it a little longer than the Dash-8. I think I'll put it on my have-to-get-one list. They look cool. It will fit right in with my "run what I want when I want to" layout scheme. Dave.
Not to be a bother, but if they've still got 'em, would you check and see what they're going for and let us know how to contact them? I think a shop would be quite pleased if a bunch of us removed some old inventory. I think one of these in CP red would be quite an eye catcher!
Modellers tend to like the somewhat less common engines, which tend to not last as long - for being non-standard, or because there was a reason they weren't popular in the first place. Sometimes it seems modellers like an engine just because it was unpopular. And UP was generally quick to retire... well, everything. They didn't have much patience for anything out of the ordinary, even the double diesels which they specially ordered.
Mystere hooked me up with the shops number. He won't let them go for much under $100. There are 2 in Santa Fe blue / yellow freight and one in UP. I _think_ I bought mine direct from Con Cor for about 80 plus or minus during their big sale about a year ago.
Grey and Grandure U50 Fleet In the front the EX UP U50s painted up by Hemi> Middle for contrast is an Atlas SD60M appropriately in Heritage colors. In the rear are the newer run. Side shot: That Santa Fe freight needs serous weathering.
