OmahaNeb. April 1, 2006 Union Pacific Chairman and CEO Dick Davidson today unveiled an unprecedented new series of locomotives that will reduce the railroad’s dependence on petroleum-based fuels, much of which has to be imported from overseas. Based on the railroads extremely successful coal fired steam locomotives of 60 years ago, the engines will utilize new technologies that overcome pollution and maintenance problems that led to wholesale dieselization midway through the last century. The first steam locomotives will operate between North Platte, Nebraska and Green River, Wyoming, moving high priority freight. "It is important that we move away from our dependence on foreign fuel," Davidson said. "Our reputation as America’s greatest railroad has always been marked by our use of unique high-horsepower locomotives. With continued unrest in the Middle-East, Venezuela and other far-away oil fields, it was time to re-evaluate our motive power needs and seek alternate fuels and technologies. Nuclear power wasn’t an option because of cost and environmental concerns. But new methods of achieving complete combustion with coal and our ability to install exhaust scrubbers to remove the few emissions that do occur, got us to rethinking some old technology. Coal mines located online added incentive to the idea. Modern boiler and bearing technology meant a steam locomotive of today could be just as efficient as a diesel-electric and closed loop recovery of water vapor negates the need for frequent water stops.” The first new steam locomotives to be delivered in more than 50 years may begin service within three years. Davidson did not reveal who would construct these modern day Goliaths Ahhh, now what day is this?
Doggone, Russell, you beat me to it. I was going to post that a New York Central Hudson had been found in a cave in upstate New York.
Jim- The story I heard, that loco was a Milwaukee Road Hiawatha A Class 4-4-2. Found in a barn. Or was it a Little Joe, in an old abandoned warehouse? Boxcab E50 [ April 03, 2006, 12:45 PM: Message edited by: BoxcabE50 ]
And then there was the abandoned tunnel that the Denver & Rio Grande sealed up after loading it with some large articulated steamers.
There IS actually a wild story that some people DO believe- About an abandoned Milwaukee Road train, somewhere on Snoqualmie Pass in Washington state. Every year, outsiders inquire, seriously, wanting to know where they can see it!!! I'm not kidding!!! It's true that people really look for it! Boxcab E50
Ya', I remember that one too a couple of years back! SD-40-2's, ribside caboose, and all sitting on an abandoned siding up around Garcia. Ya, I never found it either!
Don't know if this is true or not. Heard UP still has a Steam engine on the active roster that was lost in a flood along the North Platte river in Colorado ALONG TIME ago. The engine was never found and people have gone up and the banks with poles as well as other technial stuff trying to find it. I would love to find out if this story has any merit
Would'nt be nice if they would bring steam back,with modren science the way it is today I think It could be done. JIM
