The story of Union Pacific's DDA40X, the 6900s | Sunday Morning Coffee & Trains
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- Опубліковано 28 лис 2020
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** About this video: The largest, most powerful diesel locomotives ever built: Union Pacific DDA40X Centennials weighed 270 tons, were almost to 100 feet long, carried 8,000-gallons of fuel, and generated 6,600 horsepower - with speeds of up to 90 mph.
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I got a rare chance as a locomotive engineer to operate the UP's 6936 at the Soo Line/Canadian Pacific's Bensenville Yard. That was back in May of 2010 when the Union Pacific DDA40X was brought into the yard in preparation for display at the "Railroad Daze" annual event in the nearby Chicago suburb of Franklin Park, IL. Moved it only about 100 ft. on a service track, but hey, I can at least say I ran "the largest, most powerful diesel locomotive ever built!" Got the DVD, "Union Pacific 6900s" by Pentrex. Highly recommend it!
That is *truly* an amazing opportunity - and memory. Thanks for sharing! -DeAnn
Lucky
The good ole days in Bensenville. Right across the street from 710 East Green Street in Bensenville near O Hare. LOL Never thought id use that business till, excessive road salt from a salt bunker placed next to a company roadway employees drove on prematurely killed the underbody of my car.
I’ve been doing some electrical work on the 6936. Today I’m casing a AC ground on engine #1…
@@theodorethompson9032 Hope all turns out well!
The Big Boy didnt die... It was just Reincarnated into a badass diesel locomotive
Lol
Union Pacific excelled in badass locomotives. -Tim
Agreed 👍
Yea, but the Big Boy's were way more gorgeous and fascinating!
Big Boy: "I lived bitch 😎"
Loved watching these roar past my house in western nebraska when i was a kid.
It took awhile, but at the end of the "Horsepower race" U.P. finally figured out, when you put one DDa40x in the shop, you were putting the equivalent of two GP40's off line. They just couldn't stomach that for long.
What a privilege to be an engineer of the 6900!
Agreed! :-) -DeAnn
6:51 Thats one awesome horn
I'm very privileged to have gotten three of these beasts in o scale! My most favorites ever!
I love that! Also great, but hard to find, would be a DD35 B-unit. Those massive cabless units look sooooo good! Thanks for watching! -DeAnn
Si pero me gusta mucho el estómago y no se le vaya a hacer la tarea ❤
I saw a DD40X on display at the UP yard in Little Rock, AR. Pretty impressive with 8 wheel trucks. So I bough the MTH O-Scale model version. Ha!
I lived near Cajon Pass in the 70's and remember seeing them there. Also have seen the one at Portola many times.
These are just massive machines. I wish I had seen one on the rails hauling freight. Thanks for your note. -DeAnn
@@Railfandepot they are amazing to see ,, I have seen 6936 many times over the years ,, i was sad to hear that it's been mothballed for whatever reason
I'm 46 now and am happy to say that i did get to see the centennials in operation ,,i have an 8mm movie my grandfather made in 1981 when i was just 7 ,,it shows 6900 /6936 and i think 6924 at the head of a freight train coming into Council Bluffs iowa from omaha,,and i remember more than once being at the local park and watching them go by
Those huge diesels were GM/EMD V-16 two-cycle diesels, somewhere north of 10,654 cubic inches. Internal parts were so large and heavy that engine speeds were limited to around 950 rpm. The Centennials were beyond impressive and awe-inspiring.
UP always had the best locomotive, plus I stood in the cold for 2 hours waiting for ns 29z finally got it with a badass k5lla and a sd70ace
In the cold for 2 hours? You are committed to getting that good shot!! Thanks for watching. -DeAnn
The Centennials were used on the hottest trains: Super Van, Van, Overland Mail North, West and East (OMN, OMW, OME) ARRO (Auto Rail Road Overland), Fast Ford, SSS (South Seattle Special) just to name a few. I saw them in Stockton just after the UP took over WP. Ironically, RG Flannery was WP President. Thank you for posting.
Yes, the big DDs... from the DD35 to the DDA40X were used anytime big power was needed. Thank you for watching! -DeAnn
I JUST LOVE ❤ THOSE KINDA OF TRAIN 🚆
6901 rests in my hometown Pocatello Idaho
This video is amazing, love the history as well, most of all I love the rails and everything about them .
We have another one coming out on the DDA40X - with more info on how it all works. Fascinating stuff! Thanks for watching! -DeAnn
Watching the footage of someone chasing those two centennials all I thought about was how massive video cameras were in the 70’s and how hard that was. Also how they sounded different in tandem than I expected
Very massive cameras! Tim did some professional shooting in the 1980s and he says pro camera gear came in 2 pieces a that time, the camera, the recorder AND a battery belt. Yikes! -DeAnn
It would be so awesome to see these behemoths still running the rails.
One of them still runs for the UP on special occasions! So,it is still possible! -DeAnn
"UP was soon to be the owner of the most powerful steam and diesel locos..." How about the Turbines? Thx!
Of course UP was the owner of the most powerful... steam, diesel *and* turbine locomotives, but those turbines were so unique that I guess it almost goes without saying. We have another video on the turbines. I've included a link . -Tim
ua-cam.com/video/spngeetQfRI/v-deo.html
Truly the titan of trains
Yea! Nothing could match the 1-30s for sheer magnificence.
I ALWAYS LOVE ❤ TRAINS 🚆 EVER SINCE I WAS A LITTLE BOY
Oh, this video is for DDA40XBruce! 🚂🚞🚞🚞🚞
Gees DeAnn what a great vid with one of my favorite beverages ... Lol ...
We aim to please! :-) -DeAnn
Click.. click..cheers That 1 big loco oh I really enjoyed the turbine's too
Thanks for watching and for the vote of confidence! -DeAnn
I am new to this page. This awesome thanks again. I am now a subscriber ☺️
Thank you guys
Oh my, thank *YOU* for watching! -DeAnn
It's basically an A-B unit that you can't separate. One of these is at the Frisco Railroad Museum on static display. I need to get out there and see it. I've got a model of one in HO scale. Always liked the DD35 and DD40.
I am not sure why, but I always like the look of the DD35 B units! -DeAnn
I still can't believe a 747 can fly lol. What a great old video.
Wait, a 747 can fly? Next you'll be telling me steam can make big machines move on their own! 😉 Thank you for watching! -DeAnn
Like The Videos and the DDAX40X
My favorite diesel locomotive always and ever
It is a monster! The good kind. :-) Thanks for watching! -DeAnn
Thank you for producing this video. So glad I found it, seems to hold a special interest, but I don't know why. :-)
Bruce, I can guess from your UA-cam handle that you may have a special interest in these behemoths! I *really* appreciate the kind words. We've had some rather nasty comments lately, so you are my new favorite person. -DeAnn
@@Railfandepot Thank you. Probably buy the video if it isn't in my library already. Have bought some videos from y'all. Come visit me sometime, I'm with the Virtual Railfan channel group. I'm usually at the Flagstaff camera chat or Belen NM camera chat.
We spent a day a Bailey yard a few years ago a great experience ,also chased trains across Wyoming staying at Medicine Bow , UP puts on a great show !
"The Great Chase". That would be a great memory! Thank you for watching! -DeAnn
Love to see all those locomotives on line
Thanks for watching! -DeAnn
at 7:50 mark, these locom. engines are REALLY working hard!
I LIKE BIG DIESELS, I CAN NOT LIE! LOVE TO SEE "VIDEOS" OF THEM FLYING BY! GREAT VIDEO & COFFEE!
Excellent rhyming my good man. Thank you for watching! -DeAnn
I don't do facebook, and don't do social media..
I do answer questions on Quora.. Sometimes (on UA-cam) I sit and watch the trains traveling through different states, it's relaxing..
Every video is a pleasure to watch..blessings lovely DeAnn
Thank you very much, kind sir. :-) -DeAnn
Good morning lovely DeAnn. Once again, you've brighten up my morning with this enlightening video about locomotives and more importantly, seeing your beautiful face and smile. Would love to sit and have coffee with you someday. Please keep the vids coming
I will certainly keep up my Sunday morning appointment. :-) Thank you for watching! -DeAnn
I love this video it was great but I do believe it weighs as much as 1 747 not 5 lol... love how exited these old railfans used to get.
You may be right. 😂😮💗 All I know is I am not going to try to pick up any of them. Thank you for watching! -DeAnn
The DDA40X was a very impressive diesel model, the UP had a very impressive roster of large steam and diesel locomotives.
Oh yes, until diesel standardization, the UP kept pushing the envelope on higher and higher horsepower/tractive effort locomotives. -DeAnn
Very informative! I love the UP railroad!
Dee Ann the Centennial was one of the two most impressive locomotives ever built.
The other was the Big Boy. Very enjoyable.
locomotive ever built.
And both locomotives were Union Pacific specific! Thanks for watching. -DeAnn
I ❤ trains
Very interesting history of some serious UP motive power! Though Monday morning thanks to work yesterday. Thanks for posting.
Maybe we should call it... *beverage and trains anytime*? :-) Thanks for watching! -DeAnn
@@Railfandepot idk my Sunday mornings are sacred to me. Couldn’t refuse overtime. Perhaps something on the Milwaukee Road. Tragic that all of that engineeering out west was never used again. Thanks for your posts!
Great video thank you
Glad you enjoyed it. Thanks for watching, and for the positive comment! -DeAnn
Those were some impressive locomotives,great video.
Thank you for watching! And yes, the DDA40X is truly an impressive machine. -DeAnn
6:51 I like that horn
That horn befits the locomotive it is attached to! Thanks for watching! -DeAnn
Magnificent machines!!!
Cool thanks guys
Thanks for watching! And for the vote of confidence. :-) -DeAnn
Love this a lot learnt many things about world's most powerful diesel locomotive
Thanks for watching! It is a great story. 😀 -DeAnn
I liked those 2 cycle GM EMD engines. I saw one of these twin engine rigs in Main on a side track just vandalized abandoned and rotting. I guess the new 4 cycle AC traction motors are more efficient.
love this!
Another big horsepower monster from Union Pacific. What's not to love, right? 😀 -DeAnn
Awesome job on your show 🙂👍☕
Thank you for the kind words. We do work at it! :-) -DeAnn
Great history and interesting video on the workings of the locomotive. We have nothing like this in the UK. Can't wait to get back to the US with the camera. I will be looking to visit the feather river
Love this vid
Thank you so much, and thank you for watching! -DeAnn
I like train videos on UA-cam 👍
hi i love trains i got a scanner to pick them up on my bc 125 at scanner tom
Most of the footage was filmed around Laramie Wy. South, North, and East.
Yes, I believe most of this was shot in the Sherman Hill area. So, yep you are right on the money. -DeAnn
those Double Ds are impressive!
Union Pacific, and I, thank you. 😉 Thanks for watching! -DeAnn
Wow x 2! The Centennials are amazing! They are the Iowa Class locomotives!
I have a copy of this video from the 90s
It's a good video...and a good locomotive! -DeAnn
Nice, I run 1 on my HO Layout!! great to see the history
What is the minimum radius these look good on? -Tim
@@Railfandepot 30, anything smaller doesn't look right, I have 1 34 degree on most of the outside line with 1 30 bend. l really like the big bends, I also super elevate with styrene on the outside rail!
@@chrisjones4423 Thanks for that. I know any big radius curves are tough to fit onto a layout. That is why i asked. -Tim
I just subscribed to your channel awesome video's i have loved train for 55 years
Thank you much for subbing. We have more videos coming! -DeAnn
6:44 great approach
That's a lot of power pulling that train! Thanks for watching. -DeAnn
That is one long diesel-electric locomotives
True story! -DeAnn
Пожиратель соляры ) Клёвый лок, нравится.
One of my favourite american locomotives. Like it! Greatings from Russia!
I like how the engginering staff build the locomotive that days. That's literally "two in one" for more power.
Congratulations on your you tube channel!! I am from Spain and I love american trains and locomotives. Good job!
Thank you for watching! It's great to have you here :-) -DeAnn
Do you think the Union Pacific will ever restore one centennial locomotive and put it into service? I'm not talking about the recent donation train, but like one of their other trains that are on a static display.
My best *guess* is no...but remember there are several museums that have these beasts and it is quite likely that one of these (WP Museum, Illinois Railway Museum, etc) could get that done. -DeAnn.
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The DD40X is really the first "wide cab" and not SD60M #6085. Many rail publications keep claiming the 6085 as the first and that's ridiculous. Also, the Canadians started making the wide cab fairly standard during the 70s.
The Canadian roads began it all, the DDA40X is similar, but does not have the same structural safety features. Maybe that is why others claim the SD60M? No matter what - the DDA40X cab is certainly wider than previous US cab units! -Tim
“Wide cab” didn’t simply mean wide nose. The DDA40X shared a cab with the F45. It simply didn’t have a full cowl. But it’s not a wide body cab by definition at all.
The 6085 had a true wide body cab. The DDA40X cab did not and it’s way more different than you think.
The 6085 had the Desktop control stand, higher cab floor, totally different side window layout, different seating arrangement, completely different nose interior and front door, central HVAC and most importantly, the improved collision protection in place. There is no comparison. Two totally different cabs.
@@Railfandepot the DDA40X did not have a “wider cab than any previous units”. It uses the same cab as the FP45 which came out in 1967, two years before the first DDA40X. The term “wide body cab” is thrown around way too much. A true wide body cab is not like these early wide NOSE cabs. There is a lot more to what makes a true wide body cab then the exterior appearance. And as information, a true wide body cab or a wide nose cab like on these are actually not any wider than a conventional cab.The term comes from the airlines about being more spacious. But it’s not really “wider”
Thanks for the nice video 😌😌😌😉😉😉I'm not sure I would have sent that eng to CA I think it should have gone to the mid west.
There is one here in the midwest. See link below. It's at the Illinois Railway Museum. Thanks for watching. -DeAnn
www.flickr.com/photos/train-kid-1996/13003750375/
Check out the Railfan at 3:01!
I wish that had been me! Except, then I'd be older than I am....hmmm...that *is* a downside! :-) -DeAnn
cool
6:00 "Beautiful" is far not enough to describe it, anyone have better words?
Hmmmm... beautiful *and* badass as another commenter noted? -DeAnn
Enjoy the video
Hello! What are some of your favorite locomotives?
Thanks for watching! :-) -DeAnn
You’re welcome
The Centennials are awesome but I always felt the U50s were very underrated.
Not everyone likes to looks of the U50s, but I do. They remind me of a broad shouldered bulldog. -Tim
To me, it looked like the U50s, and Alco 855s designers smacked the cabs into a wall, although the U50 could have had a Shark mouth painted on it. Lol.
If there was a tug-o-war or pulling contest between the Big Boy and the Centennial, who would win? That's an interesting match-up, isn't it?
Well, The DDA40X is 6,600 HP with 113,000 lbf starting Tractive Effort. The 4014 is around 6,200 (drawbar HP) with around 136,000 lbf Tractive Effort. So Big Boy should win it with ease.
I AM ALL BOARD DEANN
😀😀😀 -DeAnn
Man I wish the DDA40X never went for scrap
One of these beasts still runs! It may only be for special occasions, but it still runs every now and then. -Tim
@@Railfandepot wow
What ever happened to the DDA 40? I've heard that they have two motors in them which It can easily pull over a 100 cars using one locomotive. I had friends who had the HO scale model version of it and they tell me that it can pull over a 100 cars at once on the layout without any problems. However it requires a wider radius curve than a normal size locomotive
The DDA40X's were mostly preserved, 13 of them. The rest were either wrecked, scrapped or used as part scavengers for other DDA40X's still around.
The prototype, as outlined in the video, still has one operating and many preserved in museums. As for the model, I don't believe the old Athearn "Blue Box" DD40 is being produced. It was not an accurate model. Athearn Genesis does has an accurate DDA40X. -Tim
@@Railfandepot I think the Diesel Spotters Guide, or one of similar info. said the Athearn DD40, was the prototype with the Standard Cab, and the AX, had the Wide nose, and better electronic controls, so the wide cab, was the only version, mass produced.
Good old reliable General motors. 16 cylinder 645 E3 series diesel engines.
It's hard to believe there is no more GM EMD! Thanks for watching. -DeAnn
Will the 6900 ever be beaten?
I doubt it, although clearly I shouldn't say never. Since the GE AC6000CW hit 6,000 HP, it seems that GE and EMD have backed off the HP race. Although the GEVO-16 units are rated at 6,200 HP... still shy of the 6,600 HP of the DDA40X. -Tim
Why so much smoke from these engines??
They may be burning off some oil, though it's really a mixture of oil burnoff from an engine that is not running clean and exhaust. Kind of like when you see a semi-truck on the road. -Tim
3:35. Minor mistake. Anyone with general knowledge knows the bigboys are number 3 on the list of most powerful steam engines.
It depends on what measurement is used. Horsepower? PRR had several steam locomotives with higher horsepower, and of course the C&O Allegheny too. Big Boys were not the highest tractive effort locomotives either, though they easily beat out the Allegheny on this metric. For the combination of speed, pulling power and horsepower, Big Boy puts together a complete package. So, depending on what measurement is used, the Big Boy locomotives rise and fall on that particular list. For instance the Virginian Triplex (2-8-8-8-4) had a very high tractive effort - but could only run at 10 to 15 MPH. I'll quibble with one point in your comment, I doubt anyone with "general knowledge" would know where Big Boy falls on the various metrics. Thank you for watching. -Tim
what type of horn does the DDA40X have ?
The DDA40X series were originally fitted with 5 chime Leslie horns, but as often happens some were changed out over the years. Thanks for watching. -Tim
Gas turbine locomotive : Grrr!!
Hasn’t Union Pacific been around for 130years and hasn’t merged?
More than 130 years... They celebrated 150 years of transcontinental railroading in 2019, and were incorporated before that golden spike was hammered down in 1869! And yes, they've done a lot of buying of other railroads, but never have they been sold. -DeAnn
@@Railfandepot wow
I never seen inside one
Please update your format to wide screen and at least 1080p. Or...?
Hey Bruce, DeAnn asked me to reply. While we do have some footage available in 1080, and more at least in widescreen, a lot of what we show is vintage stuff - stuff only available on vintage formats. So, as much as I'd like to have 1080 HD Wide on the Centennials, we won't ever have it from when they were running. BUt, we do have more 1080 coming! -Tim
How many of the centennial's are left?? And does Union Pacific still use them
13 remain, and only one is in use by UP, kinda. 6936 has been stored for 5 years now. Its last use was when it helped test 844 in 2016.
How does the power of this compare with the Bigboy 4014?
DDA40X is 6,600 HP with 113,000 lbf starting Tractive Effort. The 4014 is around 6,200 (drawbar HP) with around 136,000 lbf Tractive Effort.
👍🤗
I have a question.
I live in California, are there any preserved dd40's in cali? Also, what happened to 6936 it was up and running like a year and a half ago.
Sorry for the delay in replying. Yes, there is a DDA40X in Cali. It's at the Western Pacific Railroad Museum in Portola. See the link below. As for 6936, it is kept in running condition, available for company use, in Cheyenne. -Tim
www.wplives.org/locomotivepages/up6946.html
@@Railfandepot thanks for the info
Why UP retired them?
DeAnn, has Union Pacific ever invited you to run one to these? Oh, the smell of diesel smoke in the morning. 8:45 "Control, we just had a bird strike! Thank God there's a river nearby." If you want to take a ride in a passenger car pulled by a DDA40X. Union Pacific will accommodate you and your friends. But, you will have to pay for the fuel."
I'd love to ride in that cab...I'm pretty sure I don't have the cash for fuel. Certainly not a full tank! :-) Thanks for watching! -DeAnn
@@Railfandepot But, ALL your friends would just love to go with you, but will not help you with the fuel cost. Sorry about that.
@@outlet6989 Story of my life. :-) -DeAnn
Why did U.P quit useing the centennial engines
Maintenance more than anything. They were old and outdated technology and not worth the expense to keep operating.
What Fred says, but also, they were not as flexible as newer individual units. It's easier and more efficient to use multiple units with one crew than trying to fit one monster into that equation. -DeAnn
Sad that the Canadian major roads - CN or CP - never tried replicating UP’s specifications, by licensing if required, and getting power like that going here. I love my country though sometimes it feels like we’re the end of the donkey’s tail when it comes to innovation.
So why were these locomotives discontinued? Why do they not make these anymore?
Outdated technology. Modern diesel electric locomotives can outpull these and do it with much better efficiency and less maintenance.
Outdated technology but some of them got preserved
Did they number them in the 6900's because they came on the scene in 1969?
Yes. That's how they got the nickname "Centennial" as well.
So why did UP not keep going with this high horsepower loco design??
Economics won out... they were the only railroad putting time and money into the high horsepower chase - and into these diesel locomotives. Eventually, as GE and EMD designed better and more powerful, and more flexible, locomotives, it was cheaper for UP to go with the rest of the industry. As for why these were retired, each unit ran more than 2-million miles - so they were successful, but they were also expensive to maintain. -Tim
Another reason was revealed with the SD90MACs. If a 6000hp unit fails, a train loses a lot more hp than if a 2000hp SD40-2 fails.
@@AVeryRandomPerson Don't forget, more importantly, the train also loses those six axles of dynamic breaking which are equivalent to nine axles of dynamic braking of a C44-9C.
Wow 😳,,,,,, now let's go pull THE EARTH,,,,,,,,,uphill 🤣✌️
Oh, yes...that's a lot of power! Thanks for watching! -DeAnn