UP 6916

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Union Pacific 6916
Specifications
Power type Diesel-electric
Builder EMD
Model DDA40X
AAR wheel arr. D-D
Gauge 4 ft 8 1⁄2 in (1,435 mm)
Safety systems Leslie S3LR
Career
Railroad(s) Union Pacific
Number 6916
Nicknames "Centennial"
Disposition Static Museum Display, Utah State Railroad Museum, Ogden, Utah

Union Pacific 6916 is a DDA40X diesel locomotive built for the Union Pacific Railroad. It now resides in the Eccles Rail Center at the Utah State Railroad Museum in Ogden, Utah.

History

UP 6916 was built by General Motors' Electro-Motive Division in November 1969 as one of a series of 47 locomotives of the same type. It weighs 542,432 pounds and utilizes two Model 645E3A V-16 diesel engines, each rated at 3,300 horsepower each, for a total horsepower rating of 6,600 for the entire locomotive. Maximum speed was set at 80 miles per hour. By June 22, 1980, the 6916 was placed in storage due to a decrease in traffic. The locomotive was returned to service soon after.[1] However, by 1983, most of the DDA40X type were stored out of service in Yermo, California, but in 1984 a motive power crunch caused Union Pacific to reinstate 25 of the locomotives, including the 6916.[2] The locomotive was finally retired from service on May 16, 1985, and internally gutted as a parts source for SD40 and SD40-2 diesels.[1] The unit was donated "as is" to the Utah State Railroad Museum in 1986.[3]

The DDA40X locomotive type was nicknamed "Centennial" after the 100th anniversary of the driving of the Golden Spike in 1869, which signified the completion of the Transcontinental Railroad.[4] They are unique in that they are actually two power units on a single 98-foot frame, and are noted as being the largest diesel locomotives in the world. The 6916 is one of thirteen surviving Centennials.[5]

In popular culture

  • The unit served as the prototype for an O-scale brass model released by Ajin and imported to the United States by Overland Models in 1999.[1]
UP 6900, showing the split between the two operating units 
The cab of the 6916 
Leslie type S3LR 3-chime air horn 

See also

Union Pacific 6936

Union Pacific 6922

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 Reisdorff, James J and Bartels, Michael M. (January 2011). The Union Pacific Centennial Locomotive. South Platte Press. 
  2. ↑ Strack, Don. "Union Pacific DDA40X Centennial Locomotives". Retrieved 7 April 2011. 
  3. ↑ Witten, Lee. "Locomotives: UP 6916". Retrieved 7 April 2011. 
  4. ↑ "Wes". "Union Pacific Centennials". Retrieved 7 April 2011. 
  5. ↑ Weeks, John A. "DDA40X-The Centennial Survivors". Retrieved 7 April 2011. 
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