Six arrested after looting of UP train in Chicago

Screen-shot image of container on Union Pacific freight train being looted on Oct. 11, 2024

Chicago Austin: CPD dispatched that several freight trains were being burglarized between Cicero and Lockwood. Lots of merchandise taken off trains and loaded into vehicles NBCSky5 has witnessed this. @metra and CPD in the area. Also @Metra delays. Live #NBCSky5 @nbcchicago pic.twitter.com/8zJQhQonqc — Mike Lorber (@NBCSky5) October 11, 2024 CHICAGO — At least six people […]

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UP derailment in Arizona leads to acid spill

Union Pacific logo without slogan. UP Bailey Yard explosion appear to be accidental.

GREEN VALLEY, Ariz. — Twenty-four cars of a Union Pacific train derailed Friday morning, resulting in a spill of sulfuric acid from one tank car, the Arizona Republic reports The incident occurred about 25 miles south of Tucson. No injuries were reported, and the railroad said in a statement to the newspaper that “no waterways […]

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Deciphering railroad lingo

A worker holds a pole next to a steam locomotive moving slowly.

Railroad lingo What is the railroad’s lingo? Utilized mostly by railroaders, it’s a way of speaking among co-workers that involves using railroad terminology, jargon, slang, or argot. Common lingo can vary from one group of individuals to another. Not born of this world, I’ve struggled to understand some of the language the railroad professionals use […]

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Double diesel

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Union Pacific U50C No. 5000 lays over at the railroad’s North Platte, Neb., shop on Jan. 21, 1975. It was one of 40 such units on the railroad in operation from 1969 to 1978. Bruce Barrett photo […]

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RRHMA restoring Union Pacific café diner lounge

Yellow passenger car in shop building

SILVIS, Ill. — Railroading Heritage of Midwest America has begun restoration work on former Union Pacific café-diner-lounge No. 5016. RRHMA is advertising that tours of the car to see work in progress will be offered with the purchase of tickets to the Trains and Tractors event at Silvis Oct. 18 and 19. Plans are to […]

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Class of their own

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In early 1954, Union Pacific 4-12-2 No. 9028 brings a train into North Platte, Neb., from the east. Only UP had 4-12-2s, 88 built during 1926–30, which led to the wheel arrangement being called the Union Pacific type. Art Stensvad photo […]

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Stencils on the rail

Color photo of railroad track with yellow stencil on web of rail.

Q: In all my 74 years of  looking at train tracks this is the first time I noticed a “No trespassing” stencil on the web of the rail of the Union Pacific tracks that run by my home in Fort Dodge, Iowa. I’m curious if this is standard procedure for the UP or if other […]

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