OMAHA, Neb. – Union Pacific has shared more information on its new “Powered By Our People” SD70ACe No. 1111, which the railroad refers to as its “Employee Pride Locomotive.” It was officially unveiled at a June 6 celebration in Omaha.
Twelve employees at the Jenks Shop in North Little Rock, Ark., contributed the repainting work, which is different on each side of the locomotive.
According to the railroad, the paint design was selected through a system-wide online employee vote, which highlights the unique and diverse employee population while representing the critical crafts and skills that do the work. Artists took a “graphic novel approach,” using solid color pallets, shading techniques, and larger-than-life figures.
The locomotive’s number represents Union Pacific’s goal to be the No. 1 railroad with the No. 1 employees who have the No. 1 safety dedication with one vision – “Building America.”
The railroad has shared a video and photo gallery detailing the paint on the locomotive.
When Union Pacific is laying people off and shutting down facilities how can you paint a locomotive that shows it cares about its people , I mean its a beautiful paint job don’t get me wrong , its sending a mixed message , that it cares but doesn,t really care!
Wow! Union Pacific is waaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaay out in front of the other Class I railroads in its public relations efforts. Most are afraid to spend money on such endeavors, fearing that Wall Street will devalue their quarterly stock performance!
Never underestimate the value of employee morale. You can spend a billion dollars trying to buy good labor-management relations, but it doesn’t cost a dime. Too many rail industry officers will never understand that…
As quoted from what I wrote as the author of O. Winston Link’s STEAM, STEEL & STARS, Robert. H. “Race Horse” Smith, Norfolk & Western’s last steam-era president, held that: “Politeness is the oil that lubricates the wheels of society. Good manners breed good feeling. A group of fellow workers whose contacts with each other are lubricated by good manners and good feeling will be a group which will turn out an attractive product.”
It looks great & seems to cover most of the various aspects of RR work. Since employees had some say on the design, to criticize it would be to criticize the employees. Great job!
Jim N. You mentioned doing a better job with rolling stock appearance. Trouble with that is it won’t take long for it to be vandalized with graffiti. In fact I’d be careful where you tie down this loco, it might get repainted. Especially in the LA area where if you stand still too long you might get tagged.
Launching such locomotives during a massive round of PSR-mandated layoffs sends a curious message.
This is not the place for negative comments when the railroad is honoring its dedicated employees. Pet peeves and merger anger have other places to be discussed. With all the positive things Union Pacific and the other major railroads do, this is the perfect time to acknowledge and thank them for things such as the steam program, especially the 4014, paint schemes honoring and recognizing railroads merged into the system, and so much more. It’s so easy to be critical, lets take the high road and keep it positive.
Please UP…. put some of this effort toward your freight car fleet seen everywhere. Your dull and unimaginative rolling stock is a far cry from the yellow and silver “Automated” days. Railroading appeared far more prosperous in the dark days of the 1960s than the record profit years of today.
What utter nonsense.
The “artwork” is bordering on clip-art from an industrial supply catalog. Nothing recognizably ‘railroad.’
Under the C&NW, swallowed whole by the UP back in 1995, an “1111” was a Safety Rule Violation Notice.
Clueless in Omaha !