Have you ever noticed that SD40-2 without dynamic brakes, or the B23-7 with the distinctive rear hood passing by on your local UP line? It's a good bet they both share a MoPac heritage. There's a way to find out -see the information below. Print the chart out and take it along with you on your next train-chasing trip. Happy Hunting!

Roster Updated with Jan. 1, 2001 data. Currently UP is still in the process of re-numbering each model - all locomotives are expected to be completed by 2002.

Former MoPac 2254 pauses between jobs at its Union, Nebraska yard. The GP38-2 has been newly re-numbered by Union Pacific. 3/31/01

UP Locomotive Renumbering 1999-2002
Union Pacific December 1999-2002 Renumbering Plan - Source:UPRR and Don Strack

Just before Christmas 1999, a UP hump engine bearing the reporting marks "UPY" rolled out of North Little Rock's paint shop, the first to bear new road marks for low-horsepower units and part of a larger effort to renumber morethan 3,000 locomotives.

The effort involves changing the road marks on CNW, DRGW, SP and SSW road units to "UP," he said. All switcher-type units, plus hump engines andGP15s, will be assigned "UPY" reporting marks. Most of these units also will have new road numbers assigned.

The accelerated renumbering is expected to take up to three years.

The National Motor Freight Traffic Association (NMFTA) granted UP a one-time, special exemption for the new UPY reporting marks designation, tobe applied to about 700 switchers, GP15s and SD38-2s. That, in turn, freesup 673 UP number slots for road units.

Information on the reporting marks and renumbering project will be made available, probably on the UP Employee website.