Union Pacific Heritage Fleet

The Union Pacific Heritage Fleet includes commemorative and historic equipment owned by the Union Pacific Railroad. The fleet currently consists of two historic steam locomotives, three historic diesel locomotives, seventeen modern diesel locomotives in historic or commemorative paint schemes and nearly four dozen passenger cars used on office car specials and excursion trains.
Steam locomotives.
Since 1960, the Union Pacific has operated steam locomotives on a variety of excursions. These include:
Steam operations helper.
UP 4015: a EMD SD70M, assigned to steam operations as the dedicated helper unit to the steam locomotives. No. 4015 operates behind the water cars, providing positive train control data to screens on No. 4014 and additional motive force to the train as necessary. It is painted in a heritage livery with a green nose and silver trucks, which pay homage to the paint scheme worn by E9s 949, 951, and 963B.
Historic diesel locomotives.
UP 949, 951 and 963B are a trio of streamlined General Motors Electro-Motive Division E9 passenger locomotives built in 1955. They are used to haul the UP business cars during excursions and charter specials. Originally built in 1955, the original twin 1,200-hp 12-cylinder 567 series engines have been replaced with single EMD 16-645E 2000 hp (1.5 MW) engines and the electrical and control equipment similarly upgraded, making them more compatible with more modern locomotives. The set is made of two A units and one B unit, the latter which contains an HEP engine-generator set for powering passenger cars. They are painted in a historic paint scheme that Union Pacific Streamliners wore on such trains as the City of San Francisco and the City of Los Angeles. The two A units have been modified to eliminate the nose doors to increase safety in a collision.
UP 951 has carried its original number since its entry into service. UP 949 was built with its current number, but later was sent to the Chicago and North Western Railway and Regional Transportation Authority as CNW/RTA #511 before being reacquired by the UP. UP 963B was built as UP E9B 970B and served as a heater car on Amtrak upon its formation before being reacquired by the UP.
The locomotives last ran in 2017. Since then, they have remained stored in the roundhouse at Cheyenne, WY, awaiting wheel work.
Modern locomotives with special paint schemes.
Heritage paint schemes.
Six EMD SD70ACe locomotives are painted in the liveries of railroads acquired by Union Pacific. The company says the locomotives "pay homage to those railroads and the generations of men and women who helped to build a great nation and the foundation for our future".
Community service paint schemes.
Six locomotives are painted to honor various people, organizations and sports events:
Five locomotives painted to honor sports events, one organization, a military victory and a U.S. president have been retired or repainted in standard Union Pacific livery:
Passenger cars.
The Union Pacific operates a fleet of passenger cars that are often used for excursions and office car specials. Originally ordered by a variety of railroads, the oldest dates to 1912, but most were built in the mid-20th century, at the height of passenger train service. The fleet also carries a variety of important people, such as presidents, senators, generals, soldiers, artists, architects, singers and actors.
Rolling stock acquisition by RRHMA.
On April 28, 2022, Union Pacific announced that several pieces of equipment from their Heritage Fleet roster would be donated to the Railroading Heritage of Midwest America (RRHMA), a non-profit organization in Silvis, Illinois. The full list of equipment being donated includes three main pieces:
Besides the three locomotives, other pieces of equipment being donated include an unrestored E9B locomotive, four coaches, a diner lounge car, two business cars, a baggage car, and a caboose.
RRHMA has plans to eventually restore the No. 3985 and 5511 steam locomotives to operating condition, with the No. 3985 to be restored first. As part of the deal, the Union Pacific has the option to reclaim the equipment at any time upon reimbursing the museum for its costs. On May 13, 2022, RRHMA launched a fundraiser to raise enough money for the restoration of the Nos. 3985 and 5511 steam locomotives. The first five cars were moved to Silvis in August 2022, while the rest of the donated equipment were moved to their new home in November 2022. By January 2023, restoration efforts on the No. 3985 were underway.