UP Wimmer Engineering Special

Every now and then, Union Pacific runs inspection specials – nothing unusual. However, yesterday I got word that the latest of these trains – the Wimmer Engineering Special (hereafter referred to as the Special or just W.E.S., as the full name is just too darn long)- would be running over the Moffat from Helper, UT, to Denver, CO, and then over the Joint Line to Pueblo, CO, on Wednesday, Aug 13, 2003. Better yet, the power for the train was UP 6936 – the only remaining operational DD40AX “Centennial” unit. Since I kind of had the afternoon off of work anyway, I decided it might be fun to catch.

Originally expected in Denver by 1400h, it didn’t even come close to making its schedule. According to the dispatcher, it didn’t even enter the tunnel until around 1500h, and even then I didn’t see it until 1605h at milepost 23. For those unfamiliar with the area, MP23 is just above the Colorado 72 bridge, and just down from Tunnel 1 on the Moffat. Fortunately, I had a couple of trains to keep me from boredom in the meantime, but once I’d gotten 6936 at MP23, it was off for Leyden. With the late afternoon traffic in Denver, I only beat it to Leyden by a minute or two at most, and then turned around and headed for C-470 to beat it down to the Joint Line.

Once on the Joint Line (delayed slightly by a traffic jam), a slow southbound coal drag, lead by BNSF 5600, clarified that the Special hadn’t yet gotten ahead of me. There was no way that coal train could have made it as far as it had and still let the Special out in front – the special had to be behind it. Sure enough, while watching the southbound load, 6936 called in as just having passed Littleton. This coal train was to be a blessing and a curse for the rest of the day. On one hand, it made chasing the Special extremely easy because it slowed it down to a ridiculously slow speed. This allowed for shots near Louviers, then again at Sedalia (which didn’t turn out), and again three different times around Castle Rock. On the other hand, it eventually stalled, preventing the Special from making it much past Castle Rock, CO, in the daylight. Eventually, long after sundown, 6936 was even required as a helper to push BNSF 5600 and a loaded coal drag over Palmer Divide, though I didn’t personally see it.

There’s not much more to say – just a fun day out in beautiful weather chasing a rather unusual locomotive and train. Enjoy!

This one spooked me - I was on the phone with work when I heard a rumbling sound that I thought was probably the Wimmer Engineering Special. I grabbed the camera and prepared for one of those non-ideal grab-and-go shots, when in reality all I got was UP 7301 leading what I think was the MGJNY down into Denver. — This one spooked me – I was on the phone with work when I heard a rumbling sound that I thought was probably the Wimmer Engineering Special. I grabbed the camera and prepared for one of those non-ideal grab-and-go shots, when in reality all I got was UP 7301 leading what I think was the MGJNY down into Denver.

The next train through was this westbound empty. There was a work train up at Plain, so this one held back short of Blue Mountain. Upon the Special's approach, however, the work train went into the house track and this empty pulled into the siding at Plain. Here it is crossing Colorado 72. — The next train through was this westbound empty. There was a work train up at Plain, so this one held back short of Blue Mountain. Upon the Special’s approach, however, the work train went into the house track and this empty pulled into the siding at Plain. Here it is crossing Colorado 72.

And, of course, the DPUs on the back of the empty, pushing uphill towards Tunnel 1.

Finally, the Special appears from Tunnel 1, coasting downhill towards milepost 23.

Having never seen 6936 on a train before, I must say that's one huge diesel. — Having never seen 6936 on a train before, I must say that’s one huge diesel.

A view from the back of the unit, nothing all that special.

Just a shot of the Wimmer Special rounding the curve over Colo 72.

And finally, the business end of the whole thing - inspection car Fox River. — And finally, the business end of the whole thing – inspection car Fox River.

After running back to the car and driving for a bit to get ahead of it, I caught up with it again at the east end of Leyden.

Another Leyden shot... — Another Leyden shot…

Descending into Denver proper - what a view from that back window! — Descending into Denver proper – what a view from that back window!

Since I took C-470 out and around Denver, I had no idea whether I was ahead or behind the Special by the time I got to Big Lift - and then I saw this guy. This slow-moving coal load helped reassure me that there was no way the Special had gotten ahead of me. Seen here near Louviers, BNSF 5600 (NOT one of the new AC4400s, but one of the original three) leads three other SD70MACs south - rather slowly. It's now 1737h. — Since I took C-470 out and around Denver, I had no idea whether I was ahead or behind the Special by the time I got to Big Lift – and then I saw this guy. This slow-moving coal load helped reassure me that there was no way the Special had gotten ahead of me. Seen here near Louviers, BNSF 5600 (NOT one of the new AC4400s, but one of the original three) leads three other SD70MACs south – rather slowly. It’s now 1737h.

Later we'll learn that this little MAC is going to be nothing but a serious pain in the rear for the rest of the trip. — Later we’ll learn that this little MAC is going to be nothing but a serious pain in the rear for the rest of the trip.

Sure enough, only twenty minutes later 6936 and the Special showed up at the crossing.

Based on how long it took BNSF 5600 to arrive at Castle Rock, I thought maybe they'd pulled it into Orsa to allow the passenger train around. However, nearly an hour after passing Louviers, 5600 came into view moving very, very slowly at 1842h. — Based on how long it took BNSF 5600 to arrive at Castle Rock, I thought maybe they’d pulled it into Orsa to allow the passenger train around. However, nearly an hour after passing Louviers, 5600 came into view moving very, very slowly at 1842h.

Can't we go any faster? Turns out, no, no we can't. The trailing MAC has up and died, and the load is struggling up grade with only 3 motors online. — Can’t we go any faster? Turns out, no, no we can’t. The trailing MAC has up and died, and the load is struggling up grade with only 3 motors online.

Not far behind, of course, was 6936, having been traveling on yellows and reds right behind.

While it was causing nothing but frustration for the UP crew and passengers, I'm sure, I'm rather glad BNSF threw a crawler in front of it. It kept the Special's speed down to something that could easily be followed and outrun. — While it was causing nothing but frustration for the UP crew and passengers, I’m sure, I’m rather glad BNSF threw a crawler in front of it. It kept the Special’s speed down to something that could easily be followed and outrun.

6936 departing Castle Rock in the late evening sunlight.

Like I said earlier, it's an impressive machine when experienced in person. — Like I said earlier, it’s an impressive machine when experienced in person.

All the observers have apparently given up for other activities.

As the light faded for the day, the crew of 5600 as well as the BNSF trainmaster were fighting to get the train moving again after it stalled near the Tomah Road exit

All shots in this trip report were taken with a Canon EOS 10D with a Canon 28-105mm USM or a Canon 75-300mm f4-5.3 IS/USM.

This work is copyright 2024 by Nathan D. Holmes, but all text and images are licensed and reusable under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike license. Basically you’re welcome to use any of this as long as it’s not for commercial purposes, you credit me as the source, and you share any derivative works under the same license. I’d encourage others to consider similar licenses for their works.