LAST of The Chicago, and North Western Twins!

The last remaining Chicago, and North Western locomotives on the Union Pacific were known as 'The Twins'. In their last years of operation, they were commonly paired together, and operated in various places on The Union Pacific.
In this video, we'll see the last times I caught The Twins together, once just CNW 8646, and a view of UP 1995 - The CNW Heritage Unit! We'll start with CNW 8701 and CNW 8646 getting ready to go at South Paul, at Belt Yard. Once they get moving, we'll see them at last light screaming up hill, and towards Wisconsin. After this, we'll see the 8646 leading a vehicle train on the BNSF, and roaring west on The Staples Sub, To cap it off, we'll see UP 1995, a Heritage Unit, working its way up The Spine Line.
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#train #railway #history ‪@unionpacific‬
Any use of this content without expressed, clear permission is prohibited. For usage, licensing, and other usage, contact me on Instagram at SD457500.
Copyright 2024 Douglas Hildebrandt, all rights reserved.

[@bluestarproductions2033]

the fact that the conductor even said CNW 8701 shows that he knew about their heritage

[@donovanjreed]

They were unpatched and running with CNW reporting marks. Everyone said CNW without a second thought…

[@davidstewart5694]

No. You must repeat the TA as it's read out by the disp. Reporting marks plus number are required fields in TAs or then TWs. Technically the disp should've voided that one from his slip up and started a new one.

[@burdizdawurd1516Official]

​@@davidstewart5694Actually no, "UP 8701" is an SD70ACe, a different locomotive. These C&NW units are not patched for the UP (no UP reporting mark anywhere on that locomotive). CNW is the correct reporting mark. And to others - dispatcher is not recognizing heritage for the sake of it, that's how the locomotive is identified to avoid a dangerous duplication issue when rosters merge: When railroads merge, they don't immediately patch everything. That's 10s of thousands of locomotives and 100s of thousands of cars potentially across the continent. Instead, they keep old reporting marks until equipment can be patched or repainted. CPKC didn't get the spray can and patch every cab on their roster when they merged recently: their locomotives are still CP and KCS until they get remarked or repainted. This is to avoid potential duplication across rosters. If the dispatcher had given the TWC to UP 8701, that's a different locomotive, an SD70ACe www.rrpicturearchives.net/Locopicture.aspx?id=161610 Roster merging takes time and careful planning, so old reporting marks stick around for years. And those marks often get used for new purposes. NYC is a mark used on some of CSX's gondolas despite the New York Central folding into... we won't talk about that monstrosity.

[@yankeesforlife24]

I mean it wouldn’t have had up on the inside of the cab or any up markings so it still was CNW 8701.

[@BNSF1458]

Such a shame that stuff like this is nothing more than memories now

[@Amtrak_P32_712]

“it’s just a burning, memory….”

[@syko-blud]

The fact that the CNW Twins out lived the 1995 merger for 22 yrs is fascinating. Many people wish the Illinois Railway Museum could've acquired them before they got repainted, since they were stored on the museum grounds a few times beforehand, and also took part in their Diesel Days events.

[@TexasRailfan21-RailfanRyan]

I just hope we get one of these Dash eight or dash nine locomotives preserved at the Illinois Railroad Museum

[@STC987]

I grew up watching these trains pass by my house. This brings back fond memories. Still my favorite engines of all time. Thanks for posting!!

[@ottergoose]

Man, tough to beat those lightning stripes with the malt hoppers behind them - strong nostalgia!

[@blackhillsandeasternrailroad]

Time flies. That 2006 CNW heritage unit is no longer in new paint. Still ultra-modern to this guy who bleeds BN green! Nice video!!!

[@SD457500]

Time really does FLY when you look back at! It actually was repainted again in the last few years, and the other UP heritage units received fresh paint too. Thanks for watching!

[@SP4449Railfan]

Great photography of those classic twins! 👍

[@user-qr7ee2cp4y]

C&nw are so nostalgic... them, soon, an Burlington northern will always be near and dear...

[@ScottsRailroadVideos]

very nice video! gotta love those old C&NW units! Greetings from the netherlands! :)

[@SD457500]

Thank you very much! I miss this type of power in the area, and its hard to think how fast time has melted by. Appreciate the kind words!

[@ScottsRailroadVideos]

@@SD457500 no problem! i got this channel reccomended too me by my very close friend in MN! :)

[@kvcroff]

Hey bro, talked about the BN a few days ago...... Your videos are amazing, catching tho ol birds fly is really cool. Keep up the great work!!!!!!!!

[@lexpo181]

As in the CNW time, running on the left side. That's a fun fact. Great video Douglas, love those very rare kind of footage you share :D

[@RAtheGoodRailfanner_888]

So cool!

[@SD457500]

Thanks for watching; glad you enjoyed it!

[@Heritage_railfan]

I saw your Facebook post on this lol! Great video new sub here!!!

[@user-nr3wb5ue8k]

As the CNWRHS put it in a book of theirs, I do so miss the " raccoon 🦝" years!

[@MarcEdsall]

Great video very nice I guess you could say they took some Artistic liberties with that heritage unit Looks good though

[@truckerkevthepaidtourist]

And over 15 years ago the last of the Griswold pedestals that used to dot that whole line

[@mackdoyle8673]

That's very old school

[@armandoperez7967]

I hope one of these is restored to as delivered condition and preserved.

[@trainkidasher9731]

4:28 those are some pretty historic gates!

[@SD457500]

That they were! Knowing what I know now, I wish I had shot those more before they got replaced. Thanks for watching!

[@SignalMan9292]

4:07 the railroad crossing lights are making me infuriated.

[@NC_YT_123]

That’s probably due a low battery in the relay box

[@TPNWR10]

The units 8701 and 8646 were renumbered to UP numbers 9805 and 9750. UP 9805 was rebuilt to C44ACM by converting DC traction motors with new AC motors in late 2023.

[@SD457500]

At least ONE of them will be around for a while longer then. Imagine UP repainting, and renumbering it, back into CNW colors someday!

[@davidstewart5694]

Nicely composed footage unlike so much stuff online. I got them at proviso in January 2010.

[@SD457500]

Thank you so very much for the kind words about the video, and glad you enjoyed it! Glad you were able to get them back in the day, prior to them being repainted.

[@UP6706_Central_Iowa_Railfan]

you forgot about 6706 (ex CNW 8804) that is patched, but still wearing it's OLS scheme

[@doubleutubefan5]

there's still a cnw paint (patched) units rolling around Chicago

[@SD457500]

I think that patched unit is an AC44? I think one or two patched units still roam the rails, but no unpatched units still operate on the UP. Thanks for watching!

[@trainwreck4198]

That particular unit 9650 has Ben rebuilt into a C44ACM

[@SD457500]

Has it been? Do you have a link for more info about it? It's interesting to keep tabs on what happens to these locomotives over time.

[@Oliverv715]

Great video. I caught the 8646 and CSX 547 (same train shown in your video) in Spokane, Washington.

[@SD457500]

Oh that's neat! The 8646 really made it all over the place before being stored. Thanks for watching!

[@djtrainman2]

There is still one left in the cnw original colors and is still active in 2024. 6706 is the last one

[@SD457500]

That unit is patched out though, right?

[@NotSoLazyKuna]

At one point The CNW Twins were actually stored at the “Illinois Railroad Museum”

[@SD457500]

That they were! My understanding is that they got a lot of TLC from IRM during their stay there. It would be nice if they made their way back to IRM someday, and in CNW colors.

[@kennyt1674]

Wow

[@dcarpine28]

W Griswold Crossing

[@MattTheUPRailfan2006]

I seen 9805 leading WB out of Livonia about 5 times...😊

[@NateHarmony-wz5gh]

I got to see this in PA and it was sad to see it looking the way it was

[@TexasRailfan21-RailfanRyan]

4:00 the lights on those Griswold gate signals are frozen they’re not alternating back-and-forth

[@bmwtravel1100]

Highball! BTW what radio frequency were you monitoring?

[@EpicRails]

@uprr, bring ‘em back, please.

[@Railfanlukin]

We only got 6706 and up 1995 and there going to re pant 6706 into a up😭

[@arlingtontrains7]

Sadly 8804 is now UP 6706 patched, still in cnw scheme as far as I know of

[@RTC730]

6706 was CNW 8804.

[@arlingtontrains7]

@@RTC730 you are correct, my apologies, I got the numbers mixed

[@RTC730]

@@arlingtontrains7 don’t worry it’s fine

[@JackRisvold]

So cool one's of my favorite train besides soo line.old Milwaukee roads rock I Bnsf cn sp I just saying I just love train fun watch so that said enjoys the trains my rails friend have a great day 🚂🚂🚂🚂🚂🚂🚂🚂🚂🚂🚂🚂🚂🚂🚂🚂🚂🚂🚂🚂🚂🚂🚂🚂🚂🚂🚂🚂

[@BNSFrailfan01]

Now we need enough railfans to get together to be able to track 6706 at all times in its last few weeks/months before being repainted

[@nstrains4001]

4:00 crossing malfunction

[@SD457500]

I was hoping that someone was going to notice that! In retrospect, I should have shot this location more. Those gates, even back then, were old and quite rare. Thanks for watching!

[@AlexThePatriot]

Will one of the twins be saved, and put in a muesum?

[@FreedomRailfan1776]

There both repainted, but I hope one will and be repainted to its former glory

[@AlexThePatriot]

@@FreedomRailfan1776 If we're lucky both will.

[@chrisg7160]

Loved the CNW when i was growing up, one of my favorite railroads. But my very favorite was Mo-Pac and it was nice seeing the old eagle 2164 still operating in its disguise, UP 644. Maybe it can also end up in a museum one day wearing Jenks blue with the CNW twins.

[@SouthernPacificPatch]

@@AlexThePatriot UP 9805 (former CNW 8701) has already been rebuilt into an AC4400CWM, and it wouldn't be surprising to see the UP 9750 (former CNW 8646) receive the same treatment. Definitely no longer museum worthy.

[@CoenOinkeyTrains]

@@SouthernPacificPatchI don’t believe 9750 is part of the rebuild program yet, but I assume that’ll be something in the future. UP is rebuilding 6706 as well, so really no CNW to preserve since they’ll be totally different models.