Union Pacific DDA40X 6936 on Inspection Train in Texas

[@W5KVV]

I was the conductor on this train from MK386 (Parsons KS) to MK566 (McAlester OK). Truely an awesome trip. Green lights all the way!

[@ZachPumphery]

Must have been about April 2008. I shot pictures of this thing between Kansas City and Parsons (around Parker, KS, actually) on the old Katy back then.

[@W5KVV]

Yes sir that was it. It was a great ride. The engineer on the trip was Mr. Scott Piva. He handled her quite well considering we were instructed to "proceed to 70mph with minimal deviation" once we cleared the south end of Parsons. This motor made 70mph in 3rd notch for the majority of the trip.

[@bintangalind.dzifari8976]

big jak dead

[@darliskawhitaker1979]

Really 😊.

[@elr2141979]

this is my favorite locomotive of all time.

[@railfan101productions7]

elr2141979 I would agree for sure on that one

[@owennnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnn]

elr2141979 me to

[@TrainmasterCurt]

U.S one for sure! Other than it’s steam grandpa the 4-8-8-4 Big Boy 4014

[@KaciCooperations]

@@TrainmasterCurt and it is a biggest steam train ever lol

[@tracksidequeen]

RS3L

[@devernepersonal3636]

14 years later and this is still the best video ever made of the 6936 and still one of the best videos on youtube of railfaning.

[@Major_Tom98]

That RS3L sounds great!

[@mafarnz]

That horn is a perfict fit for that beast of a locomotive. Nice video.

[@TrainmasterCurt]

Sounds even better with a Nathan M-5

[@cmadden3364]

But back in 1971 it has a rs5t that it was made in 1956

[@vincentsaunders4773]

It's a theatre seating inspection car (the Idaho) where the Corp managers check out the plant as they roll along. Hence the large "picture window." This train is what's known as an inspection train.

[@zdthelehighlinerailfan5362]

Nice... 16 years later i still love this Video when i was a kid!!

[@ZachPumphery]

I still love this video--6 years later!

[@esftracksydeomg]

Hello from 6 years in the future!

[@andruwingram848]

Still love this comment 6 years later

[@ZachPumphery]

@@andruwingram848 I do still love this video though.

[@NickValdezRRPhotography]

That horn is THUNDEROUS!!!! with the new C45ACs had that kind

[@GTRailroadVideos]

That engine is both awesome and scary at the same time...Great shots of this sole survivor of this engine type! 5*****!

[@TrainedKiller35]

UP 6900-6946 were the only DDA40X's built, which makes 47 total. 6936 is the last remaining operational example of the largest diesel locomotive ever built.

[@markong8322]

5:43 Car Horn

[@611isthebest]

It's a car honking like a train lol

[@ThatCubKid]

Nope it’s the rear cars horn

[@StocktonSubber]

ye P Kinda like a Cab Car

[@muhammadchalidafin5644]

Why American train always slow moving hmmmm is like A snail hahah! 😅😅😅😅😅😏😏😏😏😏😏😏😏😏

[@willberestartingthischanne9984]

It’s Cab Car

[@Blaze06]

One of the best train videos I watched in preschool 👌🏻

[@irelandbloke]

Super shots !

[@Gitbizy]

That has got to be the loudest horn that I’ve ever heard... I watch a lot of trains but that horn sounds like it would blow my ears out... and the engineer does seem to be very horn happy

[@Redeagle52000]

I've run this unit, as well as the E9s. As can be seen in certain sections where it is bouncing while the psgr cars are stable, it's one of the roughest-riding locos on the system...and the class was while new (in addition to the GP40X) due the the unique trucks. But it is a powerhouse with tremendous acceleration and geared for 90 MPH. It exceeds two Amtrak F40PHs in performance. It's an awesome feeling to get this thing barely rolling and haul the throttle out the peg and accelerate!

[@ironhorsemedia2881]

Must’ve been awesome!

[@wrailfan]

@ Chillermg91 The reason the engineer is using the horn repeatedly is because the videographer is taking this video at various grade crossings. Fairly easy to hear the crossing bells before the train arrives. 5*, love the DDA40X!

[@KSE828]

Nice quality and finally someone who uses a tripod!! Good work.

[@GMTX-kg8ep]

They did this in Mount Vernon, Illinois years ago for the Operation Lifesaver run.

[@vincentsaunders4773]

Another thing most people don't know is that not many months after this video was taken, the 6936 was involved at a grade crossing accident near Little Rock in which gravel filled dump truck was struck in the crossing by the locomotive, one of the crew was killed and the front access door caved in allowing some of the trucks load to fill inside the cab. After that, all doors were redesigned to open "outwardly' to avoid a repeat of this event.

[@ZachPumphery]

Uh, no. The collision happened several years before this video was made.

[@SWTexan82]

excellent video, that final shot in the sunset is great

[@amtrakrules52]

What A Hell Of A Horn! Great Job!

[@rajappanpk9569]

This is my favourite locomotive of all time.

[@Hickler90]

Nice sounding Leslie on that thing, good looking engine too, good thing its still around.

[@yambo59]

Saw a DD40 on static display at the museum of transportation in Missouri, what a beast-! 98 ft long! I looked on wikipedia, and said it wasnt uncommon for 3 & 4 of these to be lashed up to pull trains of enormous length &/or up grades if needed! That would give an available 26,400 HP-! --What couldnt you pull??That SD90 is a great looking unit also, EMD's are one of my favorites, Im also a fan of the old "F" unit streamliners as I used to ride the Illinois central passenger as a kid.

[@BNSFBJ]

Sup, Dang this is by far the best video on KZbin that I have seen to date of 6936 in all her glory....This "beast" still blows my frickin mind away every time I see it and man did you do one hell of an awesome job to show off her mightiness with this kickass video....Get R Done Brotha,Get R Done!!!! 5 Stars and Added to My Favs Bud....Man What an Awesome Machine!!!! Bryan

[@thomasavensjr.2790]

The last remaining member of the Union Pacific rr dda40x class locomotives in active service the 6936 was an enjoyable sight to observe in operation. Hopefully in the future the UP 6936 will make a return to service again after receiving maintenance from the Silvis, Illinois railroad repair shops as this engine is a unique locomotive as the "Centennials" were only operated & purchased by the Union Pacific rr. These dda40x engines are also the longest and had the most horsepower ( 6600 hp) of any single diesel engine ever built, I am glad that the UP preserved 13 examples of the Centennial type diesel engines for public display observation.

[@airthreypark]

Absolutely awesome!

[@W7ENK]

Good Lord, that thing is a monster! Nice video ... it's amazing what a tripod will do for you. Thanks for posting.

[@Ferromexfan4081]

2:41

[@fishinggeek3121]

I remember driving thru Colorado and up on a hill that had this and big boy next to each other I will never forget how big thay are

[@trainchaserlouisvilleindia7096]

This engine is at the Illinois terminal railway museum btw

[@MichiganCentralLines]

not quite a cabcar just an inspection car with a horn that the conductor can control

[@Ferrocarril_Chicago]

Awesome! Love that RS3L on that DDA40X!

[@cmadden3364]

or they will put a rs5t on it that makes it better

[@TexasandPacific]

I have not seen this locomotive before but I heard that Union Pacific is restoring it to its operational condition

[@lexmarks567]

do the locomotives have seatbelts on the seats or no. on city buses the seats ride on a air cushion and you can see the driver go up and down with the bumps in the road.

[@TspesVladD]

Awesome video! Great shots.

[@ryherdbuckmaster]

Nice video! Nothing like seeing her doing track speed! She is a brute!

[@droopydiesel7928]

Awesome video I love that RS3L

[@davidng2336]

6936 has since left the Union Pacific heritage fleet. It is now owned by the Railroading Heritage of Midwest American in Silvis, Illinois. Don’t worry though! Once they repair it, 6936 will be running again!

[@snickpickle]

Quite the ride on that one stretch of track! GREAT video -- thanks for sharing it! :-)

[@marykneisler-gillis7370]

I don't know why people call this horn "awful" it's a beautiful RS3L

[@Mr6stringchaos]

I grew up around the Santa Fe and the UP. The RS3L horn was an all too familiar sound. I miss hearing them.

[@Angry.General1461]

How come I never see the DDA40X pull them long coal cars????

[@rg823v]

ikr

[@jslasher1]

The route of the MP "Valley Eagle" and "Pioneer." Last travelled on this route in 1964. The track was in good condition back then.

[@mafarnz]

A DDA40X is basically two GP40's under a common frame. It has two prime motors (645E's, both putting out 3300 HP), each with it's own generator that supply power to four axles (one truck). It also has the precursors to EMD's -2 line of electronic controls

[@christophercarey3232]

mafarnz plus the wide cab.

[@ml66b]

Wow. That loco sure does bounce!

[@CSXEMDTrainLover]

Awesome train video

[@BOXAXIU]

Hmmm, yeah RS3L sound nice but . . . Nathan M5 makes it even better!!

[@christophercarey3232]

Nah a Leslie RS5TRRO would be more like it.

[@BOXAXIU]

Christopher Carey No doubt, but the first time i saw this loco i listened whistling with the the m5, so im sticking with that haha

[@brancarr1]

I would agree. It's amazing sounding ?v=sRJETYYloGg

[@AlexTrain5249]

Does 6930 ring a bell?

[@jmream2618]

NAH k5la would sound better on it

[@hakeemsd70m]

Does the DDA40X use twin 645 diesel engines? I love that S3L. Edit: RS3L

[@Nec1228]

the reason they use the DD40X for the inspection train is because of its unique suspention. when it hits a bump, it bucks the entire train around. I dont remember where i heard that, possible the history channel but the guy who said it was UP's chief inspector.

[@dtruitt281]

I live down the street from that first shot in houston woulda loved to see this

[@OmahaTom]

Excellent shots, good chasing!

[@SynchroScore]

Union Pacific: Wanting bigger toys than all the other kids since 1943!

[@irondiamondrailproductions9038]

More like 1926, when the 9000s were first built!

[@Vxllain]

When I was younger I always thought this was two engines coupled together

[@DL2045]

the hopping at 3:53 will satisfy the inspection crew.

[@willberestartingthischanne9984]

3:53

[@SynchroScore]

@golfurguy It did crash into a dump truck a few years back, perhaps they replaced it then. I dunno...

[@k5elevencinc0]

Yeah ive seen that on a few CN units too, haven't seen them on CP either.

[@wertpollwert]

This guy chose this career not to drive trains, but to blow the horn.

[@Redeagle52000]

While the 6936 remains geared for 90 MPH (just like the A-B-A set of E9s), the UP System Special Instructions currently has the DD40AX, the E9s, as well as the two large steam locos 844 and 3985 limited to 79 MPH. But, as far as there being a "danger factor," not really as ride quality isn't correlated to being "derailment prone."

[@Redeagle52000]

Union Pacific VP of Engineering Doug Wimmer isn't the only high-ranking official that uses the 6936 (or the executive E9s), and I'm not sure what his "system schedule" is for 2010, but I do know that the DD40AX has been to KC many times, and will be through there again at some point.

[@PineValleyDigital]

Excellent Video! Good Job. PLAY IT LOUD!

[@TrailwaysTransit]

THE DDA40X was delivered in time to participate in the celebrations of the centennial anniversary of the completion of the transcontinental railroad by driving a golden spike at Promontory Summit, Utah. UP wanted to make a modern version of the big boy

[@lt1caprice57l]

The M5 in a couple other videos was owned by an individual and UP allowed it to be mounted for that event - that's my understanding.

[@Ferromexfan4081]

What type of horn does Union Pacific 6936 have?

[@ZachPumphery]

Leslie RS-3L.

[@willberestartingthischanne9984]

Same As The Coaster F40PH

[@FFred-us9tw]

@@willberestartingthischanne9984 Coaster F40's used the K5LA. Not a 3 chime Leslie.

[@shadowknight227]

what is the horn on this beast?

[@orionsanchez6636]

shadowknight227 Leslie RS3L or S3L

[@Preston19990]

What is the City on first minute at this film?

[@BKNPhotography]

Wow this was 12 years ago!

[@Dinosorable]

@TrainedKiller35 Why aren't they making anymore of them?

[@SynchroScore]

@ronthecyborg We've got one in Union. Along with a gas turbine and one of their rotaries.

[@ZachPumphery]

Very nice production...looks like you actually tried, unlike most of the crap that you see on here. Awesome video, I shot some stills of it today in Kansas. I don't pretend to be a videographer, so I don't usually try.

[@SunsetConductor]

Nice! I was at this exact same location (opening scene) last Saturday (11/10/12) and shot the Galveston RR Museum F-Units as they rolled by on the OTHER track (closest to the building). I did not video this location, but I will have stills from it on Railroad Archives website in a few days. I did upload 4 of the videos that I shot from that day at other locations along the Santa Fe Tracks enroute to Galveston.

[@thealmightydoge5653]

Awesome!

[@shostetler]

would it be too much to get a video of it somewhere else other than a crossing?

[@kelbym07]

It's funny that they would put the heaviest diesel on a track inspection train. Awesome assortment of shots of a great loco.

[@Hail2Pitt412]

@ 5:44 is that the final car of the train the Idahp making that noise cause if it as a cab cant it drive the train its self from destination to destination? besides if so why would they need Centennial 6936 to take the train? besides that great video!! also i remember 4 or 5 years ago i could have sworne i had seen a CSX Centennial helping shove a 339 car Coke train from Monesson, PA somewhere down the Monogahela but it must have because it was about hte size of 2 AC-6000-CW's it was gone soon:X

[@Snowlep337]

You can literally see the frame of the dd40 bounce... that frame is not long for this world.

[@GregHool]

Nice job keeping up with them. I'm sure it wasn't the easiest thing to do. Great footage.

[@HalomasterA69]

U ever think ill be able to operate her? This is my favorite locomotive, man my dream is to just take ove rand push the throttle forward and watch this baby move, i hope that dream comes true...

[@ZachPumphery]

Well, first of all you pull the throttle towards you to increase it. Pushing it forward closes it.

[@virginiarailfannoah5415]

It's a diesel, so it shouldn't be hard to restore her. I think railroads should start using early diesel to pull excursions alongside steam.

[@BIGT6851]

i was wondering how many DDA40X's where made?

[@CatonsvilleCentralRwy]

Does the DD40X at 3:04 have an RS-3L or an RS-5T?

[@ZachPumphery]

RS-3L.

[@MrOtiuqsoM]

Thank you.

[@golfurguy]

Why is there a Leslie RS3 on the loco in this video and a Nathan M5 on it in most other videos? If they just switched it was there a reason for it?? Great work btw!

[@billyboi57]

CSX does not have the EMD Centennial. They were made on special order only for the Union Pacific.

[@ZachPumphery]

That's a Leslie S-3LR. Nathan AirChime made the the M, P, and K series horns.

[@neworder18]

Nice video, but could you film it somewhere where you're not a crossing? I want to listen to the motors of that epic beast, but can't because the engineer is laying on the horn long and loud.

[@est86leo]

Did any of these DD locos ever pull any manifest or stacks? JW

[@MusicMath123]

Last shoot in sunset is a win!

[@yambo59]

I was looking at some of the info on the design of the Deltics diesel engine, its one of a kind- quite unusually clever. The opposed "W" cylinder arrangement is the wierdest thing Ive ever seen!! Its not a V, its not inline, you can see it on YT video, if you like unusual mechanical design check it out. They really sound odd when first started up, theres also video of that on Y-tube. Seems like theyre a bit harder to get started than most -

[@rg823v]

3:27-3:32 What is that sound? Edit: I know its the horn, i was a dumb kid at the time like lol

[@JMVvideosByDjMarty]

The horn from engine

[@rg823v]

Wow looking back at this comment, I must’ve been a complete idiot

[@unionpacificrailfan783]

Union Pacific Train horn

[@АлександрМорозов-р1п]

Уникальное видео. Просто Супер на 100 балов.

[@Dinosorable]

@WPRR1 They don't make them anymore?

[@Higgen007]

if you look closly between 3:46 and 3:58 you can see that the cowcatcher almost hits the rails...so that locomotive is bouncing a good 2 to 4 inches...

[@Redeagle52000]

Oh, sure, they run it on a periodic basis (as they do the vintage E9 passenger diesels and the two large steamers 844 and 3985...all of which have videos on here). The 6936 is the favored unit for the "Wimmer Specials" around the system, for the VP of Engineering Doug Wimmer who prefers this unit leading his 10-to-15 car passenger specials he makes annually to inspect (with his team) the track conditions of the entire system.

[@FlyBikes089]

Great video!

[@crapper1]

u think she will stay in service for a very long time?

[@OStrip]

beast!

[@CountVonBoco]

As Amtraklover stated below me, These units are Longer, Heavier, And geared for freight service. Plus, your "deltics" freight or passenger, manage only 20-30 cars at a time? This thing alone manages no less than 80 by itself.

[@BNSFACE]

Its wild for a loco to be caught when 8t was involved 8n a crash in 2000

[@mafarnz]

@moonwalker5058 The M5 belonged to the WP Museum (In Portola CA), and not the UP. That, and M5's are a maintenance pain in the ass.

[@kjfitzgerald593]

Nice work! That must have taken a lot of effort to get in place at each crossing just in time!

[@KSE828]

From 3:30-3:58 the train is bouncing around like crazy!!