UP 6936 DDA40X (Running) Walk around at the Portola museum Sep 2009

[@Blackscorpion1963]

Excellent vid! I am a little surprised at how simple and relatively uncluttered it is inside the cab. So much power here...an awesome example of the most powerful diesel-electric locomotives in history. Such a privilege and pleasure to watch this. Appreciate, appreciate, and appreciate. It would be excellent to see UP & America restore back to glory as many of Centennials as is possible. Why? History never repeats...

[@LearnWithGern]

@777worldliner Yes but for special events. It may be headed to CA for the winter, don't know for sure yet though.

[@LearnWithGern]

@Trainboy64 This was shot with my Canon 5D Mark II (A camera). I post produced it on my Mac with iMovie '09. A camera isn't the best thing to shoot a movie with since there is no steady shot, but that too can be cleaned up (to a degree) in iMovie.

[@Shane-Singleton]

I am glad the Union Pacific cares enough about the history to restore and keep old yet special units like 6936, 844, 4014, etc. around and running rather than just sitting in a museum somewhere or even worse rusting away on a side rail never to run under their own power again. DDA40X 6913 is in a museum not too far from me but she's in sad shape.

[@aliensporebomb]

Illinois? I've seen it. That would be a great long term project for the museum. I love the Centennials and would love to see that one spruced up and running. I mean if MNS21 (an old time favorite from when I was a kid) can be running in this day and age why not 6913?

[@charleslassiter9251]

WHAT A GREAT VIDEO OF THE UNION PACIFIC DDA40X, A BEHEMOTH OF A MACHINE!!!!! EIGHT-AXLE, DUAL PRIME MOVERS, SILVER-LADEN WHEEL TRUCKS. NOTHING BUT CLASSY, BEAUTIFUL, AND SYMBOLIZES (TO ME) THE GREAT U. S. A.!!!!!!!! EXCELLENT WALK AROUND VIDEO, INDEED!!!!! THANK YOU FOR SHARING!!!!!!

[@palexandersquires]

I now have this engine on my Train Simulator and is the only engine that can climb Sherman Hill without losing speed!

[@tjack63x1]

Theres nothing like standing right next to a big unit like this.To feel the power this to live for.Thank you for this video.

[@LearnWithGern]

@SpeakerPolice It wasn't SP 2873 (Kodachrome), I think it was SP 4404 (I had to go look at some of my pictures)

[@thelegendaryblackbeastofar39]

Wow, what an amazing symphony of sound!!!

[@LearnWithGern]

@Barricade360 It was part of the museum's photographer day. They had several running locos and they ran most of them around.

[@minasgeraisrailways1]

Great. I visited Portola in 2013 and could see 6946 alive. Fantastic locomotive.

[@theodorethompson9032]

So i was working on this unit 2 weeks back. It had an AC ground dead nuts. Well hours later found the AC fridge wired off the top of the GF breaker. Grounded reefer... Who would wire the fridge in such a way?

[@ScottF250]

Great Video! I had the pleasure of viewing one first hand when I was younger, at the Museum of Transportation outside St Louis Missouri, Unit # 6944. Thanks for bringing back some great memories, and providing a Really good video, for those who model the DDA40X's ... Five Stars!

[@TheNWClassA1218]

Cool to see a new modified DD40X back to back with an original DD40X. Nice video.

[@frankmosch877]

This is the biggest badist EMD locomotive built special for the Union Pacific railroad the Union Pacific has always been known and has the reputation of owning the biggest and most powerful with it's twin GP-40 prime movers 8 axils and rated at 6000.600 to 7000.00 HP, this is one badass not to mess with. She's beautiful love the lines and curves this is my favorite fright locomotive, I have one in HO scale, and even that's big compared to my other HO loco,s pretty cool you have actually walk up to one up close and personal,then you would really understand what I'm talking about!!! Frank misssssschief😗😗😗😀😀😀😎😎....thank you

[@SkipW]

Thanks, for the in cab shots!

[@SpeakerPolice]

Ah okay, thanks! I was musing about how cool it would be to see an operating original UP GP30. :3

[@anb740]

These engines LOOK like they could pull a mountain in two. I had the opportunity to climb up on the 6946 in 2019, and at 6 feet tall myself, I instantly felt like a midget.

[@PowerTrain611]

Imagine starting one of these. Starting an sd40 is deafening to begin with, but to already have 16 cylinders screaming at you while you bring another 16 to life... ow!

[@mojostevo]

what an absolute sweatheart of a locomotive.

[@eshollen]

Favorite museum by far

[@kansasstatealerting2874]

Eric Hollen not a museum

[@kcirrednosrednad3596]

591,000 lbs of "GET THE FUCK OUT OF MY WAY BITCHES"

[@Kyle-cv2hj]

The caps are for sand to be dumped infront of the wheels for traction on grades

[@LearnWithGern]

@ginty777 Yes, between the cab and the front door. The front door doesn't get you into the cab, you pass the toilet and open another door.

[@pdwman]

@SpeakerPolice The GP30 isnt finished being restored yet iirc

[@jasonlagunes3276]

That locomotive is a 6500 hp, 400 ton beast, it has the size of 2 gp40s

[@ricardovelasco3976]

240 metric tonnes, not 400.

[@leenettywilson528]

@@ricardovelasco3976 272 tonnes lol

[@formidable38]

What a machine, the daddy of all diesel locomotives!!

[@leenettywilson528]

Huge locomotive I like it too I remember wen huge moves had to move one of these locomotives they thought it would be easy putting it on there big Lorrie they were wrong they tried to pull the bogie Axel and wheels out but the big chain snaped straight away it looked a small part of the train but the wheels and the bogie weigh around 45 tonnes , what's the weight of this loco I would say nearly 300tonnez, nice video godbless you,

[@FFred-us9tw]

The DDA40X's weighed around 545,000 Lbs. Or around 272 Tons.

[@leenettywilson528]

@@FFred-us9tw wow some weight that in it mate for something that just runs on steel tracks nice one for telling me mate, there is some diesal locomotives that have weighed more in the past well I should think so defo back in the day , them turbine locomotives there weight is around the 270 ton mark I think the big boy 630 tons that's mad , anyway take care godless you, netty Lee,,

[@shnimmuc]

Amazing locomotive. Thanks for the video.

[@palexandersquires]

I have now got this locomotive on my Rail Works TS2014 it is now available for £11.99p but to play the scenarios you will need to purchase Sherman Hill

[@PainesvilleRailfans]

i am seeing the MU hoses connected to 6946, let alone, the 6936 is between the shop and the 6946, so, did they fire up the 6946 and move her? how long did she sit before firing her up?

[@schrap72]

Now that's an engine!!!!!!!!!!! I love it!

[@dsmerak]

I still don't know, how the 4 wheels in 1 boogie through the curve railway, it may be much friction

[@uzaifshaikh3393]

Look like a Monster locomotives i really like it....

[@ginty777]

This is kind of a weird question but since railroaders have to be out on long journeys, is there actually a toilet of some sort in the cab of the train?

[@hobbeekid]

Any idea why the 6946 doesn't run? and what would it take to get it running again? does anyone on here know?

[@AndreiTupolev]

I could listen to an idling 645 all day. Why, incidentally, does it have that gap in the middle between the hoods?

[@JungleYT]

LOL I always wondered what was in that "gap"...

[@Watsonincorporated]

JungleYT I think the gap in the middle is there just because the engineers need something to walk through so they don't have to walk around the entire locomotive

[@Csx2748]

The 6946 sounds like a gp38-2

[@3RTracing]

Lots of controversy and differences of opinion as to this locomotive's inspiration. Some say it is equivalent to 2 GP 38's, others claim in is actually closer to 2 GP or SD 40's. I wonder what the real genesis of the actual 2 prime mover, combined, D trucked locomotive is?? I come from a long line of railroad operations, builders and workers. Lets see what kind of response I get. I hope that someone from UP weighs in too. On another note, EMD clearly is and was and always will be the provider of innovative, long lasting, and useful locomotives. It is great to start seeing a huge insurgence of rebuilt EMD products back in mainline revenue traffic again too. I live on the main east west BNSF line and I am seeing huge numbers of rebuilt SD 40-3's, GP 60's, SD 40's and other legacy EMD products on scheduled mainline freight every day.

[@FFred-us9tw]

Never once heard anyone compare it to two GP38's. Considering GP38's are not turbocharged and only 2000 HP each. It's most closely related to a pair of GP40-2's. Because it uses the same engines. But the DDA40X has some mods to increase the HP and of course lots of other mods to bring it all to life.

[@marquisstephenson6407]

Two engines wow. More power please!!

[@trainz675]

Why the heck is the 6936's MU cables connected and coupled to 6946????

[@Shinjitago]

Not familiar with trains but I love watching them on here and out in the "wild". What is the psst noises that I hear? Sounds like pressure releasing, even though its at idle?

[@josephhalexander]

You're hearing air pressure being released.

[@Shinjitago]

Well i figured that but from what? It's not going anywhere?

[@Falinov]

They are Air release valves they are typically there to help water get out of the system and release pressure at the same time, They are usually referred to as Spitter valves. :)

[@Shinjitago]

I gotcha, thanks for the info!

[@Falinov]

Anytime.

[@timsricochet]

What are the two thin tanks along the outside of the cat walk? thanks

[@donnahanscom6300]

Wow That is Huge!

[@Deutschus]

The second unit is a blower style locomotive, meaning it doesn't have a turbo charger. Thats fairly interesting

[@Darkdiesel]

True ! this sound of 16V645 Root Blower engine.. in the DD40X.. it's weird !

[@Darkdiesel]

It's a DD38X ! lol

[@willmatters9017]

Brent Bailey how do you tell?

[@Deutschus]

+Will Matters because of the way it sounds when it idles you can't hear the whining in the alternator.. that's how I tell the difference between blower and turbo charged loco's

[@Raevenonn]

The Gap is an empty space that they left between the two Prime Mover & Generator sets that power the locomotive. The DD's have 2 sets, where most Electric-Diesel locomotives only have one. I don't know why they didn't just extend the body, coverage, but there ya go. Maybe in case the engineer locked himself out of his side of the cab and he wouldn't have to walk all the way around to get to the Fireman's side? /shrug.

[@3RTracing]

Some operations staff have claimed that the gap was to make it easier to go from one portola to the other without having to lock and unlock or go around the rear porch. So it basically cuts the transit time from side to side in half.

[@elliotcapson3101]

The gap is there because of the stress one the frame. It bends a lot, and if it was solid, it would crush the car body. It also helps with rotational forces caused by the two engines on one frame.

[@haroldsmuck3569]

What is the minimum radius for this engine in N scale?

[@ginty777]

@LearnWithGern Thanks for the information!

[@K-Effect]

What part/parts of the Centennial is responsible for making all the air clicking sounds? What is it doing every time you hear that sound?

[@LearnWithGern]

That would be the check valve on the air tanks (2 cylinders above the fuel tank. They are fed from a compressor which is running when the engines are running, when the air pressure gets to a certain level, the check valve opens to let out air. That's the sound you hear.

[@FFred-us9tw]

@@LearnWithGern No, what you are hearing is not a check valve and a check valve does not open "to let air out". The sound you are hearing is what is known as a "Spitter valve". They are mounted on almost all diesel locomotive main reservoirs. They have a solenoid that open for split second to release trapped moisture to prevent it from accumulating. Sometimes to spit ever few seconds, other times they spit repeatedly over and over depending on the moisture. There are check valves in the main reservoir system but they are to prevent air escaping, not to let air out and you would not hear them operate.

[@MrAlbertoBianco]

eu pude ter o prazer de estar nela em outubro de 2012....

[@SpeakerPolice]

Hopefully it will be finished. Another GP30 saved. =)

[@johnbernardini5444]

Awesome Trains, Where is The UP6936 Loco Now?

[@FranticFan1]

what is that popping sound?

[@LearnWithGern]

The air tank pressure relief valves.

[@formidable38]

"Sperex valves" they automatically eject moisture from the air reservoirs which is what makes that noise.

[@JungleYT]

+LearnWithGern It's F*cking annoying... Some old Santa Fe F-units would suddenly go off like a shot gun or something... These damn things just keep pissing it out bit by bit continously, I guess?

[@JMVvideosByDjMarty]

very loud, because the microphone shut down after that short time^^

[@parteibonza]

FranticFan1 they are stupid. I think they are called spitter valves. I wish they would stop. 😑

[@exiarules6712]

It looks like 2 twin locomotives put together

[@LearnWithGern]

It actually is.

[@exiarules6712]

Well then no wonder it is so powerful! :)

[@ricardovelasco3976]

It is a locomotive with 2 engines.

[@3RTracing]

Great response Historymaker. I agree, that this is the combination of two SD 40's. I was at the UP shops in Cheyenne the other day and the docent, a seasoned locomotive mechanic and engineer made the statement that the DD's were two GD 38's. I almost fell over.

[@palexandersquires]

you actually get 6936 on TS2014 Rail Works in all it`s finery.

[@AndreiTupolev]

Why does it have that gap in the middle?

[@3RTracing]

Some operations staff have claimed that the gap was to make it easier to go from one portola to the other without having to lock and unlock or go around the rear porch. So it basically cuts the transit time from side to side in half.

[@Lightwolf333]

Awesome vid! Faved!

[@teddybeareleventeen]

AWESOME video mate! Any chance you got some video when they started her up? 5 Stars!!

[@joseceballos9944]

The Fuel tank olympic pool!!

[@meet141]

World power locomotive

[@irasthewarrior]

I would refresh those units with two 12-710G 3200 hp each and AC traction.

[@3RTracing]

AC traction is not working out as well as was thought it would. WE see many GE consists with one DC locomotive (EMD) in the line, and the engineers, as well as railroad management tell me that the AC motors are failing and that they do not have the dead start torque that the DC locomotives do. I am told by train engineers that the EMD DC locos are being added to heavy trains to get them started quicker and more efficiently.

[@williamyoung6715]

Does it have 8 axels?

[@3RTracing]

yes

[@FEDERALSIGNALTECH]

A DD40AX IS TWO SD40-1 MODELS PUT TOGETHER ACCOARDING TO UP'S WEBSITE;WITCH IS 6,600 BASELINE HP,BUT THE ENGINES CAN GO UP 7,820 MAX HP BY INCREASING THE FUEL INJECTOR SPRAY THIS IS DONE BY ADJUSTING MAIN INJECTOR'S FUEL SPRAY CONTROL NUT ANTI-CLOCKWEISE TO FULL SPRAY.

[@Falinov]

really dude... Lay off the caps. I hate walls of text and makes me ignore your post entirely. Seriously No one else wants to see it. Thank you

[@palexandersquires]

There is a disadvantage over our u.k. diesels (not class 20`s) the 6900 `s need a turntable to turn them around unlike the class 47`s or Deltics in uk. they have 2 cab ends you just move to the cab required without using a turntable on my railworks I drive a emd f7 warbonnet locomotive I like all diesel powered and electric trains all over the world

[@juvmol]

i see another video of this kind of engine they also have it just sitting in a museum in mexico city i have a video of this engine but in HO

[@timprivett358]

how many of the centennials are left?

[@RoycePhillips]

#6936 is the only "operating" Centennial in UPs fleet. The rest are either scrapped or being restored in railroad musuems to be displayed.

[@timprivett358]

Royce Phillips hey thanks

[@mark10788]

There are Approximately 13 Centennials left today in existence, scattered throughout the US with one operating and one in Mexico.

[@LearnWithGern]

@TheMrBlinx 8,200 gallons and 6600 HP

[@FEDERALSIGNALTECH]

ARE BOTH MOTORS RUNNING?

[@LearnWithGern]

Yes

[@OmahaTrainKid]

+LearnWithGern are there an 6900 series units around

[@LearnWithGern]

My bad, thought you meant 6946. It was not running here and I don't think it is even capable.

[@SpeakerPolice]

Great video! Is that the UP GP30 or the Kodachrome GP9 I hear running in the background?

[@alexander1485]

in front of the conductors side

[@trainz675]

6946 runs, ect, but its pushed, pulled, and stuff. never on its own.

[@BRASILNEWSLIVES24hrs]

BELLA👋👋👋

[@mlstrains12]

he meant 6946

[@LearnWithGern]

@777worldliner I don't think so.

[@tuxandfriendsbluesclues5451]

When Union Pacific dda40x takes a dump

[@vladimir2366fa]

Thanks you, Videos very nice, ５★★★★★

[@christremps4065]

Look like the 6946 needs a paint job.

[@outatimefresno9820]

Sand boxes

[@alexander1485]

its because of flex

[@unebaiser]

Air

[@joseceballos9944]

Fuel tank olimpik pool!!!

[@Univer3eTwist3ers]

if it was running, why didnt you steal it? hahaha

[@sidneywallace48]

I hated 6900 series locos.....They were the roughest riding units ever built...period!!

[@kcirrednosrednad3596]

591,000 lbs of "GET THE FUCK OUT OF MY WAY BITCHES"

[@ulyssesgrant4324]

kcirred nosrednad 600 tons get out of my way