UP's Overland Route | RailroadPhotosByChuck.com

Union Pacific's Overland Route

Union Pacific’s original main line, the Overland Route, was part of America’s first transcontinental railroad. Today this remains one of the nation’s most used freight line, carrying coal, containers and other types of goods.

Rawlins, Wyoming

Why Rawlins and where is Rawlins? It’s a small town in south central Wyoming, 150 miles west of Cheyenne, but it’s a fuel stop for trains on the Overland Route. I discovered this when we stopped for the night, on the way to Yellowstone NP.

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An eastbound stack train drifts into Rawlins on a sunny afternoon in July 2001. On the point is UP 4250, an EMD SD70M and C&NW 8681, a GE Dash 9-44CW. Even though the UP-C&NW merger took place in 1995, the 8681 had not yet been repainted.	Another view of the eastbound stack train passing the Rawlins depot. In later years, and after even more mergers, the UP took to “patching” or temporarily painting over the number of the merged road with the new UP loco number.	Two relics from the past: the passenger depot at Rawlins, last used in the early 1970s, and a caboose.	Looking west toward the fuel racks – the UP’s version of a fast-food drive-thru. The days of uncoupling the train and fueling in the engine facility are over.	In July 2006, I returned to Rawlins to a brief but impressive show of Wyoming railroading. Here an eastbound string of covered hoppers, led by UP C44ACs #6822 and 7280, heads toward the fuel racks.
A westbound manifest pulls away from the fuel racks by an EMD SD70M, UP #4271, in July 2006.	On an overcast day in July 2006, an eastbound stack train pulls under the 6th Street bridge, toward the fuel racks, headed by a pair of SD70Ms, #4712 and 3952	It’s starting to look crowded below the 6th Street bridge as another eastbound stack train eases through the rock cut and toward the fuel racks. SD70M #4493 and a GE unit lead the way. The covered hoppers and the stack train with 4712 at the point are fueling.	Looking east from the 6th Street bridge, the #4493 stack train on the left has paused at the fuel rack; in the center, the #4712 stack is pulling away toward Laramie and Cheyenne, and the covered hoppers on the right are holding.	Zoomed out while looking east, one can see the tank farm and a fleet of tank cars which feed the high horsepower units passing through town.

Buford, Wyoming (Sherman Hill)

Buford, a few miles west of Cheyenne and hardly more than a gas station and a convenience store, was an unscheduled stop on the way to Yellowstone. However, I was able to photograph a few freights from the parking area in July 2006 as they made their way to and from the crest of Sherman Hill, about a mile and another 100 ft. of elevation to the west. Both locations were named after Union generals of the Civil War.

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The weather was threatening as this eastbound manifest began the descent from Sherman Hill. Two old and dirty C40-8s, including #9157, led the way.	The rain was trying to reach the ground as this westbound stack train passed through Buford. Three SD70Ms, 4364, 3904 and 4258 were making good time on the point.	Three units, SD70Ms 3806, 3855 and C44-9W 9793, coast downhill will a TOFC in tow, heading for Cheyenne and points east.	An eastbound rack train enters the frame with more SD70Ms, #5058 and 3939.

North Platte, Nebraska

North Platte, Nebraska, on the Union Pacific’s Overland Route, is famous for Bailey Yard, the world’s largest hump yard, according to the UP. It is a bit overwhelming to see, and a little difficult to get close to. My visit in 2001 was very brief. Today, there is the Golden Spike Tower and Visitor Center from which one can take in the immensity of it all.

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Looking west from the Buffalo Bill Avenue overpass at the east end of the immense yard complex. To the left, the eastbound departure yard; center, car repair shop; right, the westbound classification, departure, and run-through yards.	Looking down at the west end of the van yard are a mix of EMD and GE units, including SD60 2236, C44-9W 9696, C40-8 9203, and GP38-2 1812, and ex-MoPac unit.	In the foreground idles C44AC 7213, waiting its turn to depart westbound from the van yard below the Buffalo Bill Avenue overpass.

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Union Pacific's Overland Route

An eastbound stack train drifts into Rawlins on a sunny afternoon in July 2001. On the point is UP 4250, an EMD SD70M and C&NW 8681, a GE Dash 9-44CW. Even though the UP-C&NW merger took place in 1995, the 8681 had not yet been repainted.

Another view of the eastbound stack train passing the Rawlins depot. In later years, and after even more mergers, the UP took to “patching” or temporarily painting over the number of the merged road with the new UP loco number.

Two relics from the past: the passenger depot at Rawlins, last used in the early 1970s, and a caboose.

Looking west toward the fuel racks – the UP’s version of a fast-food drive-thru. The days of uncoupling the train and fueling in the engine facility are over.

In July 2006, I returned to Rawlins to a brief but impressive show of Wyoming railroading. Here an eastbound string of covered hoppers, led by UP C44ACs #6822 and 7280, heads toward the fuel racks.

A westbound manifest pulls away from the fuel racks by an EMD SD70M, UP #4271, in July 2006.

On an overcast day in July 2006, an eastbound stack train pulls under the 6th Street bridge, toward the fuel racks, headed by a pair of SD70Ms, #4712 and 3952

It’s starting to look crowded below the 6th Street bridge as another eastbound stack train eases through the rock cut and toward the fuel racks. SD70M #4493 and a GE unit lead the way. The covered hoppers and the stack train with 4712 at the point are fueling.

Looking east from the 6th Street bridge, the #4493 stack train on the left has paused at the fuel rack; in the center, the #4712 stack is pulling away toward Laramie and Cheyenne, and the covered hoppers on the right are holding.

Zoomed out while looking east, one can see the tank farm and a fleet of tank cars which feed the high horsepower units passing through town.

The weather was threatening as this eastbound manifest began the descent from Sherman Hill. Two old and dirty C40-8s, including #9157, led the way.

The rain was trying to reach the ground as this westbound stack train passed through Buford. Three SD70Ms, 4364, 3904 and 4258 were making good time on the point.

Three units, SD70Ms 3806, 3855 and C44-9W 9793, coast downhill will a TOFC in tow, heading for Cheyenne and points east.

An eastbound rack train enters the frame with more SD70Ms, #5058 and 3939.

Looking west from the Buffalo Bill Avenue overpass at the east end of the immense yard complex. To the left, the eastbound departure yard; center, car repair shop; right, the westbound classification, departure, and run-through yards.

Looking down at the west end of the van yard are a mix of EMD and GE units, including SD60 2236, C44-9W 9696, C40-8 9203, and GP38-2 1812, and ex-MoPac unit.

In the foreground idles C44AC 7213, waiting its turn to depart westbound from the van yard below the Buffalo Bill Avenue overpass.