Photo of 292 locomotives in one place at same time

I don't believe the word "lashup" is an approved word on the Real Trains forum

That's called storage.

Rusty

"Lashup" is used to describe the electronic process of combining command control engines, either TMCC or DCS, to build MUs (diesels) or double headed (steam or when all engines have their own engineer).  When operating/running in a multi unit consist it is better to use the correct railroad term, although I have no problem with folks using lashup to describe running engines together on their layouts.

Your question brings up a point for me.  What is the maximum number of engines that can be MUed?

Inventory for the auction

Where in AZ?  I want to go see this in person.

Why are these engines idled?  Did UP upgrade it's fleet to more energy efficient models, or is freight traffic down?  If freight traffic is down, is it a seasonal reason or is the economy slowing?  I am not hearing in financial news that the economy has slowed, but maybe this is an indicator?

George

George S posted:

Why are these engines idled?

Serious drops in ALL traffic on America's railroads.

 Did UP upgrade it's fleet to more energy efficient models, or is freight traffic down?

See above.

 If freight traffic is down, is it a seasonal reason or is the economy slowing?

No, NOT "seasonal". 

 I am not hearing in financial news that the economy has slowed, but maybe this is an indicator?

Did you miss all the reports of DRASTIC drops in coal consumption and oil production?

George

Your question brings up a point for me.  What is the maximum number of engines that can be MUed?

Ron

If you had the cables probably as many as you want however there is a restriction on motorised axles. 24 and  as usual,  always exceptions...

Gregg posted:

Your question brings up a point for me.  What is the maximum number of engines that can be MUed?

Ron

If you had the cables probably as many as you want however there is a restriction on motorised axles. 24 and  as usual,  always exceptions...

From a purely technical standpoint, there really is no limit to how many modern type units could be MU'ed together. You have noted the operating restriction of "powered axles" however.

Espee did this with their GE clunkers at El Paso all the time.

At the recent local train club meeting, we had 5 locos on the layout spaced out on one track, and all running as one train. A couple of the guys were somewhere else for the moment and there was essentially only one loop to run on, so running them all as a train was a fun solution. Also blowing all the whistles and horns was kind of fun as well. Not 292 locomotives but almost as much fun, eh?

Moonman posted:

Inventory for the auction

current auction is in 3126 Missouri Ave, East St. Louis, IL

looks like the current auction is all emd mp 15ac

The inspection of these will take place on October 21st, 2015

but good find.

maybe we will see these soon on auction

The subject title should be changed. Those units are simply coupled together, i.e. NOT a "LASHUP" nor even an "MU'ed consist". They are all DEAD, in storage!

Sinclair

The location is about 14 miles west of Benson, AZ, just south of Route 10.  The nearest Route 10 exit is Empirita Road.  The engines are stored on a segment of the former double track mainline that is no longer used due to a recent realignment project.

Frank

If one would take the time to READ the post's subject line...I was asking (tongue in cheek) if the 292 locomotives 'would' be called a lashup. I did not say they were a lashup in the subject heading.

Next somebody will complain that the locomotives are not arranged all facing F for front or maybe that the GE's are not segregated from the EMD's...or that the engine roadnumbers are not arranged in sequence from higher to lower # but then somebody would want lower # to higher #.

Then we will have a discussion about how many handbrakes are applied...are the wheels chocked too?

Guys, it was only what I thought was a post of an interesting photo of 292 locomotives in one place at the same time. (Post topic has been corrected).

Walter

Your post was fine Walter.  You've been fun sponged.

ReadingRR posted:

Sinclair

The location is about 14 miles west of Benson, AZ, just south of Route 10.  The nearest Route 10 exit is Empirita Road.  The engines are stored on a segment of the former double track mainline that is no longer used due to a recent realignment project.

Frank 

That's interesting. I'm looking at this on Google Earth and see two mainline tracks on separate alignments. Are the locomotives stored on track which has been permanently taken out of service for through operation, or is it being retained for future use as a second main when traffic picks up again?

Here is the Google view.  The yellow line is adjacent to where the locomotives are sitting.  Pretty neat!

So this isn't a caboose hop then...................

Why would they pick that particular location for loco storage, strung out across the countryside not far from major roads? No real security from public access. Also wondering how much prep they do to store a loco and how long they might expect to leave them there.

I saw these UP units stored at North Platte circa 1981 with plastic over stack and fans, but not very well done since the wind seems to rip them off. Some locos stored at more remote locations would have all the car body doors secured with metal banding all around the long hood, although that can be easily cut with tin-snips.

Ace posted:

Why would they pick that particular location for loco storage,

EXTREMELY dry climate, and the track was no longer in daily service.

strung out across the countryside not far from major roads?

Actually the UP has 24 hour security, 7 days a week there

No real security from public access.

I would suggest that you do NOT drive out there to find out.

Also wondering how much prep they do to store a loco and how long they might expect to leave them there.

 

 

Ace

Here are some links about this realignment. 

http://www.trainorders.com/dis...n/read.php?1,2668661

http://www.trainorders.com/dis...n/read.php?1,2481410

The track has been permanently taken out of service for though traffic since the western end of the track can no longer cross under Route 10 to the north side.  The Route 10 bridge over this end of the track has been removed and replaced by a fill. 

Frank

OK guys, Thanks for the scoop. I kinda suspected that with a large fortune in locomotives parked out there, it might be prudent to have full-time security. I remember years ago UP stored locos at Yermo, which was another very dry location.

This part from Trainorders is interesting, assuming it's accurate:

Please note that Union Pacific didn't pay for this project, the Arizona Department of Transportation (ADOT) did. Interstate 10 thru the area isn't up to regular interstate standards and both the March Station Road overpass and the nearby Union Pacific overpass were too narrow and too low to allow high/wide loads to pass thru on the interstate. This required a long detour over narrow state highways with many curves and grades. Instead of replacing the UP overpass, the ADOT and UP agreed to straight line the track thru this area. The original line starts on the north of I-10, crosses the freeway, goes thru the horseshoe, crosses under the freeway and then continues east on the north side of I-10. This new alignment just keeps the tracks on the north side of I-10 all the way. The Marsh Station Road interchange for I-10 was moved a couple miles east and a new, interstate complaint overpass was built.

Anyone modeling the pictured scene in O Scale?

Hot Water posted:

Ace posted:

Why would they pick that particular location for loco storage,

EXTREMELY dry climate, and the track was no longer in daily service.

strung out across the countryside not far from major roads?

Actually the UP has 24 hour security, 7 days a week there

No real security from public access.

I would suggest that you do NOT drive out there to find out.

Also wondering how much prep they do to store a loco and how long they might expect to leave them there.

 

 

 

Rattlesnakes are/have come out of hibernation.  And it is in a location where help would hard to come by!

I used to travel between AZ and southern California. There were big snakes that would stretch out on the freeway and sun themselves. I never stopped to get a better look.

One trip there was a large bird circling over my car while I was driving. I thought it might be a buzzard that knew something that I didn't. All of a sudden it dove down to the ground and picked up a huge snake right on the road in front of my car. I was glad he wasn't waiting for me!! 

http://azdot.gov/docs/projects...t-sheet.pdf?sfvrsn=0

Lay some track along the Southern border, and there is your wall.