Union Pacific Historical Society

Dedicated to the preservation of the history of the Union Pacific Railroad

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Freight Cars

  • Modern Union Pacific Grain Hoppers
    David G. Casdorph
    1994, Society of Freight Car Historians. ISSN 0884-027X. 40 pages. Photos. Freight Cars Journal Monograph 22. Types, lease-outs, paint schemes, roster.
  • UP Color Guide to Freight and Passenger Equipment
    Lloyd Stagner and Robert J. Yanosey
    1993 Morning Sun Books Inc., Edison, N.J. ISBN 1-878887-26-2. 128 pages. Collection of color work by company photographers, 1940s through 1960s, from UP Museum collection.
  • UP Color Guide to Freight and Passenger Equipment. Volume 2.
    Schmitz, Lou
    Edison. Morning Sun Books. 1996.300 photos, 128 pages.
  • Union Pacific Freight Cars 1936-51
    Terry Metcalfe
    1989, Metcalfe Publications, Englewood, Colo. ISBN 0-9623347-0-7. 217 pages. Photos, diagrams and drawings. Appendices on auto car assignments, light weight stenciling, Jan. 1, 1946 Official Railway Equipment Register (UP), roster by class as of October 1951.
  • Union Pacific Railroad, Freight Cars of the 1950’s
    Greg B. Davies
    Mid-America Publications, Fremont, Neb. 1979, 102 pages. 2 sheets inside back cover w/8 PLN diagrams
  • Union Pacific Freight Cars Today
    David G. Casdorph
    1993, Society of Freight Car Historians. 64 pages. Photos. Roster, bibliography of published photos, tank containers, chronology 1981-1993, dispositions 1985-1993, class roster.
  • Union Pacific Official Color Photography, Book 1
    Robert A. LaMassena and Robert J. Yanosey
    1993 Morning Sun Books Inc., Edison, N.J. ISBN 1-878887-25-4. Collection of color work by company photographers, 1940s through 1960s, from UP Museum collection. 128 pp.
  • Union Pacific Equipment
    William Kratville & Harold Ranks
    1969, 144 pages of B&W photos and diagrams of passenger cars, freight cars and misc. equipment. Kratville Publishing

 

Non-Revenue Equipment

  • Cabooses of the Union Pacific
    Don Strack and James L. Eherenberger
    2002, The Union Pacific Historical Society. 287 pages. Photos, diagrams. History of Union Pacific Railroad cabooses
  • CA-11 Cabooses
    George R. Cockle
    1979, Overland Models Inc., Muncie, Ind. 40 pages. Photos, diagrams. History of Union Pacific Railroad cabooses with emphasis on CA-11 series.
  • Cabooses, Crummies and Hacks, Vol 4, The Southwest
    John Henderson
    1993, H&M Productions, Flushing, N.Y. ISBN 9629037-4-4. 80 pages. Photos. Collection includes color photos of UP CA-1 through CA-13 classes.

 

Drawings And Diagrams

  • Steam Era Freight Car Lettering Diagrams
    Metcalfe Publications, Englewood, Colo. Six sheets in envelope. G-50-11, 13, 14; O-50-6, A-50-18, B-50-18 through B-50-39, HK-50-1 through 5, F-50-10, F-50-11, F-50-15, CA-3 and 4.
  • Union Pacific Common Standard Drawings
    James L. Ehernberger Collection
    1994, Challenger Press, Cheyenne, Wyo.
    Vol 1: Bridges and Buildings, cattle guards, stock chutes and fire protection. Vol. 2: Roadway Signs, miscellaneous signs and structures. Vol 3: Signals and Track. Vol. 4: Roundhouse, Turntables and Water Tanks, fences, stores department and track tools.
    Reproduction of Common Standard drawings between 1904 and 1990.
  • Union Pacific Diesel Painting and Lettering
    Metcalfe Publications, Englewood, Colo. Eight sheets in envelope. 1972-73 painting and lettering standards. GP7, AS616, S2, SD24B, GP30B, DD35B, U50, H20-44, GP38-2, U50C, SD40-2, DD40X, U28C, U30C, GP40X, SW10.
  • Union Pacific Freight Cars Mechanical Design Drawings
    Metcalfe Publications, Englewood, Colo. Eight sheets in envelope. G-50-13, B-50-24 & 27, B-50-41, A-50-18, A-50-14, A-50-19, CH-70-1, HK-50-5, HK-70-1, HK-50-4, S-40-12, G-50-11, O-50-6, F-50-10, G-70-1, CA-3 and 4.
  • Union Pacific Color Guide to Freight and Passenger Equipment, Vol 2
    Lou Schmitz
    From the early 1950’s 128 pages Hard Cover, MorningSun Books
  • Union Pacific Railroad Painting Guide, 1903-1930. Common Standard No. 22.
    Omaha: U.P. Railroad Historical Society
    1981. 1st edition. Paperback. 108pp. Photos, diagrams. Reprints pages from U.P. common standards for paint with mixing instructions. Laid in is a laminated reproduction color chip page.

 

Original Railway Equipment Registers

These books list all freight cars in service at the publication date. Some have been reprinted by the NMRA. Here is a list of some older copies in libraries:

  • Stanford Univ. Green Library has 6/1885 – 4/1917 then 4/1950 on with gaps.
  • Barringer Library in St. Louis 1/1886 – 12/1891
  • California Railroad Museum 1900-1932 and to current with gaps
  • Westerfield has several early ones for sale on CD.

UPHS Mission Statement

The purpose of the Union Pacific Historical Society is to gather, preserve, and disseminate historical photos, documents, and information relating to the employees, management, equipment, facilities, traffic, and operations of the Union Pacific Railroad including its predecessor and subsidiary lines for the benefit of our members and the public.

Those of you searching for UPRR employment records or genealogy information please go to the Genealogy tab under the Resources section of this website.

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