UP 1600 - SD40N
Originally built as UP 3390 in April 1977, this snoot-nosed locomotive spent many years as part of the unending parade of SD40-2's running for Union Pacific on the Overland Route. The "snoot" nose describes that this locomotive was delivered with a longer than normal nose (116" instead of the 81" shorter nose). The extra length was intended to hold Locotrol RC equipment, a predecessor to DPUs. However, UP's experiments with Locotrol were ultimately unsuccessful. Only SD40-2's delivered between 1974 and 1978 received the snoot nose, but few if any actually had the RC equipment installed. About a quarter of UP's present-day roster of SD40's have the snoot nose.
As it got older, UP 3390 was selected as part of UP's SD40-2 Modernization Program at North Little Rock. It received a new cab, new control system, new wiring, PTC, a remanufactured engine, and reconditioned components (generator, traction motors, air compressor, air brake equipment, etc). The locomotive was released in February 2011 from rebuild as UP 1600, having kept its snoot nose.
It's worth noting that while this locomotive is identical to the rest of UP's SD40N fleet, UP didn't start using the SD40N model designation until July 2011 with UP 1629. UP 1600 was released and marked as an SD40-2, though after the SD40N designation was adopted all previous rebuilds (including UP 1600) were re-designated SD40N within UP's computer system.
Here, UP 1600 rests at small Basin Yard on the east side of Houston. No longer in main line freight service, it still sees lots of work in yard & local service around the Bayou City.
UP SD40N #1600
Houston, TX
May 29th, 2025
UP 1600 - SD40N
Originally built as UP 3390 in April 1977, this snoot-nosed locomotive spent many years as part of the unending parade of SD40-2's running for Union Pacific on the Overland Route. The "snoot" nose describes that this locomotive was delivered with a longer than normal nose (116" instead of the 81" shorter nose). The extra length was intended to hold Locotrol RC equipment, a predecessor to DPUs. However, UP's experiments with Locotrol were ultimately unsuccessful. Only SD40-2's delivered between 1974 and 1978 received the snoot nose, but few if any actually had the RC equipment installed. About a quarter of UP's present-day roster of SD40's have the snoot nose.
As it got older, UP 3390 was selected as part of UP's SD40-2 Modernization Program at North Little Rock. It received a new cab, new control system, new wiring, PTC, a remanufactured engine, and reconditioned components (generator, traction motors, air compressor, air brake equipment, etc). The locomotive was released in February 2011 from rebuild as UP 1600, having kept its snoot nose.
It's worth noting that while this locomotive is identical to the rest of UP's SD40N fleet, UP didn't start using the SD40N model designation until July 2011 with UP 1629. UP 1600 was released and marked as an SD40-2, though after the SD40N designation was adopted all previous rebuilds (including UP 1600) were re-designated SD40N within UP's computer system.
Here, UP 1600 rests at small Basin Yard on the east side of Houston. No longer in main line freight service, it still sees lots of work in yard & local service around the Bayou City.
UP SD40N #1600
Houston, TX
May 29th, 2025