TSW's UP Sherman Hill is set in the modern day. I'd love to see a classic timetable DLC for the route with some interesting locomotives, especially UP steam power (it probably won't happen. But we can dream, can't we?). This UP classic loco DLC idea should be set in the mid-late 1960s-early 1970s. I believe that this would give us some awesome locos for UP Sherman Hill (and some of these locos could be run on Cajon Pass or Cane Creek too. 1. UP GP30 and GP30B: UP was the largest operator of EMD's popular GP30 with 111 units, including 40 unique GP30B Booster Units. GP30 #844 runs excursion trains at the NV Southern RR Museum in Boulder City, NV (near Las Vegas, where I live). I got the chance to operate #844 at the museum, and that was an awesome experience which I highly recommend to any railfans. The EMD GP30 is one of my favorite US diesel locomotives. The 2250HP, turbocharged GP30 would be perfect for fast freight and local services on Sherman Hill. Also, thirteen of UP's GP30Bs had steam generators and were used for secondary passenger services. 2. UP Gas Turbines: Big, loud, and powerful; those words described UP's enormous Gas Turbine Electric Locomotives (GTELs). These monsters were powered by GE jet turbines that turned the generators. The first units, #51-60, produced 4500HP. One unit (#57) was converted to run on propane fuel. The upgraded, second-generation of UP GTELs were the Verandas (so named because of the side porches similar to other diesel locos of the time) #61-75 also produced 4500HP. The third versions of the GTELs, #1-30; 3-unit sets nicknamed Big Blows because these beasts were so loud), were the most powerful locomotives in the world at the time at a whopping 8500HP (and even 10000HP was achieved)! The Big Blows lasted until 1970, and two have been preserved. I've seen the one in Ogden, UT. It is a massive beast at 179 feet long! 3. UP SD24: UP rostered 30 SD24s and another 45 SD24Bs. Like the EMD GP30, these units were turbocharged. UP rebuilt only 3 of their SD24s in the late 1960s-early 1970s. These units would be great for heavy freights and maybe some yard and local duties. 4. UP NW2: UP rostered 95 NW2s. These hardy EMD switchers would be great for Cheyenne and Laramie yard duties. The NV Southern RR Museum has the former UP NW2 #1000, which is also operational. 5. UP E8 or E9 A/B: For UP City passenger power on Sherman Hill, we need UP's E8 or E9 units. They rostered 18 E8As, 28 E8Bs, 35 E9As, and 34 E9Bs. They were common passenger power on the UP. One E8 (#942 at the Southern CA RR Museum) and 3 E9s (UP Heritage Fleet #949, #951, and #963B) survive, and all are operational. The rebuilt E8 has Head-end Power (HEP), but retains its twin 12-567 prime movers. The trio of E9s have single 16-645 prime movers and HEP. 6. Steam Locos: -Big Boys (#4014 excursion version included) -Challengers (#3985 excursion version included) -FEFs (including #844 in Greyhound and black liveries, #8444 version, and modern version without MARS Light -4-12-2s -2-10-2s 7. Other classic UP diesel locos: -UP F3A/Bs -UP FM Erie-Built A/B Units -UP FM H-20-44s -UP GP35s/DD35s -UP DD35As -UP Alco C855 A-B-A set -UP U50 and U50C -UP DDA40X Centennial (including #6936)
