Big Jack Twilight

A cold spring storm has dusted the Feather River Canyon with snow. setting the stage for the WPX passing through several days later with a power set that could never have been imagined on the old Western Pacific. "Big Jack" 6927 and two U30Cs dance along the rocky shelf while traversing Serpentine Canyon on March 9, 1985. It's the twilight of Union Pacific's Centennial operations and within weeks the big double-engined diesels would be retired forever; all save one!

(Below-right) A year before, Centennial 6943 thunders through Blairsden, California in August of 1984 with the westbound OMW during what became known as Big Jack Summer. Today, only the 6936 remains on UP's active roster, part of the railroad's historic locomotive collection.

'Big Jack' 6943 drifts downgrade at Blairsden

- Ken Rattenne

Photo Details
The image was shot Nikon FM2 using a 1.4 50mm Nikkor lens. Film was stock Kodachrome 64. Exposure was at f4 at 1/500.