"The Spirit of Union Pacific" leads UP Train PCBFR2 05 south past Wolcott on the UP Falls City Sub. en route to Ft. Riley, KS for a display appearance on the 6th as part of its Salute to the Military Tour.
This SD70AH, formerly UP 9026, honors the United States Military with elements from each branch composing the paint scheme.
This locomotive is of great significance to me, being the grandson of a 34 year military veteran, retireing in 1993. My grandpa was drafted into the US Army in 1953 and served a 2 year tour, being discharged in 1955. He enlisted in the Missouri Army National Guard in 1961, and served his country and his state for another 32 years.
His military career spanned a great deal of the Cold War, the Korean War, Vietnam War, and Desert Storm. He spent the better part of his initial 2 year enlistment in Europe, being based in England and Germany, taking a naval ship across the Atlantic Ocean both directions. He rode a troop train from Camp Kilmer, NJ from St. Louis after basic training at Ft. Leonard Wood, MO 1953, little over a year into his 53 year marriage to my grandmother.
I'm proud of this man's service, and I'm proud that I was lucky enough for him to be my "Papaw" for 27 years so far.
Thank you Union Pacific Railroad for honoring those who have served with this commemorative locomotive. For those of you on the fence regarding your opinion of this paint scheme; I can say it looks great in person.
Locomotives: UP 1943, UP 9088
11-5-17
Wolcott, KS
