While I have always been intrigued by EMD's double diesels, nothing could prepare me for this spectacular sight at Salt Lake City in 1977. By the late 1970s, the Union Pacific had assigned the majority of its fleet of DD35A and DD35B units to work drag freights between Salt Lake City and Los Angeles. By '77, the big DD35s were beginning to show their age, being rather temperamental in nature. When traffic volumes waned in the spring and summer months, the least reliable locomotives often went into short term storage. These big 5000 horsepower machines were brought out of storage when the fall traffic rush had begun. Union Pacific's 15 DD35As and 27 DD35Bs were retired from the roster by August 1981 and sadly, all were scrapped.
There are times when many engines, cars or cabooses are concentrated in a location. Such sites are for storage, economic reasons, active power needs or for rebuilding. For others, wear and tear have brought their usefulness to and end.
