Living in Yakima, WA now I really do miss getting to see the Union Pacific in Western Washington where really, it was so common.

Going back to 5-23-80 to relive some old memories.  It was a Friday afternoon when I stopped by Argo, WA on my way home from work.  First thing I photographed was UP GP30 800.

UP 800 was the first of Union Pacific’s fleet of 152 EMD GP30′s which included the GP30B’s.  800-874 were delivered in July to August 1962.  The 800 itself was retired 12/84 and scrapped.

Also at Argo was a power set of 8018/NW 1587/8081/8096  (SD40-2M/SD40/SD40-2M/SD40-2M)

NW 1587 was a straight SD40 built in May 1966.  Set up to run long hood first, this is the front end.

And this would then be the rear end.

The SD40 was later repainted to NS 1587 after the NW and Southern merger.  Sometime after 2006 the 1587 was rebuilt to RPU6 875.  Photo is here:  https://rrpicturearchives.net/showPicture.aspx?id=1307765

Also in that set of power was UP SD40-2M 8081 which was looking pretty dirty that day.

The 8081 was from a group of high-speed, 80 mph SD40-2Ms 8075-8099 built in 1979.  The 8000 series was given to them because they were geared for 80 MPH.  They were also give then nickname “Fast Forties”

The high-speed modifications were removed and units renumbered to UP 3584-3608 in November 1980 through November 1981, the 8081 renumbered to UP 3590.  This information comes from Utah Rails and their great website.

Behind the 8081 was SD40-2M 8096, from the same group.  It was later renumbered to 3605.

That was pretty much all that I saw that day.  Nothing more was photographed before I headed for home.