On May 10, 1869, the Union Pacific and Central Pacific railroads met at Promontory Point, Utah to complete the first transcontinental railroad. Wagon trains and clipper ships were no longer the only way to the West Coast. More than a century later, the Central Pacific is gone but the Union Pacific is the largest railroad in North America, with more than 8,000 locomotives, 100,000 freight cars, and 32,000 miles of track in 23 states. Due to shared motive power agreements with other railroads, its famous Armour Yellow diesels can be spotted anywhere from Los Angeles to Boston.

Capture the high-horsepower drama of modern railroading with this UP freight set, headed by our twin-motored replica of General Electric’s Dash 8 diesel. A best-seller for GE from 1987-1994 and still in wide use today, the Dash 8 helped pioneer computer control of locomotive functions, from engine control to troubleshooting to making sure all 12 wheels were gripping the track and not slipping. Our model of this landmark locomotive features an LED headlight to light up the night; Proto-Speed Control for smooth, steady speeds from a crawl to full throttle; traction tires for tremendous pulling power; and a full range of sounds from blaring horn and clanging bell to squealing brakes and crew conversations.