JeffPo's Union Pacific Advance Approach Lamp Page

Created:  11/05/18

Last Update:  11/05/18

This is an advance approach signal lamp made by the Adlake company.  It stands about 12 inches tall (not including the handle).  The yellow lens is about 4.5" in diameter.  This particular lamp was used on the Union Pacific Railroad as is is stamped with UP near the top.  There is a  rectangular mounting sleeve on the side.

The advance approach signal was used to let a train know to slow to a certain speed and be prepared to stop at the second signal from this point.  For example, the advance approach signal might be encountered two miles out and dictate a slowing to 45mph.  At one mile out, the train would encounter the approach signal and slow even further.  Then after a mile the train would encounter the stop signal.

The fuel fount is a double sized fount meant to burn for a week without refueling.  The burner is equipped with a glass chimney.

This is what the lamp looks like when it's lit.

Union Pacific Railroad

A Union Pacific "Big Boy". One of the largest steam locomotives ever built.

The Union Pacific Railroad (UP) is the largest railroad network in the United States .  UP's route map covers most of the central and western United States west of Chicago and New Orleans  The UP was incorporated in 1862 with the first rails being laid in Omaha, Nebraska.  It was part of the railroads that came together at Promontory Summit, Utah, in 1869 as the first transcontinental railroad in North America .  Like many early railroads, the UP went through its share of financial troubles.  It first filed for bankruptcy in the 1870s and was reorganized as the Union Pacific Railway in 1880.  But the new company declared bankruptcy in 1893 and emerged in 1897 with its old name of Union Pacific Railroad.  It actually took control of the Southern Pacific Railroad in 1901 but gave up that control in 1913 by order the U.S. Supreme Court.  The UP also founded the Sun Valley resort in Idaho .  And with history repeating itself, the UP finally acquired the Southern Pacific Railroad in 1996.

The Union Pacific currently owns and operates track in 23 U.S. states.  It has direct control of over 54,000 miles of track.  Due to the practice of locomotive leasing and sharing you’ll often see UP locomotives on competitor's tracks throughout the country.  I’ve seen my local Norfolk & Southern Railroad using yellow Union Pacific locomotives.

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