N Union Pacific ex-Southern Pacific Rd# 496490

Built in 1980 by American Car & Foundry for Southern Pacific, this 4650 cubic-foot three-bay covered hopper soon found its way to Union Pacific’s roster to be re-painted after the 1998 merger, but retained its SP reporting mark. Southern Pacific was a Class 1 railroad from 1865 until 1996, when it was absorbed by Union Pacific after falling on hard times financially in the 1970s and 1980s.