M-10001

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The M-10001 was a diesel-electric streamlined passenger train built in 1934 by Pullman-Standard for the Union Pacific Railroad. Its power system came from General Motors Electro-Motive Corporation and used a Winton 201A diesel engine with General Electric generator and traction motors. It was UP’s second streamliner after the M-10000 and the first diesel-powered.

The six-car train was about 376 feet long, with a 48-foot power car, a baggage/RPO car, three sleeping cars, and a rounded-tail coach/diner/observation car. It shared trucks between cars and was nicknamed “The Banana” and also called the Canary Bolt.

Delivered on October 2, 1934, it was shown and tested for two months before being sent back to Pullman to add power and capacity. It entered service as the City of Portland. In late October 1934, it set a coast-to-coast record of 57 hours, departing Los Angeles and arriving in New York City, and it helped cut the Portland-Chicago trip from about 58 hours to 40 hours without any track changes.

During testing, the 900 hp engine was overtaxed and the truck design proved unstable at speed, so the train was rebuilt. The rebuilt train was lengthened to 455 feet with seven cars, and the power car received a 1,200 hp V16 Winton diesel. The RPO car was extended to house a steam generator, and a diner/lounge car was added. The 1,200 hp engine was the most powerful diesel used in a passenger train until after the war.

The rebuilt M-10001 was delivered on May 23, 1935 and officially named City of Portland on June 5, 1935, running between Portland and Chicago until 1938, when it was replaced by M-10002. It then served briefly on the Portland-Seattle route before being retired in June 1939. Parts were salvaged for the City of Denver project, and the remaining cars were stored until August 13, 1941, when the train was sold for scrap.