Innovation
Innovation 06282017
Heavy Metal No Match for New Tech Harnessing Steel Vibrations
What do rock ‘n’ roll and bridge inspectors have in common? Just as the strings’ vibrations tell a guitarist his instrument is properly tuned and ready to jam, the same kind of vibration or movement can give an engineer insight into a bridge’s durability. It’s called “smart monitoring” and it has the potential to revolutionize how the nation’s more than 614,000 bridges are inspected.
Innovation 06072017
From Napkin to Prototype: 3-D Printing Revolutionizes Railroading
While NASA is finding ways to use 3-D printing to provide necessities for colonizing Mars, Union Pacific is applying the same technology to make locomotive operations safer and more efficient.
Innovation 11212016
California Dreamin': New Locomotives Take Clean Air Tech from Theory to Reality
Driving along California's scenic I-5 corridor, there's a good chance you'll see a whole new breed of locomotive pulling heavy freight along Union Pacific's main rail line.
Innovation 08032016
Innovation Evangelists Drive Railroading into the Future
Tucked away in an inconspicuous corner of Union Pacific’s Omaha headquarters is a set of plain, white metal doors with a small gray sign that reads “LAB.” Behind the doors lies a peek into the railroad’s future.
Innovation 06142016
Striking a Balance on the Great Salt Lake
At first glance, the Great Salt Lake looks like any other lake. Nestled below the Wasatch Mountains, its serene blue-green water attracts flocks of hungry seagulls. It's not until you get a bird's-eye view that the lake's most unique characteristic is revealed: The north side isn't blue-green at all, it's an eerie, otherworldly pink.
Innovation 04272016
Students Give 'Edge' to Fuel-Saving Idea
It’s a cool spring morning. The mist is steady and fog snakes through Brigham Young University’s campus, hiding all but a few peaks of the nearby Wasatch Mountains. With heads down, students rush between stately brick buildings, on their way to another round of finals.