Service
August 4, 2025
Getting the Most Out of Our Assets: Union Pacific Team Rebuilds 100th Tamper Machine
Union Pacific invests nearly $10 million every day to keep its railroad running safely and efficiently. In Denver, that investment is delivering results.
The Equipment Shop just rebuilt its 100th tamper – a machine that helps keep trains running smoothly by adjusting and stabilizing track. The broader fleet plays a critical role across Union Pacific’s network, maintaining more than 18,000 miles of track and compacting 4 million tons of crushed rock, known as ballast, each year.
This milestone, a decade in the making, reflects employee-led commitment to safety and extending the life of critical equipment – all while delivering reliable service for customers.
“Our front-line team’s craftsmanship and dedication to quality drive our success,” said Casey Prewitt, senior manager-Maintenance of Way Shop, Engineering. "They’ve streamlined everything from training to parts storage, helping maximize the value of every resource."
The journey began in 2015, when Union Pacific launched its automatic tamper switch rebuild program. That first year, the Denver team rebuilt two tampers. By 2017, they reached 12 annually – a pace they’ve consistently maintained ever since.
"No project is too big for this team,” said Russ Rohlfs, vice president, Engineering. “And most importantly, they have done it safely."
Safety and quality remain central to the shop’s success.
“I’m proud of the team,” Prewitt said. “Safety is our foundation – we have a culture of doing things the right way the first time. That goes for workmanship, too. The data shows the equipment we rebuild is equal to or better than new machines.”
The shop continues to drive value by applying the rebuild process to other key equipment. The team is working on its second CAT tamper rebuild, and starting next year, will begin work on the ballast regulators that help shape and support the track bed.