OMAHA -- When the Olympic flame begins its cross-country journey in December, it will be with the aid of the Union Pacific Railroad, the Omaha World-Herald reports.

The nation's largest railroad company will carry the flame and members of the torch relay staff during parts of their trek.

The company has been named an official railroad supplier to the 2002 Olympic Winter Games in Salt Lake City, Utah, and also a provider to the 2004 U.S. Olympic team.

On Jan. 10, the Olympic flame will pass through Omaha on a specially painted Union Pacific train. The train will travel 3,200 miles across 11 states, one-tenth of the flame's U.S. journey. The exact timing and rail route will be announced later this month.

"Union Pacific is proud to support the efforts of America's Olympic Team by providing transportation services," said Dick Davidson, U.P. chairman and chief executive. "Utah has been a key point on the Union Pacific system since we drove the final spike creating the nation's first transcontinental railroad at Promontory Summit in 1869."

Union Pacific was incorporated in Utah.

As a supplier, Union Pacific will make several runs to transport to Salt Lake City 29 commuter rail cars, 30 carloads of television cabling and 2 million gallons of propane, which will be used in portable heaters at the games. The company also is providing land it owns in Salt Lake City for a temporary parking lot.

Union Pacific spokesman Mark Davis said the company will carry the torch at three different times. One trip will be in December; the other two in January.

The flame will originate in Greece, then begin its domestic path in Atlanta. Aside from rail, it will be carried by dog sled, kayak, mountain bike, runner, horse-drawn carriage, skier and other modes throughout 46 states.

"Carrying the flame by rail, it's able to reach smaller communities who otherwise would not be able to see the flame live," Davis said.

He said U.P. has a two-locomotive and 18-car train that includes a flat "cauldron" car built to carry the torch. He said the car has a cauldron designed so that the propane flame won't be blown out by the train's 70-mph speed.

The colors of the train, which Davis said will be revealed during an announcement on Nov. 15, won't be the traditional armor yellow. It will be just the fourth time in "modern times" that the 139-year-old company has created a specially painted train.

Mark Walker, Torch Relay spokesman in Salt Lake City, said Union Pacific is one of 10 Olympic suppliers. Others include AT&T, Bank of America, Delta Airlines and Pfizer.