<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0303</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2009-02-02</periodOfReport>

    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000100885</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>UNION PACIFIC CORP</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>UNP</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001200009</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>KNIGHT ROBERT M JR</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>1400 DOUGLAS STREET</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2></rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>OMAHA</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>NE</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>68179</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>0</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>1</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
            <officerTitle>EVP FINANCE &amp; CFO UPC</officerTitle>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
                <footnoteId id="F1"/>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2009-02-02</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>F</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>6501</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>42.87</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>D</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>175395</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
                <footnoteId id="F2"/>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2009-02-02</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>F</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>1920</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>42.87</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>D</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>173475</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
        <nonDerivativeHolding>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
                <footnoteId id="F3"/>
            </securityTitle>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>40267.5162</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>I</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value>(1)</value>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeHolding>
        <nonDerivativeHolding>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
                <footnoteId id="F4"/>
            </securityTitle>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>206.2287</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>I</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value>by Managed Account</value>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeHolding>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">On May 28, 2008, Union Pacific Corporation effected a 2-for-1 stock split in the form of a stock dividend.  Amounts of securities and the grant price or prices with respect to options, if any, and restricted stock or restricted stock units, if any, reported on this form have been adjusted to reflect the stock split.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F2">Transfer of shares for additional tax withholding purposes.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F3">Represents conversion of restricted stock units to fully vested stock units with a distribution ratio of 1:1 - Payable only in shares of common stock at termination of employment or a date certain.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F4">Includes holdings in employee benefit plans, Tax Reduction and Payroll Based Stock Plans, as of Transaction Date.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>By: Trevor L. Kingston, Attorney-in-Fact  For: Robert M. Knight Jr.</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2009-02-04</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
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X0303
4
2009-02-02
0
0000100885
UNION PACIFIC CORP
UNP
0001200009
KNIGHT ROBERT M JR
1400 DOUGLAS STREET
OMAHA
NE
68179
0
1
0
0
EVP FINANCE & CFO UPC
Common Stock
2009-02-02
4
F
0
6501
42.87
D
175395
D
Common Stock
2009-02-02
4
F
0
1920
42.87
D
173475
D
Common Stock
40267.5162
I
(1)
Common Stock
206.2287
I
by Managed Account
On May 28, 2008, Union Pacific Corporation effected a 2-for-1 stock split in the form of a stock dividend.  Amounts of securities and the grant price or prices with respect to options, if any, and restricted stock or restricted stock units, if any, reported on this form have been adjusted to reflect the stock split.
Transfer of shares for additional tax withholding purposes.
Represents conversion of restricted stock units to fully vested stock units with a distribution ratio of 1:1 - Payable only in shares of common stock at termination of employment or a date certain.
Includes holdings in employee benefit plans, Tax Reduction and Payroll Based Stock Plans, as of Transaction Date.
By: Trevor L. Kingston, Attorney-in-Fact  For: Robert M. Knight Jr.
2009-02-04