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

    <schemaVersion>X0303</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2008-10-01</periodOfReport>

    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>

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

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001227314</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>HOPE RICHARDS JUDITH</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>PAUL HASTINGS JANOFSKY &amp; WALKER</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>875 15TH STREET NW</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>WASHINGTON</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>DC</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>20005</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>1</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <derivativeTable>
        <derivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Phantom Stock</value>
                <footnoteId id="F1"/>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <value>0</value>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2008-10-01</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>A</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>417</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>0</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <exerciseDate>
                <footnoteId id="F2"/>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <footnoteId id="F2"/>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Common Stock</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>417</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>15955</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F3"/>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeTransaction>
    </derivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">Distribution ratio for Phantom Stock Units is 1:1.  End of period holdings include Phantom Stock Units granted prior to 8/15/96 which are exempt from Section 16 reporting.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F2">Phantom Stock Units are payable in cash only commencing at retirement.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F3">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>
    </footnotes>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>By: Trevor L. Kingston, Attorney-in-Fact  For: Judith R. Hope</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2008-10-02</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
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X0303
4
2008-10-01
0
0000100885
UNION PACIFIC CORP
UNP
0001227314
HOPE RICHARDS JUDITH
PAUL HASTINGS JANOFSKY & WALKER
875 15TH STREET NW
WASHINGTON
DC
20005
1
0
0
0
Phantom Stock
0
2008-10-01
4
A
0
417
0
A
Common Stock
417
15955
D
Distribution ratio for Phantom Stock Units is 1:1.  End of period holdings include Phantom Stock Units granted prior to 8/15/96 which are exempt from Section 16 reporting.
Phantom Stock Units are payable in cash only commencing at retirement.
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.
By: Trevor L. Kingston, Attorney-in-Fact  For: Judith R. Hope
2008-10-02