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

    <schemaVersion>X0303</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2008-07-01</periodOfReport>

    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>

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

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001192053</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>DUNHAM ARCHIE W</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>PO BOX 19625</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2></rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>HOUSTON</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>TX</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>77224</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>2008-07-01</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>A</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>372</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>372</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>10002</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.</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: Archie W. Dunham</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2008-07-02</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
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X0303
4
2008-07-01
0
0000100885
UNION PACIFIC CORP
UNP
0001192053
DUNHAM ARCHIE W
PO BOX 19625
HOUSTON
TX
77224
1
0
0
0
Phantom Stock
0
2008-07-01
4
A
0
372
0
A
Common Stock
372
10002
D
Distribution ratio for Phantom Stock Units is 1:1.
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: Archie W. Dunham
2008-07-02