Bar Sinister

Imperfect, half-blood. Bar Sinister mistakenly referred to the UP Shields between 1897 to 1941 that had a diagonal bend tilting downward left to right (called Bend Sinister). In heraldic definition, a Bar is horizontal and therefore does not tilt down from the left (Sinister) or up to the right (Dexter). See also Bend.

Bend

One of the ordinaries. Sometimes call the parallelogram, the bend is formed by two diagonal lines usually containing the word OVERLAND. The bend crossing the paly is called Paly Bendy. Between 1888 and 1896 the bend on the UP Shield tilted upward left to right (called Bend Dexter), imitating the Chicago & North Western Shield of the day. From 1897 to 1941 the bend tilted downward left to right (Bend Sinister), mistakenly called Bar Sinister.

Bend Dexter

A bend formed by two diagonal lines tilting upward left to right on a shield. UP's logo from 1888 to 1896 are Bend Dexter shields.

Bend Sinister

A bend formed by two diagonal lines tilting downward left to right on a shield. UP's logo from 1897 to 1941 are Bend Sinister shields.