The Union Pacific Railroad is celebrating their 150th anniversary this year and as part of the celebration, a train and engine 844 is touring the country. Made a stop here Livingston, Tx this morning for 30 minutes on its way to a two day stop in Houston. This is the last steam engine delivered to UP in 1944 and it is massive. The eight driver wheels are 84 inches in diameter and at each stop the crew has to grease the connecting rods. The loud whistle scared the little children to the point of tears. Makes you proud you are an American when you see something like this!!!
An impressive machine for sure. Here it is playing second fiddle to the SP4449
Here she is leading SP 4449 through Auburn Wa. a few years ago. High balling at 70+ on the main line north to Seattle. Is Mr.Lee still the Engineer or has he retired ?.
Bob
844 came through our area on the way home from Sacramento a couple weeks ago. Real impressive to watch it thunder through a grade crossing. Kind of disappointing to see the diesel behind it doing most of the work. The engineer told me they keep the boiler pressure low to preserve the boiler which is getting stressed from all the miles and years. While still capable of all it was designed for, most of the time it is just along for the ride. It is the only mainline steamer never retired. See it if you have the opportunity.
Erik
Awesome!
But I bet Cullen Bohannon never envisioned anything like UP 844 going over his trestles ;-)
Hope that someone at UP gets the Big Boy they have up and running and while there at it maybe also one of the SP Cab Forwards. Now that would a great sight going down the track.
Bob
Going over Donner Pass Ca.
Bob McDonald - To answer your question, Steve Lee retired last year. As he was definately the 'spark plug' for the UPRR's steam program, it'll be interesting to see how Uncle Pete's steam program fares in the coming years,.....harold
Steve Lee has retired but the crew is still doing a great job and still helpful to those who go to see both loco's.
UP 4017 4-8-8-4 on static display in Green Bay. Curb weight was 500,000 lbs. Pretty neat to be able to climb up in the cab, but helping light off the UP Challenger from cold was way more cool.
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This unit simplified matters:
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Charles,
Where is it in Houston? It would be a sight to see.
Ken in Texas
Charles,
Do you know where it is in Houston?
Ken in Texas
UP 4017 4-8-8-4 on static display in Green Bay. Curb weight was 500,000 lbs. Pretty neat to be able to climb up in the cab, but helping light off the UP Challenger from cold was way more cool.
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This unit simplified matters:
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Google UP844. It should be at the Amtrak station.
Harold
I visited with Steve and his crew about ten years ago at the Cheyenne Wy shops,they were on there lunch break and they told that I could
go into the shop and crawl around on the Challenger that was there for repairs. I took pictures but that was before digital time for me and there in boxes somewhere. One great group of people.
Also SP4449 was also known as the city of Portland and was given to the city when it was retired, it and the cars are still located there,but taken out for runs on special events.
Glad I don't have to pay to fill there tanks.
Bob.
Bob, The only S.P. fwd cab (back up mally) I know of, sits in the Sacramento rail museum. It appears steam ready but doubt it will ever run again.
It will be in Houston at the Amtrak station which is on the site of the old SP depot; only tomorrow and Sunday till 4 PM each day.
the cab forward in sacramento is in rough shape, very much worn out, and to top it off the SP cut a hole in her boiler so she would never see steam again. but seeing as the UP now owns SP she may be restored some day.
the SP never wanted their steam locos to run again because they wanted to be viewed as a forward thinking railroad.
another beautiful loco to see is the santa fe 3751.
844 at Caldwell, 9-9-07.
This thread needs a THANKS button!.......
By the way, here's a site some of you steam aficionados may find interesting: http://www.ageofsteamroundhouse.com/index.html.
There's another Baldwin 4-8-8-4 in Two Harbors Minnesota that is awe-inspiring. They're a massive machine.
Pictures from Houston:
Another from Houston:
UP had the Diesels there, too:
Then theres the "Manly" motive power. troop
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I posted that link to the Age of Steam Roundhouse last year. It's all owned and funded by one guy...
One of my friends who is editor of Trains Magazine says they plan to do an article about that place soon. (If they already haven't)
Check out the UP display on the hill above Omaha, NE. There is a beautifully restored Big Boy and a yellow Centenial diesel. Both huge, beautiful, accessible and nicely cared for.
Having a person standing beside the drive wheel sure puts that 844 into perspective. That is one big unit.
Here's the 844 leaving Livingston last Friday and heading south to Houston.