Union Pacfic 844

[atsfrr3000]

If I hadn't lost the tape I could post one of the most beautiful videos of 3985 ever recorded that I took....it brings a tear to my eyes just thinking about it...it was beautiful...:'(

-Chris (tm)

P.S. YES! They brought back the yellow smilies!

 

[Accipiter777]

The reason there is no steam on the east coast of america is that NS and CSX are too ignorant to allow trains on their mainlines. Line capacity my a$^, their just too busy focusing on money to see the light. Look at union pacific, finest northern i've ever seen.

True that! Its a shame NS is so narrow minded

 

[Tokkyu40]

844 also has the distinction (sorry to go back to that when you were on a roll:hehe: ) of being the only American mainline steam locomotive which has never been retired from active service. It went directly from freight duties to excursion trains.
And to the closing credits of "Shining Time Station". My favorite part of the show.

Claude

P.S. You really can't run freight and passenger service on the same rails. One or the other has to have their service cut back too far to make room for everyone. We need dedicated high speed track for passenger trains to make it pay.

 

[brian1993]

GUYS! GUESS WHAT?! THE 844 IS GOING TO NORTH PLATTE TOMARROW!

 

[Thorinoakin]

Cool!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I wish it come back to denver i miss it :'(

 

[Thorinoakin]

UP 844 at Del Rio, TexasPower typeSteam-pistonBuilderAmerican Locomotive CompanyConfiguration4-8-4Gauge4 ft 8½ in (1435 mm)Driver size80 in.Wheelbase98 ft. 5 in. (locomotive and tender)Weight on drivers266,490 lb.Total weight486,340 lb.Locomotive and tender combined weight907,890 lb.Fuel typeNo. 5 fuel oil, originally coalTender capacity23,500 gallons water, 6,200 gallons oilBoiler86-3/16 in. diameterBoiler pressure300 psiFire grate area100 ft² (grate removed in 1945)Heating surface: Tubes2,204 ft²Heating surface: Flues1,578 ft²Heating surface: Firebox442 ft²Heating surface: Total4,224 ft²Superheater area1,400 ft²Cylinder size25 in. diameter, 32 in. strokeFactor of adhesion4.18CareerUnion PacificClassFEF-3Number844Delivered1944RetiredNever retiredDispositionoperates in occasional excursion serviceSome More Information::mop: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Union_Pacific_844
Some links about 844
Union Pacific 844 is a 4-8-4 steam locomotive owned by Union Pacific Railroad. It was the last steam locomotive delivered (in 1944) to Union Pacific and is unique in that it is the only steam locomotive never retired by a North American Class I railroad. It was designed as a passenger engine and pulled such trains as the Overland Flyer, Los Angeles Limited, Portland Rose and Challenger. It was reassigned to freight service when diesel-electric locomotives took over passenger service and operated from 1957 to 1959 in Nebraska. It was saved from being scrapped in 1960 and is now used on company and public excursion trains, along with revenue freight during ferry moves.
From 1962-1989, this locomotive was numbered UP 8444 due to a conflict with the railroad's numbering plan for the EMD GP30 locomotives that UP owned at the time. After the conflicting GP30 was retired from service in June 1989, 8444 was renumbered back to 844. Interestingly, the GP30 is preserved and operable and there is now an EMD SD70ACe in UP's roster numbered 8444.[1]
A second 4-8-4, UP 838, is kept in the shops at Cheyenne, Wyoming so that spare parts for 844 can be cannibalized from it.

 

[atsfrr3000]

The 844 arrives in Denver July 19th, is on display on the 20th, then makes the Denver-Cheyenne-Denver train for CFD on the 21st. It leaves for the last time on the 22nd at 1pm.

http://www.upsteam.com/schedule.html

-Chris (tm)

 

[Dap]

4449 & 8444

Hate to brag, but I was in the cab of 4449 the first time these two great engines doubleheaded. It was in 1976. 4449 was pulling the American Freedom Train in celebration of our country's 200th birthday. When it reached Des Moines, the railroad inspector shut down operations of the engine because the flanges on the lead drivers had worn to less than 7/8", well below the standard of 15/16". The Freedom train did get permission to have the train, engine and all towed to Omaha under desiel power. The train continued on it's journey under desiel power. In Omaha, we spent two weeks machining 4449's 80" drivers to 78" drivers, thus restoring the flange to proper thickness. While we were working on 4449, the UP shops were getting 8444 all spiffed up for a run to Denver with 4449, where it would again be united with the Freedom train. We double headed out of Omaha at about 9am on a Sunday morning. I was fortunate enough to ride in the cab from Columbus to Fremont.

Dap