844 Steam Engine
Steam Locomotive No. 844 is the last steam locomotive built for Union Pacific Railroad. It was delivered in 1944. A high-speed passenger engine, it pulled such widely known trains as the Overland Limited, Los Angeles Limited, Portland Rose and Challenger trains.
Many people know the engine as the No. 8444, since an extra '4' was added to its number in 1962 to distinguish it from a diesel numbered in the 800 series.
The steam engine regained its rightful number in June 1989, after the diesel was retired.
When diesels took over all of the passenger train duties, No. 844 was placed in freight service in Nebraska between 1957 and 1959. It was saved from being scrapped in 1960 and held for special service.
Louise Cole commissions
the return of the 844
into service |
The engine has run hundreds of thousands of miles as Union Pacific's ambassador of goodwill. It has made appearances at Expo '74 in Spokane, the 1981 opening of the California State Railroad Museum in Sacramento, the 1984 World's Fair in New Orleans and the 50th Anniversary Celebration of Los Angeles Union Station in 1989.
Hailed as Union Pacific's "Living Legend," the engine is widely known among railroad enthusiasts for its excursion runs, especially over Union Pacific's fabled crossing of Sherman Hill between Cheyenne and Laramie, Wyoming.
The 844 is housed in the UP steam shop in the Union Pacific Main Yard in Cheyenne WY. Appointments for tours of the UP Steam Shop must be made in advance at (307) 778-3339.
The UP Steam Shop Crew is made up of ten members including:
- Steve Lee, Manager of Train Operating Practices;
- Reed Jackson, Conductor - Steam Crew Executive;
- Jim Adams, Ed Dickens,
- Jack Holland,
- Henry Krening,
- Lynn Nystrom,
- Mary Nystrom,
- Ed Smith and
- Ron Tabkee.
The Union Pacific Steam Shop not only maintains the No. 844, but also maintains and houses the Challenger No. 3985. The Challenger is the world's largest operating steam locomotive and is the only operating engine of its class in the world today.
Vital Statistics:
| Weight |
907,980 lbs. or 454 tons Engine & Tender |
| Length: |
114 ft. 2-5/8 in. Engine & Tender |
| Tender Type: |
14-wheeled |
| Water Capacity: |
23,500 gallons |
| Fuel: |
6,000 gallons
No. 5 Oil |
| Gauge of Track: |
4 ft. 8-1/2 in. |
| Cylinder: |
Diameter: 25 in.
Stroke: 32 in. |
| Driving Wheel Diameter: |
80 in. |
| Boiler: |
Inside Diameter: 86-3/16 in.
Pressure: 300 lbs. |
| Fire Box: |
Length: 150 1/32 in.
Width: 96-3/16 in. |
| Tubes: |
2-1/4 in. Diameter: 198 x 19 ft. 0 in.
5-1/2 in. Diameter: 58 |
| Wheel Base: |
Driving: 2 ft. 0 in.
Engine: 50 ft. 11 in.
Engine & Tender: 98 ft. 5 in. |
| Weight in Working Order: |
Leading: 102,130
Driving: 266,490
Trailing: 117,720
Engine: 486,340
Tender: 421,550 |
| Evaporating Surfaces: (Square feet) |
Tubes: 2,204
Flues: 1,578
Fire Box: 442
Circulator & Arch Tubes: Removed, 1945
Total: 4,224 |
| Superheating Surface |
1,400 square feet |
| Grate Area: |
Removed, 1945 |
| Maximum Tractive Power: |
63,800 lbs. |
| Factor of Adhesion: |
4.18 |
844 Steam Engine, June of 2004
844 Steam Engine, side view
844 Steam Engine on its way to the Cheyenne Depot Museum’s reception
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http://www.uprr.com/aboutup/history/loco/locohs01.shtml
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