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In 2012 Union Pacific is celebrating 150 Years of Steam! Well, maybe that’s not what Union Pacific is calling the year-long 150th anniversary of the company’s charter, but with 844 leading a nationwide tour covering much of its vast network, please forgive me if I call it - 150 Years of Steam! Union Pacific 844 is the only steam locomotive that was never retired from the railroad, so we really do have 150 years of steam!

In 1862, President Abraham Lincoln signed the Pacific Railway Act which directed the Union Pacific and Central Pacific to build the first transcontinental railroad. The building of the line linking Omaha and Sacramento was completed in 1869 at Promontory Summit, UT, but it was not until 1872 that the bridge spanning the Missouri River between Omaha, NE and Council Bluffs, IA actually linked the western and eastern rail lines, making it truly transcontinental.

150 Years of Steam

I don’t want to give a complete history of the Union Pacific here, because to do it justice would require at minimum a very lengthy book. I'll just say Union Pacific’s 150 year history includes, triumphs, tragedies, scandals, innovations, disasters, failures, but most of all.... success! It’s history spans wars, depressions, recessions, boom times, and labor unrest. The railroad grew over the past 150 years not only by its own expansion, but mainly by acquiring/merging with other railroads. 

UP has been a leader in the tremendous changes in the technology of railroading, as the industry has reformed itself from a dangerous, dirty, and labor intensive enterprise to one that embraces small and large changes to provide return on investment by creating efficiencies in everything they do.

For generations, Union Pacific has been mindful of its long history. They are partners in the public-private consortium that operates the splendid Union Pacific Railroad Museum in Council Bluffs, IA. Union Pacific also has long participated in Worlds Fairs, Railroad Fairs and hundreds of local events.

The Union Pacific Steam Program

But probably the most visible and widely appreciated public relations endeavors is the Union Pacific Steam Program.

The Steam Program unofficially began in 1959 when the last steam engine in regular service completed its run from North Platte, NE to Cheyenne, WY. The date was July 23 and the locomotive was Challenger 3713, according to Union Pacific’s website. The railroad disposed of its steam locomotives by scrapping the vast majority, but many were delivered to cities for public display. Some were transferred to museums, and a small number were kept on the property for a time. Again, mindful of history, in 1960 Union Pacific chose to keep 844, which was the last steam locomotive constructed for the railroad in 1944. It began life as a high speed locomotive in passenger service. As diesels took over passenger runs, 844 moved to freight service in Nebraska until 1959. The decision to save Union Pacific 844 for special service has resulted in decades of public exposure as this magnificent machine pulled specials across America, visiting small towns and big cities. You can view a short video of UP 844 here. 

Union Pacific 844 is one of two steam locomotives the railroad maintains in its livery. UP 844 has a 4-8-4 wheel arrangement and was built by the American Locomotive Company. It originally burned coal but was converted to oil early in its career. 

The other is Union Pacific 3985, a much larger steam locomotive. It was also built by the American Locomotive Company in 1943, one year earlier than 844. It is a member of the 4-6-6-4 Challenger class. Union Pacific 3985 has two sets of drive wheels, each with its own steam cylinder, like two engines powered by one boiler. Because of its massive size, the frame of 3985 is articulated, or hinged to allow it to bend as it goes around curves. The Challengers were designed for fast freight service but sometimes pulled passenger trains.

See Union Pacific 844 & 3985 in action!

As I write this, Union Pacific 3985 is on an extended hiatus to perform service that may take a year or more to complete. It’s last major trip was with the Missouri River Eagle/Sedalia Sesquicentennial Special in the summer of  2010, which I covered in a 50 minute chapter on the DVD Steam Specials in the Heartland. You can see some video here and you can read about this extended multi-state tour here. 

My last trip with Union Pacific 844 was an Omaha to Cheyenne trip in November, 2010. This trip is chronicled in the Two Trains West chapter of my DVD A Boatload of Steam!

Together, these two magnificent examples of modern steam locomotives have thrilled millions as they criss-cross America, delivering smiles and lasting memories, as well as an appreciation for the folks at Union Pacific for making this happen.

To celebrate Union Pacific’s 150 Years of Steam, the railroad has a heavy schedule for UP 844. You can keep up with UP 844 here.  I hope to capture some of 844’s journeys and bring them to you on future DVDs. Keep up to date by signing up for our email list on the lower right of the Yard Goat Images Home Page.

To commemorate their 150th Anniversary/150 Years of Steam UP has also created some nifty special pages on its website complete with historic photos and video, timelines, and more. 

Thanks Union Pacific!

Steve Mitchell, Yard Goat Images, www.yardgoatimages.com

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In the Fall of 2010 I had the pleasure of following Union Pacific Challenger 3985 as it made its way through Nebraska, Kansas, Missouri, Illinois, and back again to Nebraska.

Due to other commitments I chose to start on September 30 at North Platte, although it began its journey in Cheyenne on September 28. I arrived in North Platte to see the locomotive and its short train arrive at Bailey Yard.

Riding with UP 3985

It has been a few years since I had seen UP 3985, and it was great to see an

old friend again. The big Challenger Class 4-6-6-4 was built for the UP in 1943 by American Locomotive Works, one of a total of 105 ordered, and the only operating

survivor. Although the Challenger was not the largest steam engine ever built, it is the largest still operating in the world.

The crowds of people who stood along the tracks, or visited the engine during stops were both amazing and yet understandable. It is an all too rare event to see mainline steam, and rarer still to see the likes of this beast. Word gets out, and the local folks join the long distance chasers to revel in the noise and earth shaking as the train flies by.

The first full day of my journey with UP 3985 began on Friday, October 1 as the special departed North Platte for Marysville, KS, with a servicing stop at Kearney NE. Following the train on US 30 (the Lincoln Highway - my favorite Nebraska road) was magnificent, as it passed UP freights in both directions on the triple track. I found it difficult to get ahead as traffic slowed through the small towns that were born of the first transcontinental railroad. If I could see the headlight in my rear view mirror, I knew there was not enough time to stop the car and set up my cameras. If no light could be seen in the mirror, I would start looking for a spot.

Then things got difficult as the route UP 3985 was taking to Marysville diverged from the triple line and headed southeast. There are few or no parallel roads, so as the train proceeded on a more direct route, I had to "stair step" south and east, with little chance of catching it.

The next day, Marysville, KS to to Kansas City, MO was similar in terms of the road vs. rail route. This day the train stopped in Topeka for servicing. All along the way there were people and vehicles gathered at grade crossings. At Kansas City, traffic was streaming into the lot behind the massive Union Station complex, where, the following day it stood on display with large crowds.

Next it was on to Jefferson City, the capitol of Missouri, with a service stop at Marshall. The special was on display in the shadow of the state capitol building the following day. I really enjoyed my stay in Jefferson City. If you ever get there, order the pulled pork sandwich at Bandana’s BBQ.

On October 6, UP 3985 and its train made a short trip to St. Louis, with a whistle stop at Washington, MO. In St. Louis the train was parked in a remote industrial section of town. Hard to find? Maybe, but the crowds showed up to climb the stair platform to peer into the large cab.

The following day was a difficult one as everything that could go wrong did. This was a roundtrip to Gorham, IL. I set up for my first shot along the Mississippi River not far from the Gateway Arch. The sun was nearly above the bridge but favorable to the side I chose. There was some sort of delay and the train did not appear as quickly as I expected. I was about to move to the opposite side of the bridge, but then I heard it approaching. Too late to move, I did my best but this shot may not make it into the program.

There was no service stop on the way to or from Gorham, and the roads and rail were not a good match again. Then, a MAJOR detour (sorry UP, but you picked the wrong day for crossing improvements on Highway 3 between Chester and Rockwood) prevented most steam fans from reaching Gorham. The police officer directing traffic on a 16 mile detour said there was no way to make it there before the train turned around to head back to St. Louis. Oh well, that left time to find a good spot for the return trip. The other disaster of the day turned out that one of my two video cameras had malfunctioned and I had lost some great scenes. Oh well again....

After another day on display in St. Louis, UP 3985 and the special headed west, this time to Sedalia, MO, with a whistle stop in Pacific, MO and servicing at Jefferson City. I was able to get some good footage in Jefferson City as the train made its stop in front of the Amtrak station at Jefferson Landing, where a large crowd had gathered. Next, I went west a few blocks to the UP yard to see the train roar out of town.

At Sedalia, UP 3985 and its train was displayed for enthusiastic crowds until 6 PM the following day, when it made a short and fast hop to Kansas City. This was the first evening move of the trip. The sun sets early in October, and a build up of clouds late in the day made for a pretty gloomy departure from town. I was on the west side of the city, perhaps a mile from where departure took place. By the time it reached my location UP 3985 had the train flying. I caught one more shot along the way before complete darkness fell, then I went to KC Union Station to watch it arrive, almost two hours earlier than scheduled. Again, a large crowd gathered ahead of time. The lighting around the parking area was bright so hopefully the video images will be OK. Then I spent some time getting still photos lit only by the station area lights.

After another day on display (it rained for the first time), the train left Kansas City on Tuesday, 10/12/10, for Marysville, KS with servicing in Topeka. Happily, the rain had stopped by morning. This is the same route that was difficult going east, and it was equally difficult going west. Got some nice shots at Bonner Springs, departing Topeka, and arriving at Marysville.

My final day, Marysville to North Platte was again challenging on the way to the transcon connection. I didn’t even catch up at the servicing stop, but managed shots before North Platte as well as arrival there.

Sadly for me, again I had another commitment (a photo special weekend with Soo Line 1003 in Wisconsin) and could not spare the extra days to accompany 3985 on to Cheyenne.

The trip overall was a success in terms of capturing great video and still shots. I also met some very nice people along the way as I passed through beautiful areas of our country.

I heap praise on Union Pacific for their fine steam program and for supporting the communities they serve. I was impressed by all the capacity improvements along the right-of-way in Nebraska since the last time I was there. Even though the economy had still not recovered, I saw a LOT of trains. My only nit - I wish they would have slowed the train occasionally or had longer stops, to allow us photographers a fighting chance to see a little bit more of this beauty. 

If you're interested, the program is featured on our DVD Steam Specials in the Heartland.

Thanks, Steve Mitchell, Yard Goat Images.

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