up844Union Pacific Steam Excursion plans for 2009 include a month-long (April-May), 32 day 4 state tour operating from Cheyenne-California and returning again to Cheyenne. The round trip  excursion includes 8 scheduled stops in Roseville and Portola, Calif.; Ogden, Utah; and Medicine Bow, Wyo., for respective Centennial celebrations; a Railroad Days visit to Omaha, Neb.; and returning for the annual Cheyenne Frontier Days excursion the weekend of July 16-19.

For the full schedule go to:

http://www.uprr.com/aboutup/excurs/schedule.shtml



No. 844 was the last steam locomotive built for Union Pacific Railroad and was delivered by Alco in 1944. It is currently the largest operating 4-8-4  Northern  at 486,340 pounds. As a high-speed passenger engine, it pulled such widely known trains as the Overland Limited, Los Angeles Limited, Portland Rose and Challenger. When diesel-electric locomotives took over all 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.

Known as Union Pacific’s “Living Legend,” No. 844 returned to service in 2005 after one of the most extensive steam locomotive overhauls in the United States since the 1950s. The work began in 2000 and affected its running gear, pumps, piping, valves and springs. Along with replacement of its firebox and extensive boiler work, the cab interior was refurbished.

A Global Positioning Satellite (GPS) transmitter has been installed on one of the rail cars that will travel with No. 844.