Union Pacific 844 Pulls a Freight Train Out of Denver, CO
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- Опубликовано: 30 сен 2024
- Back in July 2018, I received private word that the 844 would be leaving Denver with a handful of freight cars back up to Cheyenne to close out the 2018 Steam Season. I quickly high-tailed it to Denver's North Yard with nothing more than my own car, and my cell phone's camera. What I captured was the steam team running the giant Northern around its support cars on the Moffat Sub, then backing onto its short assortment of freight bound for Cheyenne. The train is then shoved all the way down the Belt Line Connection, and over to the 36th Street Yard. The tracks are then all lined up for the train to start North on the Greeley Subdivision. It sure was a wonderful surprise, as it had been more than 20 years since the 844 pulled anything other than passenger equipment. Since I was only filming with an IPhone, a couple of clips in this video may have short bits of lag time. I apologize for that. But let me know what you think of everything else! Rate. Comment. Subscribe. ENJOY!!! Copyright Nick Valdez Railroad Photography 2019.
844 was kept in service when the rest were put in storage. Starships and Steam Locomotives inspire awe and wonder. For exactly the same reasons. I want the world to have both. They are useful and beautiful. But there is, and always will be something unique about a steam locomotive that puts it among the modern wonders of the World. Union Pacific deserves the thanks of one and all !
Agree. There's even an anime that has the trains as starships and the main one is the Union Pacific Big Boy.
Galaxy Railways
@@kristinabegail Yep. Crazy how they use Big Boy as the main train despite most of the other trains being freelance design.
"What are you guys doing?" - "Oh, you know... Just making a revenue move using the steam engine, that's all!"
A plan
I remember reading somewhere that because their heritage units are on UP’s active roster, they are required by law to make revenue runs as well. I don’t remember where I saw this and I don’t know if it’s true, so don’t quote me on it.
@ryandunham1047 there's definitely no law saying they must be part of a revenue run. All of UP's steam programs are funded by marketing and historical preservation groups.
@@SD40Fan_Jason Thank you.
Can't wait to see big boy doing the same later this year
Edit: well it turned out I was right
Big boy is coming alive? Really? I can't wait for it!!!!
No joke it's almost done being restored
@@hideri87 almost? Oh man! I can't wait!! Big Boy is my favourite american loco! I'm from Italy and our steam locos are very small, in comparation with Big Boy, but I love both! Gr. 740, Gr. 880, FCL 353 Borsig narrow gauge are some of my favourite locos of our "Bel Paese" :)
@@lowrangemaniac5326 To be totally fair, there's modern ocean-going vessels that are very small in comparison to a Big Boy!
@@Cemi_Mhikku AHAHAHA!!! You're right!!! And more important, those vessels are very fragile in comparison with Big Boy!! XD
Love how she just glides along. And that whistle, almost sounds angry, love it.
Very similar to the Big Boy!
It's 4014's original whistle in fact
844's machinery is magnificent condition, what might be called slightly used museum condition. She runs so quietly with no effort, the power and elegance of this American masterpiece is breathtaking.
This locomotive always looks immaculate. A credit to those people who maintain and drive her. Love the flags at the front.
844 has such an amazing chime set. beautiful whistle blasts
What a magnificent piece of machinery. I had the pleasure of seeing it in person going by the St. Paul Union Depot, a few hundred feet from where I saw the Bicentennial Freedom Train go by many years ago. There ain't nothing like steam!
Poppa Steve What year did it go past Union Depot?
just an awesome spectacle of power and engineering. There's just something about a steam locomotive that is just awe inspiring......
@Kathleen Shaw You can tell it's hard at work.
@Kathleen Shaw All the moving parts are on the outside unlike a internal combustion engine.That's what I like about it too.
It would be a shame to let all that power go to waste hauling just a couple of support cars...give her some real work to do.
it's probably pulling 25 or so cars that's maybe 2500 tons that's a pretty good load
wasn't the 844 a passenger locomotive originally FEF-iii class if i remember correct
There’s a video of the UP challenger pulling over 100 freight cars! She passes 3 Diesel electrics pulling a similar load!
@@mattwalden4020 143 Doublestack container wellcars, whilst managing 40-60mph
@@mattwalden4020 143 cars. And the diesels had 70.
I guess steam is still king
Going back home? Take some freight with you. Earn your room and board.
This a great demonstration of what these large steam locomotives were capable of doing. It will be amazing to see Big Boy 4014 on special occasions to pull a long freight train from Cheyenne to Ogden Utah over Sherman Hill as a demonstration of what the Big Boy Locomotives were designed to do.
David Grisez I bet they’re going to do that eventually. Ed knows that’s what we would love to see as a Big Boy has not been heard under steam since 1959, much less under steam on Sherman Hill working hard.
@Zero_Code_Name_Reaper The run you referred to,#3985 hauled a water tender, tool car, 28 five unit articulated stack cars plus a caboose, total 31 cars. That is what would have been on the conductor's paperwork. I know a video(now a DVD) was produced about this run( August 1st 1990) the sleeve notes showed what you qouted but they were in error as I have shown. Hope this info is of help.
Neat! Needs a caboose.
Don't need it.
@Galaxy Purple Cause she's just such a diva
How'd you like to hear that on a moonlit night. I would!
844 was just showing what an old steamer can do.
@Union Pacific big boy fan How? By pulling ~26 cars?
@@Jemalacane0 i know right
@Union Pacific living legend fan Hmm, not the best choice of words for this situation. I mean, 21 freight cars (plus auxiliary tender and tool cars) is a pretty good load for a passenger locomotive like 844, but to a freight locomotive like 3985, that's nothing. And most diesels can also handle this same load solo.
She proved that back in the 80’s or 90’s when she had to shove a massive freight train up a hill because it stalled and she was stuck behind it, while pulling her own train too.
@@James-Railyard wasn't that 3985? back when she was still running?
i'd say you've got a darn good phone. good enough vid quality for me that's for sure.
thanks for filming and posting this.
freight moving under steam power in America! who thought of that? cool huh?
I know I'm going to rile a bunch of 4014 fans but 844 is just a more aestetically pleasing machine.
Geez that whistle is unmatched!!
MrPLC999 ikr
American Steam engines have the loud and proud whistles! Sends tingles down my spine when I hear them blow!
Autobot Soldier It’s Awesome How Loud It Is
I like the Long-Chime Hancock 3 bell whistle on the 844
611’s whistle sounds a little better to me, but not by much, and that’s strictly personal preference at any rate.
Something on my bucket list is to see the 4014 hauling a fully loaded freight train by itself. I really want to see a Big boy locomotive maxed out.
Ended up on this video after looking at more videos of 4014 pushing the stalled freight train and then I see this comment, kinda ironic lol
A truly amazing piece of heavy machinery! If it wasn't for the turbine whine (I assume), you'd hardly hear a thing! So weird not hearing that loud throbbing diesel drone, plus it puts out little smoke. Arn't those locos hard on the track? Nice video work!
The only complaint I have is that the train wasn't longer. But other than that, this was great to see! Especially with her basically doing switching moves
If it was in the steam era it might have been longer, as today's cars are much heavier then they were then.
Due to modern safety restrictions and rules, some steamers can't haul the large trains they use to pull due to the fact they have no air brakes, hence a diesel with air brakes are added to the back of the train and don't really do much but at like a caboose
@@zanefraser714 That kind of sucks. I'd love to see one of these pull a full train.
Zane fraser I think you mean Dynamic brakes, steam locomotives do have air brakes. They wouldn't be able to control those cars at all if they didn't, at any length.
@@andrewlucia865 oh right. Why don't we update them with dynamic brakes then
Just goes to show there’s nothing like raw power
They have the 844 pulling freight again
that would be nice to start seeing more steam engines come back to life it reminds me of my grandfather's time he told me that that's what the steam engines main job was
danny watson cowboyref I’m assuming you also know about the Big Boy 4014’s restoration? It should be back in service pretty soon.
So 844 is performing so well and is such a solid machine that UP says why not use to haul some stuff if it's headed that direction anyway?
They're burning some coal. Might as well make some money off it ^.^
@@tanall5959 , I am pretty sure that 844 was converted to oil when it was still new, but I take your point, running some freight helps offset a bit of the cost of operating heritage steam.
They will do that sometimes. The Challenger was pressed into freight service hauling a container train when the regular locomotives had a breakdown.
@@rescue270, 3985 is next in line for a full restoration if I read correctly. Wouldn't it be a sight to see 3985 and 4014 double heading freight down the rails? I wonder if they ever have in the past?
@Artisan Auto Body The combined traction force of Challenger & 4041 would be one for the books. Wonder how long & heavy a load they could pull together ?
That engine is such a beauty
Actually switching cars. Wonderful. And doing actual work instead of putting on a show for rail-fans. Too shiny though. It needs to work though the tunnels west of Denver to look realistically filthy. .
Great video, Really hope they get 4014 pulling some heavy freight soon. I wanna shit talk with a steam loco crew wtf
4014 made her first unassisted steps in some half a century a day or so ago, just a couple hundred yards through the yard, but she’ll be on a break in run within the month and in service by June
From the looks of her wheels, looks like she has been doing some real work for a bit. Why not? :-)
I would love to see Union Pacific put 844 to work once in awhile make her pull some freight earn her keep.
I know I'd be thrown for a loop to be waiting at a crossing for a freight to pass then suddenly see #844 as the lead engine! That would definitely be a "holy s**t" moment! It would be like "where the hell are the diesels?"
At this point, I'd do almost anything to see this old girl coming at 75mph while I was waiting at a crossing. Apparently that's not going to happen anymore around here.
Fact: when this freight train reminds me of something
844 ACTTULY PUSHED A FREIGHT TRAIN
It's kind of a surreal video. Like a view into some kind of alternate reality where integrated circuits and microprocessors were still invented but diesels never existed, so the globe stuck with steam power into the new millennium.
Thanks to Union Pacific for supporting railroad history! It is very much appreciated.
Always nice to see a steamer doing yard work
Is UP 844 being put in regular service?!? I hope so
NJ-Railfanning -NJT
No. Excursion use only.
It would be a bit costly to run it for regular service considering its efficiency and how much bits it has but poor countries or countries that cant have diesels or eletric to run them would probably be very glad to put this for regular use
No way. She’s unique. It would be wrong to wear her out in regular service. Besides, the infrastructure to service and maintain her no longer exists outside of Cheyenne.
Labor costs for the maintenance a steam locomotive requires would promptly nix the idea.
Be really impressive hooked up to 100 or more cars, like a real freight train.
the big boy can pull a 5.4 mile freight with no helpers at all. 1 big boy on level track can obtain 75 mph in no time
@Micheal Wood 844 is a challenger not a big boy, it can pull a 5 mile freight train.
c00lkid1001 gaming & vlogs 844 is not a challenger
c00lkid1001 gaming & vlogs 844 is an 844
c00lkid1001 gaming & vlogs also the 5 mile is theoretical and on flat track with no load. Furthermore the up challenger is a 4-6-6-4 type locomotive numbered 3985, the 844 hence it’s name, is a 4-8-4
Best part of this operation is no stinking diesel.
Diesel is like napalm.
I love the smell of it in the morning
The 844 never looks like 844 without the beatiful yellow cars..
But it used to do this work back then though at least I think 🤔
Of course it did it was a freighter before fuel efficent but lower power generating diesels took over
Same for the union pacific big boy class
And also the 9000 class and other locomotives that look like freight locomotives
If the 844 is scheduled in the next town they may as well make money taking the locomotive there. Good thinking UP.
Is the Union Pacific the only railroad to still have steam powered freight service ?
In the U.S. at least outside of "tourist" railroads.
I know the small town Strasburg Railroad in Strasburg, PA has a small freight service but only for the town and it’s delivered from the NS mainline in Paradise, PA. Other than that, the UP rarely uses their steam fleet for freight.
Orion TheGamingRaptor Iowa Interstate’s Chinese QJ 2-10-2s have been known to pull freight on occasion.
it's very rare to see the old steam engines do work like that they usually like that train usually just carries passengers cars
It's said to be extremely rare for 844 to do this
That was positively fantastic! Love it! Leaking piston rod packings really upset the nice sounds though, and it was a bit of a let down to see no caboose. And I wish they'd ditch those fake electronic "bells" at the grade crossings. ;)
Geez, I wonder if this 844 freight train has a caboose at the back of the train.
It has a FRED and Mary telemetry, The red blinky light on the rear coupler and a black box in the engine. The BNSF guys call FRED--F##kn' rear end device.
What a great Catch !! and that kid at the beginning will have no idea what he really witnessed . A true large steam unit doing what they REALLY did and not just do excursion / publicity runs. oh, and the people on the crossings - sitting in your car thinking - " oh , I hate waiting on trains " and then 844 sits in front of you for a minute or two ! ( people in the small black car ) THanks for the load , AND Thanks to UP for letting us watch it ! We have 1225 running up here once in a while always a treat , but THIS is something different !! :)
Well this train is not going to be pulling people over again most likely hopefully I get to ride behind the big boy one day...
I love how UP just like hooks up revenue trains to their old steamers just cause they can
Instead of shiny new coaches, he was pulling a very dirty freight train. “A freight train, a freight train, a freight train!” He grumbled. “The shame of it, the shame of it, OOH the shame of it!”
You hear the whistle and at like a steam train with passenger cars but you see freight instead.
when it passed the first crossing backwards the driver was like "oh just another freight switch" , but then he/she sees that big black steamer and she's like "oh hot DAMN"
What is the car immediately behind the tender? Auxiliary tender with water only??
Yes, its an auxiliary water tank for 844. All of UP's steam locomotives try to have one if they can
You can see that the engine is missing its signature Mars headlamp. It’s also important to highlight that the talented Steve Lee doesn’t drive this engine anymore.
"handful of freight cars"
If that's Americas idea of a handful, you must have pretty big hands. :o
Awesome to see though :)
Even tho she was built primarily for passenger. It doesn’t mean she can’t handle a 20 car train
So is she a museum piece, or is she still in active service?
A bit of both. 844 is used primarily for publicity and good will tours - but as the above video shows, a little active service now and then. I especially like the video of the 844 giving a helping hand to a stalled freight ahead of her: ruclips.net/video/RU9uEwSGp9M/видео.html
Union Pacific I appreciate your persistence and support to bring back this totally awesome train. I want to ride on one before I die so it's on the bucket list. I will be watching for updates on the next one coming out of round house.
Is the second car, the first yellow one, behind the locomotive a second tender?
Larry Hopper yes.
Aquí sería impresionante ver una locomotora de vapor por estas vías mexicanas escuchar su silvido alo lejos que chido sería o subirme en una locomotora de vapor en movimiento que chido sería
😊😊😊😊
NIce job Nick!
In the words of Gen. George S. Patton, "You magnificent Bastard!"
Looks odd seeing a steamer with a FRED on the rear of the train. The Steam Crew needs another caboose.
A great tractive effort from the old steamer
Not really. It's only 63,800 lbf. A Tier 4 ES44AC has a tractive effort of 270,000 lbf.
@@Jemalacane0 Only when standing still. Once a steam locomotive gets going it produces more power per ton in weight, in comparison to an equivalent weight diesel locomotive. All the while based on torque.
@@MarcABrown-tt1fp More specifically steam locomotives gain more tractive effort at speed, while a diesel locomotive loses tractive effort at speed.
A train a steam locomotive can pull is one it can't start, but a train a diesel can start is one it can't pull.
Gosh, that's cool. Just a steam locomotive pulling freight with no assist. The way it should be.
Can’t wait to take trip down to watch big boy!!!
Hey Keith! Take a page out of the UP’s playbook! They will soon have the big boy no doubt pulling a modern freight just because it can! Like the challenger did!
Wouldn’t it be nice to see a museum Selkirk fired up pulling a long train along the prairies because it can? In the mountains would be asking too much. Modern diesels do that job well without adding power. Plus, wouldn’t want to disrupt CP’s timetable too much. The Selkirk sitting in the museum that lent out its whistle to 2816 was practically new when retired.
m.ruclips.net/video/fWcJJDmRduc/видео.html
Yeah man That Is a loco not like the diesel junks of now
Well done video! Thank you. Glad to see them using the steam locomotive for something useful for once.
Love me some Heavy Metal.
hard to beat still does the job does it get any better
Beautiful loco , regards from the UK.
it did not have to be the reason #844 took the freight instead of 1943 was #844 had an accident and that accident could have been avoided
I love Train's so much love that sound of the steam engine from back in the old days
That's a whistle with authority.
The train is old-fashioned but still very good. awesome.
What is the guy in the high-vis saying at the start? I can't quite make it out.
Since she is still in active service, I suppose this is a perfect way to utilize her. I am sure she was proud of the opportunity.
Looove 844 she is beautiful
Something wrong about a steam train that doesn't have a caboose at the end. It's like not completin...
Light work for 844, if all loaded this train makes 2500 tons at most.
Love the bell, this is a nice sounding real bronze one and not these clunky sounding cast iron things they call bells now, but I asume most locomotives would not have a bell at all after some time when they were still bronze.......
It would be closer to 25,000-35,000 tons.
The train itself (without locomotive) is 2 support cars and 21 freight cars.
The support cars are apr. 55 tons each, a fully laden freight car can have a maximum weight of 120 tons.
2x55tons plus 21x120tons makes 2630 tons.
But at least the grain hopper is empty, it makes a very hollow sound when rolling past.
The loco itself with tender is 414 tons and the additional water car about 140-150 tons, but loco weight is usually not counted in the train weight.
They gave 4014 a short freight of hopper cars this year, (2019) but I only saw the picture in a magazine and not on the Internet.
Thanks for sharing this video. I'd seen 844 towing this consist back though Greeley but didn't have camera equipment with me. Again, thanks for sharing.
HI Nick. I was going to comment on frame rate and shutter speed until I read how you shot it. Nice work with just a phone! I look forward to seeing more :-)
That is so cool to see it's doing its old job what used to do I bet it that train misses doing it
Actually 844 was a passenger locomotive. She hauled a few freight trains in the year after all passenger service was switched to diesel power. After that she was stored for special use only.
I was expecting a Big Boy or maybe a Challenger. What class is 844? I can tell she's a 4-8-4 at least.
Never mind, looked her up. An FEF-3 class from the FEF series. FEF standing for the wheel arrangement of Four-Eight-Four.
Her class is in power.
Does anyone know how they powered the air brakes?
Same as more modern engines - with an air compressor. I'm going to guess that 844 uses a steam powered compressor, rather than an electric powered one, but air brakes have been around since before 1900, well before 844 was built.
@@FalbertForester Thank you! I had no idea how steam trains did brakes until today. Previously when I saw steam trains pulling modern cars, there was always a diesel locomotive for electrical and air.
I don’t think a diesel was ever there for air. They’re usually there for electrical (not in the case of UP, they use generator cars), dynamic braking, and as something to lean on so as to cut down on wear and fuel consumption.
What a cool look at yesteryear! Thanks for posting.
That was incredible so much beauty and power thanks for the video !!Oh and the poor boy at 4:17 may need change of underwear after that ;)
Black gloss paint, maximize sheet metal with dent :(
It’s just epic how this old steamer just glides in and out of different tracks, picking up more cars like nothing like “this ain’t shit”
I’m sick of the diesel train horns. These are much better. I also liked the fade out you did in the end with the crossing
great video
that is so awesome!!!!...thank you
During ferry moves between excursions.
Beautiful to see that mechanism. . .
4.500 hp, 414 t with tender ... great Iron Horse !
I have wondered, can the 844 actually travel on the whole Moffat Sub? Or do they not do it because of the 6.2 mile tunnel?
Love the 844's whistle!
yes it is it helps me sleep at night
Do 844 and 4014 have the same whistle?
844 uses the original whistle of 4014
Effortless
@@NortheastCorridorFilms Power...
Is the main reason 844 stayed in Colorado for a few extra days because of the accident of the death of that woman who didn't get away from the train when it crossed the crossing and did this happen while 844 was on its way back to Cheyenne from Denver bringing passengers from denver to Cheyenne for Cheyenne frontier days 2018? and am I the only one upset that 844 won't be going to Denver to get passengers for Cheyenne frontier days 2019 because it's run there is cancelled for 2019? And is844 no longer gonna head there to get passengers for the foreseeable future of the frontier days in Wyoming I'm not saying is it no longer gonna head there ever only for when it's the Cheyenne frontier days in July
👌👌👌👌
This is a bomb ass video! Great trains, great sound, etc! Thank you for sharing!
I always get a thrill from watching these videos of 844! Thanks Nick.
WOW! SO COOL!
It makes you wonder what sort of unusual circumstances must have lead to up 844 specifically being used to pull freight when they were a lot of diesel locomotives around. Either that or union pacific did this for publicity, Either way I’m happy. It makes you wonder what big boy 4014 would look like doing the same nowadays.