Will Union Pacific No. 844 run next week?

CHEYENNE, Wyo. – Standing on the Business I-25 bridge overlooking the Union Pacific steam shop last Wednesday, I witnessed a beautiful sight below: 4-8-4 No. 844 in steam, glistening in a fresh coat of black paint, her 80-inch drivers seemingly poised to roll. A six-axle diesel coupled up, obviously in a test of some sort. Eventually, the rebuilt Northern uncoupled, whistled off, and eased back into the shop. I would have loved to have seen her up close or on the main line, but it was not to be.

The engine, which last ran in 2013, is scheduled to pull the Denver Post Frontier Days train July 23, according to UP’s Omaha headquarters. Much work has been done on the locomotive’s firebox, then reassembly, and now it’s almost time for the excursion. Everyone wants to know: Will UP make it?

This old steam fan is hopeful: The engine was out on a test run to Greeley, Colo., Tuesday, July 12. I can tell you this from UP’s own reporting: No. 844’s return to steam has proceeded at a remarkable pace. Two years ago, I was on hand to watch the steam crew return 4-8-8-4 No. 4014 from California for a rebuild. A year later, UP removed the false ceiling in the shop and upgraded its machine tooling. Then it was finally on to No. 844, a 1,472-day inspection, and boiler work. In May, UP did a hydrostatic test and in June, the engine moved under its own power for the first time since this rebuild. Those are both encouraging signs. But as anyone who has been on a crew that has rebuilt engines knows, even after a hydo and a test steam, there are still a million details to attend to, piping to run, and adjustments to make. Those all take time.

A friend of mine, who has been involved in numerous steam locomotive restorations, says a good rule of thumb for a locomotive that has been through a full rebuild is that the engine will be running about six months after a successful hydrostatic test. In the UP’s case, from hydro to running would be about two months. That’s indicative of a lot of hands being applied to the job and a lot of long days and extensive work weeks. UP is, of course, a big organization that can throw resources behind a project to make it happen, but we would all do well to remember that steam locomotives can be unwilling participants when it is time to return them to service. That is true for the tiniest 0-4-0T to the biggest 4-8-4. It doesn’t matter whether it is the smallest non-profit or a big Class I railroad. There will be no steam until the engine says it is ready.

Nobody would be happier to see No. 844 make a successful Frontier Days excursion next week than I would. I love steam locomotives. I think they are valuable souvenirs from the nation’s industrial age, and I admire the people who commit their lives to making them run for us today. No. 844 has been a constant part of the U.S. steam landscape all of my life. She belongs on the main line. I hope that the locomotive is up for the big show next week. But if she’s not, it’s OK. It would be better to get the job done right, even if it takes more time.