(4K) The Return of UP 844-Chasing UP 844 to the Cheyenne Frontier Days

On July 23, 2016, Union Pacific's 4-8-4 Northern 844 made its return after 3 years of absence from the rails. It pulled the Cheyenne Frontier Days train from Denver to Cheyenne and back on bringing passengers to and from the Cheyenne Frontier Days. I was able to chase it on both of its trips.

[@Jaymindrew1990]

One thing those that have only seen the train in this video don't understand is namely . . . how loud the whistle is. It's way louder than the rest of the locomotive, and it shakes the ground under you too. Incredible!

[@okaythen250]

Who else wants to see 844 pull a freight train down cajon pass or in the Pacific Northwest?

[@Jaymindrew1990]

Remember taking my (then) 2 year old son to see it coming into Greeley, CO during the 2012 Cheyenne Frontier Days run. As it approached the station from the north, my son kept pointing and screaming "CHOO CHOO!!! CHOO CHOO!!!" while looking at random folks to get their attention. It was more for him a declaration of a train approaching. He (in his 2 year old mind) knew it was his solemn duty to "declare the GREATNESS of the event unfolding on everyone there". In his mind, the "greatest event in the history of Choo Choo's was about to begin", and "there has never been so great a Choo Choo event in human history", and he had to make sure everyone there was crystal clear on what was unfolding as you know! :)

[@sethb1663]

Union Pacific has done a great job coming to Cheyenne Wyoming for the Frontier Days and what a beautiful train with its steam engine in the front . Great Job Union Pacific

[@josephbertelsenjr.2436]

I Agre

[@FabioSilva-mt9wr]

Up 844 goes to cheyenne & returns back to Denver CO

[@tankthehedgehog105]

13:58 I love how it starts up like that Aka The whistle

[@singwith]

You did really good. I really liked the cover photo.

[@381singh]

A fantastic video!

[@CNSD75I]

People will most likely hate me for saying this, but I personally think it looks cleaner and sharper without the mars light. Awesome video and chase!

[@Coaster3001]

Thanks! Most people like it with the mars light, but I personally don't know why. I think it looks good either way in my opinion.

[@thatvintageguyXD]

it almost looks like her brother and sisters back in the day.

[@Maximilian7992]

who's her brother

[@thatvintageguyXD]

Terminator X UP 838

[@CrossingTalkAdmin]

I hate you for saying this

[@FabioSilva-mt9wr]

Up #844 running to cheyenne WY

[@FabioSilva-mt9wr]

Up 844 going to cheyenne wy

[@shoebillstonk]

The UP 844 Without the Red Light on top of the Main looks like it shaved its beard and looked so young again

[@FabioSilva-mt9wr]

Up 844 w1989

[@steventruong9124]

The living legend herself in all of her glory it is great to have her back and it is great that more of these beautiful steam giants are returning Return to steam Up 844 Southern pacific 4449 Southern 4501 &630 N&W 611 Soon to return Up challenger 3985 Up big boy 4014 ATSF 2926 NPR 587

[@Train_Tok_Man]

It might be best to update this list. #3985 has been retired.

[@justahillbilly7777]

@@tankthehedgehog105 What the devil are you on about?

[@tankthehedgehog105]

@@justahillbilly7777 Welp- I Was Uhh.. Retarted Back Then- So.. Yeah

[@GenericRailfan]

Awesome whistle at the beginning! Great video!

[@carmonajr18]

it takes two diesels to pull a long passenger train like that,(disinclining the UP 844). The living legend can pull that train like it was nothing. that goes to show you one big steam engine like the 844, or any other engine like her is capable of pulling trains that one diesel can't do.

[@seanblanck819]

I don't know what changed but I have chased the UP locomotives during both steam managers' leadership and I have noticed that under the current leadership the steam whistles sound like the locomotives all have colds. This is in the morning starting out.

[@willberestartingthischanne9984]

Nice Video

[@michaelhollingsworth9209]

I like her steam boat whistle better than the air whistle she carrying

[@FabioSilva-mt9wr]

Up 844 July 23rd 2016 saturday

[@simonchaddock4274]

Nice shot but I have to agree about the chime. Nostalgic the sound may be but the only shot (18:05 on ) when working fairly hard her impressive beat is drowned out!

[@wiestbound]

Great video Josh! Probably the best video Ive seen of the 844 so far on this event!

[@Coaster3001]

Thanks Jordan!

[@unionpacificfan3569]

Coaster3001 Great Video! I Just Subscribed!

[@andygreen6726]

bloody thing would be doing another 20 mph if he laid off the excessive and unnecessary use of the whistle!!

[@IAHFlyer]

While I'm sure you're being facetious, FRA regulations stipulate precise requirements (timing, duration and pattern) for locomotive signaling at all public grade crossings. (49 CFR Part 222) To many of us, = = o = spoken on a Hancock 3-chime long-bell could NEVER be considered "excessive." :)

[@andygreen6726]

Well the US of A has always been the land of excess, so I guess it depends on your point of view.

[@AwesomeDesertTrains]

Andy Green lol nope it's your opinion though

[@Dillon_Goble]

How long does it take them to Wye the train after they get in Cheyenne? And how long after do they leave to Wye the train after it arrives?

[@TestTest-fm2cu]

Hey buddy, I’m getting ready to chase the train both ways this year from Cheyenne to Denver and back July 21 and 22. I’m just wondering if you have any tips on getting fro location to location to beat the train. I figure driving fast is involved, just don’t know if you have any more info?

[@tankthehedgehog105]

WHY WAS HE ABSENT?

[@DenverRailfanHD]

Nice video, I guess that was you that I saw in Cheyenne close to the highway bridge.

[@Trainman3985]

They said the whistle on 844 was off a big boy, 3:33 Now i believe it

[@cellogirl11rw55]

844 is a Big Boy, is it not?

[@silverstatehighiron]

@@cellogirl11rw55 No it's not. Big Boy's are so much more larger.

[@cellogirl11rw55]

@@silverstatehighiron Oh, okay.

[@Odin029]

@@cellogirl11rw55 According to Ed Dickens the head of the UP Steam program, a Big Boy is like two 844 locomotives put together.

[@jaydons7602]

I cant wait to see this train in Kansas!

[@digikitty11]

Missed her when she came to Fort Worth in 2012. Great to see the 844 again, an awesome beauty. Thanks for your great video also, a lot of work goes in to making these!

[@tankthehedgehog105]

It sounds like he’s sick (844) In the beginning

[@cellogirl11rw55]

I'm no expert, but, to me, it sounded like there was water in the whistle.

[@thatvintageguyXD]

Like the Beautiful Beast Coming Back from 3 years of Hibernation! And Now Out And About!

[@Rocky54167]

I didn't think one was aloud inside the yard where it took off from?

[@Stackedwithcash]

why is there always an extra diesel unit attached?

[@MP34.9]

老龙 HEP. It's the only way that the passenger cars can get power to run the AC, lights etc. plus for extra braking just in case.

[@sethb1663]

To help it push up the high slopes !!!

[@cellogirl11rw55]

@@MP34.9 Doesn't 844 have a steam turbo?

[@justahillbilly7777]

@@MP34.9 It's not for HEP, that's what the third passenger car in the consist is for. The Rio Grande heritage unit was there for dynamic braking, and probably for starting and getting up to speed quicker to save on fuel for the 844. Oh, and if there was to be anything go awry on the 844, it could be used to bring the train home. **The only time a diesel is providing HEP for an excursion consist is if it's a passenger diesel with HEP on it. Otherwise, if it's a freight unit, it's there for the reasons I've listed for the Rio Grande heritage unit's presence.**

[@char2c584]

844...The most beautiful engine in my opinion

[@YardLimit]

You did a great job with this chase. You got some great locations. The afternoon thunderstorm sky was very cool. Of course the 4K is awesome!

[@Coaster3001]

Thanks for the kind words!

[@DaleThePig]

That is Definitely NOT 844's real whistle. Her whistle is a lot clearer and cleaner than that. Though it sounds very similar at a higher note, it's not hers. Example: 2:50. That could possibly be 4014's whistle and they're using it on 844 to break it in. Though its still a Hancock long-bell 3 chime, quite a few have their differences.

[@hollywood1340]

Could be a change in placement/piping too.

[@NEAFarmKid4010]

Well, I did also watch a video one time where Ed Dickens was doing a walkaround of the 844, and he said that when they first started off, the whistle was a lot raspier (not sure if that's a word) when they first started off, since there was a lot of condensation in it.

[@NEAFarmKid4010]

Update to what I said earlier, the whistle that's on 844 IS a whistle off of a 4000 class, but they aren't sure which 4000 it's off of. It's not 4014's they have both the whistle that's on it now and the whistle that came off of it in 1961 though.

[@jaredtaylor6941]

Dillon Allison UP 844 has been using the same Big Boy whistle since late 2011.

[@justincollins8266]

That is indeed 4014’s whistle

[@jacksalvin364]

Union Pacific 4-8-4 844 came rolling back to life.

[@Mrfrenchy6883]

It would look better with the red light

[@TimmyEmerine]

What happened to the DDA40X that is always paired with 844 on trips like this?

[@pqhkr2002]

Or paired with an SD40-2, ES44AC, or SD70ACe, never seen it runs alone.

[@unionpacific-bu6to]

The 844 is à fef3

[@捜査一課の日常あるある]

7:00😊

[@SoCalRailVids]

Amazing video Josh! I love the shot at 5:24

[@Coaster3001]

Thanks Damien!

[@SoCalRailVids]

+Coaster3001 No problem!

[@baritonebynight]

I hate the ugly diesel with it, otherwise, beautiful!

[@pqhkr2002]

I don't think it is ugly, but yes, I also think it's not a good idea to put a diesel locomotive in a consist pulled by steam. But sounds like the diesel is off while the train is moving fast, may be it act as fake load? And I saw there was also one or two diesels in steam consist in videos upload years ago. Maybe they also act as spare traction power incase of steam break down?

[@sarahbell1999]

Tom Smith The diesel locomotive also makes electricity for the passenger cars. I also agree that I don't like the diesel with the 844

[@pqhkr2002]

Act as power car? But I remember only passenger models can output electric power to passenger cars, such like SDP40 series, P42 series, F40P series. The diesels in steam consists seems like normal freight models.

[@sarahbell1999]

Tom SmithThats what I have heard and assumed, but if I'm wrong, I can accept that.

[@josephbertelsenjr.2436]

I have been a 4-8-4 Fan ( 4 8 4 Is for short of 844)

[@davidhyer3404]

Can't wait for 4014

[@igorcruzz]

me too

[@捜査一課の日常あるある]

7:12

[@USSCFan148]

5:34

[@mdgfb05]

uuugh without that red light thing it looks horrible