Union Pacific 844 2017 Break-In Run Part 2

For more on this series of videos, be sure to check out Part 1. But in Part 2, we STOMP out of our stop near Pierce and let the drivers fly down Union Pacific's Greeley sub. There's many a crossing to blow for, and many a town to fly through. During this video, you'll see the engineer of the diesel work HARD on trying to hold the 1944 Northern back. The speeds vary from 70 to 45 mph. Don't quit yet, as Greeley is just ahead! Rate. Comment. Subscribe. ENJOY!!! Copyright Nick Valdez Railroad Photography 2017.

[@william121852]

I just sit and stare at the screen and watch this handsome brute haul !! There is NOTHING like a steam engine running proud !

[@thecapisoffyt]

Its called a steam locomotive

[@thecapisoffyt]

@@JohnGTheEmperor steam engines are stationary and make power for things like homes and other stuff. Steam locomotives haul freight and/or passenger cars.

[@thecapisoffyt]

@@JohnGTheEmperor i already explained the differences between them two, are you blind?

[@marthagunn2933]

In the 1950s when the F3s & F7s came, the diesels thought they would replace the 844; the 844 "we will just outrun them!" Plenty of accounts of UP 800s making better time with more crosswinds than a 3 engine F unit set & more tonnage & still outrunning them ;D

[@marthagunn2933]

You can just imagine the engineer's mindset; "break in run / clear track & green signals" = "WE'LL RIDE NOW!" ;D

[@rixplace1792]

One runs out of superlatives when describing this magnificent piece of craftsmanship, and the dedication of the men and women responsible and their sweat and their ideas to move this iron creature from a scrap yard to this run. I hope that in the years to come the names of all who worked on the steam crew will have their names on a bronze placque on the building where the efforts took place

[@Luxumburg]

Crazy how fast it can just get up and go.

[@Texassince1836]

Mason Tartaglia can run 120, never gets over 80

[@garag3054]

And go & go & go...

[@xp9792]

Ah. The 844 is a magnificent locomotive, probably the finest! The Big Boys were just a beast of a work horse, but the 844s were elegant!

[@danielkeene3852]

I still prefer the GS4 for elegance, but those FEFs were also beauties.

[@specquefabrice9712]

Coucou à tous, mon grand père conduisait une locomotive à vapeur type 141tc nord, je suis fan de train et je trouve cette locomotive magnifique, je retrouve quelques lignes des machines livrées par l'Amérique à la France après la seconde guerre mondiale, bravo à la toute l'équipe de la 844 👍😉🇫🇷

[@marthagunn2933]

With a cruising speed of 70mph she must be a joy to handle & turn loose on the high plains she was built to rule ;D

[@stevehazzard3120]

Brute power! An absolutely magnificent machine that mesmerizes my attention as it is gliding down the track! Thanks for posting this and the other break-in videos!

[@busterqhorse4226]

That is an awesome display of engineering.

[@YurrickLamhfhada]

I find it absolutely hilarious that a single Diesel/Electric engine can somehow take away from people's ability to appreciate this marvelous steam-driven locomotive. Stop whining and just enjoy the sound of steam xD

[@dandooley5883]

Absolutely fantastic thanks for sharing this

[@dandooley5883]

Absolutely fantastic thanks for sharing thisl.p.

[@YurrickLamhfhada]

This is also classified as a "Break-In" run. Meaning that it's a test run to insure that everything is functioning at optimal capacity after the last maintenance/overhaul so a little extra insurance in the form of DYNAMIC BRAKING never hurts if it's there to save the Rainbow Sun from extra wear and tear.

[@Texassince1836]

But guess what happens when the Diesel goes Notch 8 while you're trying to stop?

[@garag3054]

And that glorious whistle!

[@marthagunn2933]

Don't you just love her 300psi whistle!

[@eliaslundstedt5607]

I often go with my dad to a narrow gauge railway and enjoy the company of the people there. most of them are long time friends of my dad. We drive passenger trains and old Commuter trains used when this railway was in government service. we use them as the main shuttling of passengers on the summer. we also pull a full train with often 2 diesels so that it can make it up hills. I would suggest you search up the Z4p if you wanna see for yourself what kinda diesel it is. We have 2 working steam engines and 6 that will be renovated. we have one that we are working on and after that we will start work on a GP loco. its a steamer that was the absolute workhorse class of steamers for SJ in the 40s and 50s. that one is real nice. I just rememberd the time when some drunk Middle eastern men were walking on the track. we were arpoaching at about 40 kmh wich is the top speed of the Z4p. It is actually a shunting engine but it was mostly used in a pair of 2 to haul cargo on the state operated narrow guages back in the day. anyway my dad was looking back at the train so he could see the train when going through a curve. he did not see the men at that time so I jumped the horn and gently engaged the brakes and my dad looked at me then at the track and then just nodded and let me handle the situation. the idiots on the track looked back and walked of the track. we had by then slowed down to about 15 - 20 kmh. the 2 dudes flipped us of and called us racist fucks for signaling the horn at so called "vulnerable poor foreigners" I then tapped the horn and one got so scared that he fell backwards into the ditch, spilling whatever alcohol he had in his hand. Me and my dad laughed our asses of and he put the throttle high enough to slowly gain speed. bare in mind that we had passengers in 4 coaches. so we did it gently to apologize for the inconvience. a couple of people had their heads out the windows and spread the word in th coaches and everyone pointed and laughed at the dickheads on the track one we drove by. This was a story of a funny railway incident and a little insight on the type of railway it happned on. thank you for letting me share it.

[@garag3054]

Another wonderful video 😍 it’s fun to watch her build up that speed & keep going at such fast pace. The long straight track adds a lot to the beauty of the motions of the 8’s which becomes very entrancing & kind of tense feeling.

[@jefflanduyt6750]

Love how the engineer can make the old girl sing!

[@gregthecanuck]

Amazing to see the 844 running. Thanks for the videos.

[@Thatwackytech]

NUTHIN adds a BIG dose of "BAD-ASS" to a locomotive like Elephant ears... A Thousand tons of rolling thunder... TOO cool....

[@marthagunn2933]

Nothing on land can catch her! The Overland Route's flagship performing as Almighty & UP intended her to in 1944. Roller bearing equipped giant barely breaks a sweat on this consist.

[@AngryProtoBoi]

I think roller bearings were too much of a hassle for the FEF class, so they didn’t use them alltogether.

[@chrisylink]

I think this is the most amazing thing I've seen in a long time

[@TheDisabledGamersChannel]

You just can't beat the aw inspiring sights and sounds of a Steam Locomotive, you just can't !

[@ccaammiinniiito2]

At 4:27/13:16, we're being treated to one of the most beautiful sights to behold, breezing along with the breeze across the prairie in a vehicle such as this. Some people are born under the right sign. No doubt about it. And the crew in the locomotive are those people.

[@PANRamalho]

In one word. Fantastic. I am sorry that in Portugal with so many steam locomotives and that they are no longer used especially with tourists and children so that they could see what it was like in the old days.

[@BhagyanagarRE]

Only Americans know how to preserve protect & present HISTORY proudly.. Hats off American Bro's & Sis's PS: diesel & electric engine fans thr is a thing called "beauty" as well.. That's a beauty !!

[@ajf3202]

UK??? Have you seen the amount of preserved locomotives in running order here.

[@organbuilder272]

That is a beautiful sight. Magnificent machine - a real survivor. Beautiful camera-work Mr. Valdez. Thanks for the memories.

[@Handorgeous]

Wow this train can fly. To fast to appreciate but still beautiful.

[@robertvalderaz7329]

What an awesome site to behold, i was born a bit late to witness such an event. Be to see it now is magnificent. What I would give to be in the cab.

[@dinomagick]

I heard that because the 844 is a 'working' locomotive, which means it fully active an sometimes pulls freight and stuff, that the transportation regulations stated a diesel locomotive had to 'accompany' any steam locomotive in order to provide modern safety features and backup. Not sure that is true, but it does make sense.

[@robertcampbell9946]

Tara Misteria if you want to see power check out the mighty challenger pulling143 cars without assistance. up Sherman hill

[@byronpink9061]

Excellent job on the video footage! Steamers live forever!

[@kempmt1]

WOW! I seriously didn't know steam locomotives were that fast! I assumed steam locomotives were either museum pieces, left in a field to rust, or scrapped. This train reminds me of the “Freedom Train” that was on display in 1976 in Wichita Falls, Tx.

[@vanguard6498]

Mankinds ability to harness the elements and create great machines, inspiring.

[@glennfrancis9031]

Just awesome. It's almost frighting seeing that much mass spinning so fast! Notice the bird at 2:00?

[@davidclarke4343]

That bird got cooked.

[@marthagunn2933]

Hats off to the fireman as well; he has the fire so clean that the only smoke is when he cleans the flues with a scoop of sand or two ;D

[@cnrailfanproductions3468]

hey thanks nick for pt 2 nice footage and thank you

[@marthapoole263]

You can tell by her whistle how much 844 loves to be run at her potential ;D

[@shadowblissfang2397]

Would love to see one of these beautiful beasts come through Phoenix, AZ. What a sight to behold would that be. ;)

[@charleswendt4868]

Almost everytime I see a steam engine it seems to be helping move some poor broken diesel.

[@chrishansen1293]

For as little as $10 a month, you to can help 844, 3985, and 4014 care for and raise sickly and abandoned diesels back to health and return them back to a loving home.

[@ryanhopf8324]

The diesels are there to provide electricity to the coaches and dynamic braking, think of them as a rolling powerplant

[@butchvick660]

I started the RR under steam and worked to transform to H.E.P E.M.D's there's nothing like this Beauty absolute art

[@Zy_trex]

Amazing Video! When UP 844 Gets put out of service maybe restoring a FEF-1 Or FEF-2 Would be nice and get 844 back out to run with her earlier models

[@marthagunn2933]

Can you imagine the surprise of the F3s built to run around her!

[@russse2793]

Enjoyed your videos. Thank you for posting.

[@gaylenemorley916]

I love the chug chug 844 starts out doing right up to speed you lucky men that drive her look at her go go go go 844

[@grishotik2022]

Завораживающее зрелище,он как живой,крутая железяка!Америке есть чем гордиться.Прекрасное видео,спасибо

[@digndurt6936]

Awesome to see on video, wish I could view it live. Then take a ride to experience the momentum, must be a RUSH!!

[@jerrys.8926]

Pure poetry in Motion

[@rolomaticz5009]

I have seen one of these in a museum, probably converted to fuel oil and missing the coal feed auger. It would be nice to see some footage of the original electrically operated coal feed auger system in operation. These large boilers were not shovel fed. I surmise that the original steam dynamo generator powered electrical coal feeders were scrapped long ago and this uses a modern fabricated coal auger feed system, still it would be nice to see it in eyes on operation under power in the engineer cab.

[@josefhyatt2780]

No CAD, no computer modeling....just men with a slide rule and guts!

[@oernest]

Thank You for this Video, great to see those giants back again!

[@taruntolambia8413]

Amazing Video Great Videography and Nice Location Thanks for Video. " इस विडीयो को देखते हुए ऐसा लगता है जैसे मैं खुद Union Pacific 844 Train के साथ दौड़ रहा हूँ "।

[@recnepsgnitnarb6530]

It will be an awesome sight to see Big Boy running again.

[@dumdum7786]

I can't wait for that day, it was pretty dang screwed up so it may be a while

[@thatbeardedsoapguy5082]

excellent footage!

[@robertgift]

Well planned and done steady videos! Thank you. Place the diesel at the rear of the train.

[@didosauce6008]

The diesel is helping to slow down the train with its dynamic breaking

[@jamiesuejeffery]

@@didosauce6008 And to supply power to the trailing cars when on excursions.

[@juans6639]

EXCELLENT VIDEO!

[@garrettsipe4626]

LOL that bird at 1:59

[@ryanhopf8324]

He got thrown by the smoke and up draft

[@davidclarke4343]

One heck of a chase crew!!!

[@williamhelus3522]

I exist in Gree(z)ley, Colorado. I remember that day. Dropped what I was doing, and headed downtown. BullyBilly.

[@pcrengnr1]

Look close at the valve gear setting and you'll see she is hardly using steam. She must be lightly loaded. Even with the valve gear just barely cracked open she is fast.

[@thomasdupee1440]

It is best to operate a steam engine with the valve as close to center as possible and allow the steam expansion to do the work rather than the steam volume. It conserves steam and allows the engine to accelerate with less cylinder back-pressure. The only time that the valve would be operated "in the corner" (long valve travel) would be during starting.

[@robertbruce7686]

This could be mech pron but....awesome!!

[@marthapoole263]

Try watching this video with "love life and laughter" playing & imagine the rods rolling to the beat ;D

[@denizen9998]

I know its a 4-8-4 but it looks as big as an articulated.

[@Supernaut2000]

Somehow I feel that this living engine is merely loafing along and is capable of even faster speeds...

[@michaelmoses8745]

This old girl is lounging about. 844 is rated to hit 120 mph if I'm not mistaking.

[@djones98501]

I've seen some cool stuff, but there's this... awesome

[@Jim-wh1tx]

Wow.. I did not think those steam engines was that bad ass ... Man was I wrong...holy sh&_$ ...wow!!! Look at that beast move!!!😲

[@williamoneal3947]

Brute power....love it, love it !

[@marthapoole263]

You know the engineer is seasoned because of his whistle pattern ;D

[@organbuilder272]

You look at that long, sleek, black machines churning along the tracks. Don't think of the roaring inferno trapped just ahead of the cab and the thousands of gallons of roiling, boiling water turned to steam to drive those reciprocating pistons. Those rods and reversing gear linkage are almost hypnotic. Well they belie the power that monster generates. The mornful wail of the whistle reaching out over the plains tell of a great machine f rom the past has returned to its rightful place in the world. What is that funny looking thing they are dragging behind the second water tender? The purple mountains majesty stands above the plain looking on this great machine pulling that great long train.

[@stephenharrison645]

Awesome piece of machinery

[@conservativejones3537]

Wow... the ole girl is literally Haulin the Mail..

[@fredstuckmann]

Great video Nick. I was thinking, if the 844 and tender ever separated, the yellow vest would be ground beef. Standing on one and holding on to the other.

[@marthagunn2933]

She can run like the winds across the prairies over which she runs! At 40-45mph she is only drifting

[@yogibear4682]

Oh god, that funking whistle is a funkin pain in the funkin ass.

[@Patriot1776]

OOh, so the diesel at times was being used to hold the 844 back with its dynamic brakes? WOW! XDD

[@ROADTRAIN23]

The diesel is put into dynamic braking to simulate a load for 844, which Ed controls from the cab of 844.

[@ryanhopf8324]

@@ROADTRAIN23 that's actually a good idea, so they can alter the load amount on the fly without having to stop and disconnect cars

[@jmeyer3rn]

She’s a beauty. Such speed, great whistle, nice profile. What year was she built. It’s so nice to watch those wheels race along the tracks. Thanks for a really wonderful video, UP!!!

[@oologahnorthernrailroad8873]

Judith Meyer she was built in December of 1944.

[@pauls9331]

Great camera work

[@Condor1970]

OK, that is just awesome!

[@zuke-ci4vd]

This is so awesome! I was wondering how fast you were going while filming this. Plus, is the diesel using its dynamic braking system to keep the 844 under control? I was under the impression it was there to "tow" the 844 back to station if it should break down.

[@nathanschmidt4889]

Dyno-Brakes primarily, followed by HEP, but emergency power if all else fails. They would sooner try to fix her on the road than be pushed into the terminus.

[@yamahonkawazuki]

frig this old girl has it in spades. she accelerates quickly

[@denisesoulier335]

belles images et Loco magnifique

[@knubrx7smith524]

Anyone else notice at the 1:59 - 2:00 min mark the poor bird getting blasted by the steam horn. Was flying in same direction as the 844 lol

[@nmarkose]

That’s a beast!

[@DavidWilliams-hf8sc]

Who knew boiled water could be so damn impressive.

[@josefhyatt2780]

Look at her fly!!!

[@bobuk5722]

That is something quite amazing. BobUK

[@UP4014SteamTrainFan]

+nick Valdez okay I'm really excited to ride it again I ride it from Kansas City to Maryvilles

[@stobbyenduromx9692]

Can someone from america answer this for me. Is there some kind of rule dictating that trains need to blow the horns/whistles as a warning when approaching level crossings? Because here in australia the only time you'll hear a train horn is a teeny little pop of a single horn when leaving a station or you'll occasionally hear a train horn if an animal or person is on the tracks.

[@donv901]

The short answer is Yes. Two longs, one short followed by another long blast as it enters the crossing is the standard rule.

[@darkchaotix1productions326]

It's also cuz idiot's on the road like to chance it

[@glenroysterling6496]

LOL

[@Mr.AtheTriggerGalleon6310]

Yes,I'm in America and trains must blow horn to make sure no idiot person or car is on the tracks. I hear them all the time.

[@eliaslundstedt5607]

haha yeah same here in sweden. One signal before and one once we enter the crossing. at least thats the common rule on all the active narrow gauge 891mm railways.

[@3larryhunter]

Look at Her High Ballin!

[@drrgperrin]

Were/are diesel electrics required to have "break-in runs"? If not, that is another advantage that they must have had when railways had to decide whether to dieselize or stay with steam. Great video, for which much thanks!

[@1973mre]

Robert G. Perrin everything needs a break in run. Don't be mistaken that the diesel didn't have to do the same thing. Even when you have a new engine it needs to be broken in. Just like ships need a shakedown run.

[@drrgperrin]

That makes sense. Thanks.

[@bitsnpieces11]

Also you could do a break-in run on the diesel engine itself (without the rest of it) after it was assembled in the shop to make sure it would run well. Then you would ship the engine to UP for installation.

[@marthagunn2933]

No green crew on this run! ;D

[@ВикторОстроух]

Отличный локомотив, и дыма почти не видно!

[@johnchadwicktilton]

At about what point are they in the 70 M.P.H. range ?

[@timengland3649]

It was a beautiful site except for the Diesel Electric in tow! Either trust the 844 or scrap her. She doesn't need a chaperone to the dance.

[@williamsquires3070]

Tim England - The diesel is there for insurance reasons; also, if they had some unexpected problem (such as running out of fuel/water), the diesel could still get the train to the next major siding. If they didn't trust in the mechanical soundness of the 844, they wouldn't run her.

[@1973mre]

Tim England I heard from the main guy on other videos say they use the diesels for dynamic braking. They wired a Control in the cab.

[@pkoehrer1]

Being from the UK I would agree with you, shame to see that ghastly diesel sitting there but if that is what to takes to allow her to run then so be it.

[@percy.5778]

its to provide power for the coaches

[@organbuilder272]

The 844 is more than capable of supplying power for whatever. There is a steam turbine driven dynamo that you can hear screaming for that purpose. It is at the top of the firebox just in front of the cab roof.

[@trampleopfer8963]

leider nichts zu ziehen. nur mit sich selbst beschäftigt. trotzdem top film. danke.

[@bobyharyadi990]

wooowww amazing videoo !!!

[@pauljaworski9386]

I always wondered. what's the reason for the flat sides on the front of the 844?

[@chrishansen1293]

Smoke deflectors. Incoming air pushes on the exhaust up to keep it from choking out and blinding the engineer and fireman.

[@oologahnorthernrailroad8873]

Chris Hansen functional, and they look great on her.

[@rraddena]

Why is there a diesel attached? Is the steam locomotive not able to pull without help?

[@jackyclaiborne2142]

How fast does this thing go? The rail line runs adjacent to a highway. It appears to be filmed from a vehicle that's pacing the train.

[@brianrigsby7900]

Y does 844 have double stacks?

[@wizardofeyes]

What is the arrangement of axles on the tender? It looks like there is a truck with two axles at the front, pretty much like the trailing truck on the engine. Behind are 5 axles that look rigidly mounted to the tender frame. How do these handle curves? Do some of the wheels on the back 5 axles lack flanges?

[@Patriot1776]

The back five axles on the tender are free to move 'laterally' back and forth somewhat to go with the curves. Its the 'Centipede' tender design.

[@chrise3801]

So cool

[@916fanatic1]

I wonder what it feels like to be at the controls of that beast, I sure would like to know.

[@marthagunn2933]

Can you say "We can handle it?" ;D

[@debrayounger4446]

The more I learn out the Alc