Union Pacific 844 Visits Greeley July 12, 2016

[@Balerio2357]

Absolutely beautiful, Ed Dickens and crew did a marvelous job bringing back # 844's factory fresh gleam! Thanks Bill for your wherewithal with a video camera, good shooting. - Balerio

[@cetyl2626]

I love this engine! LOL Even the camera operator jumped at the sound of the whistle.

[@billr991]

You should have been there -- :-)

[@joeleikomstead7549]

Wow! What a beautiful locomotive. Thank you so much for sharing Bill.

[@singwith]

Great video! She looks like a brand new engine. I can't wait to see her in next week!

[@gysgttedlovell1003]

Extremely proud of the entire steam shop for all the hard work that they have put into restoring her. she is good for the next 15 years. Its a privilege to be the pilot conductor on her

[@Eggomania86]

They did do a great job! I'd like to see her on the east coast here in VA! My question is, now is Ed the only person qualified to run her? Can someone else run the locomotive if something should arise? How long are the shifts for the crews and does their shift rotation work? How long are the crews away from home?

[@Eggomania86]

Also cheers from Roanoke VA! You all did a marvelous job! 844 and our J-611 are the best steam engines in the US! Maybe one day we can run them together!

[@gysgttedlovell1003]

Ed isn't the only one Qualified. Ted Schulte is also qualified. Kirk Clark and Austin Barker will also be qualified in the near future.

[@tonycaptain71]

such a beautiful piece of art

[@trainroomgary]

Hi Bill • Thanks for sharing this video. Very cool. • Cheers from The Detroit & Mackinac Railway 🚂

[@MichiganRailProductions]

Nice to see that UP 844 is back!

[@Hendo56]

Watching this video I was struck by one thing- diesels do NOT give goosebumps! Great video!

[@CSXEMDTrainLover]

awesome train video bill

[@rgs455atw]

Wow, you almost had a private showing. Thanks for posting this.

[@trainroomgary]

Hi Bill / Excellent video. The 844 looks great on the main line. • Cheers from The Detroit & Mackinac Railway 🚂

[@paulsmyers203]

WOW that's probably the cleanest I've seen 844. Usually it's covered in road grime :D

[@Romans--bo7br]

+Paul Smyers..... That's because this is its first time out for it's first high speed tests (using the 6936's dynamics for load testing), since passing (FRA approval) it's steam test inspections after a 3 year complete overhaul and rebuild... especially of the boiler, flues, tubes, brakes, sand pipes, valving, etc, etc, etc.

[@ColoradooscaleOrg]

Fantastic!

[@joshuagasse]

Good job guys, she looks beautiful.

[@davidstrawn9272]

What nobody knows is that, despite not being in the lead, this is the Last run of the Centennial diesel engine numbered 6936 before being donated to Railroading heritage of Midwest America.

[@joesaurina1402]

Thank you Mr. rogers, not a UP fan but great video. Speaking of great film, what's up with your layout, over due my friend.

[@billr991]

Thanks Joe. Stay tuned. I may have something new to post in a few days.

[@thenorgalofthehills5688]

I'm so glad she's back. But she needs her Mars Light back. She doesn't look right without it

[@razgrizaceblaze259]

I think #844 has much more class without the Mars light. I hope they keep it off.

[@Romans--bo7br]

+The Creepernator...... "She" looks right.. withOUT it, as it was Not original equipment in the first place. The Mars Light wasn't added until 1946... was removed in June 2013, as the mounting bolts and bracket were corroding badly.

[@TexasRailfan21-RailfanRyan]

I noticed the Bell wasn't ringing, well The Clapper was moving but not enough to strike the bell

[@BigTex9752]

Im glad to see her back, btw does anyone know where Steve Lee is

[@vegasvik]

Retired from UP. Now works with Wasatch Railroad Contractors in Cheyenne.

[@BigTex9752]

vegasvik oh ok nice

[@Romans--bo7br]

+Allan..... Steve is still with WRC ?.... thought I heard a "rumor" he was no longer there... but, if he is... Great!! Would you happen to "Know" the Real reason for him leaving the Steam Shop, and going back to the train crews before "retiring" ?? Was he not "PC" enough for corporate UP or what was the deal ? Was it because he really didn't have or share "the vision" of having a 4000 class on the property, as I know he stated more than once ?? Personally... I liked Steve a lot more, and he always came across as being a truly genuine "railroader" and "lover of steam"... more so than his successor does. Steve was always "down to earth" and a lot "easier" to talk to and with, more "accessible".... at least that's how he came across to me. Could just be me... but one thing is for sure, E.D. is definitely a whole lot more PC, and a "corporate boy".... than Steve ever was. lol I will give him credit though, for getting a lot accomplished in the time he's been there, so far. Thanks for the update on Steve.

[@vegasvik]

2Stroke Diesel Power The last I heard he was still at WRC. This was recent (last couple of weeks), but anything is possible. As far as him leaving UP, I don't know Steve, and can't speak for him. He was promoted not long before retiring. I don't think he left over the 4000. I'm pretty sure that opportunity for UP came about after he was gone. In fact, it may have come back up because he was gone. I think E.D. sees it as an opportunity to "make his bones" and wants to be able to point to 4014 and say "that's all me". Unfortunately, poor 3985 has paid the price. I'm glad 844 is back under power, and seeing a Big Boy run has been a dream. But it's sad to see the UP steam program lose its stature and credibility after being the standard bearer of steam or so long.

[@Romans--bo7br]

+Allan..... Hi Allan, Thank you for the reply. I think I'm inclined to agree with you about E.D. and his opportunist attitude.... and also the state of the 3985.... ED never did (publicly, that I'm aware of, anyway) admit to his tampering with (changed it) the water treatment chemistry.... leading to a lot of the boiler issues, on both units... but especially with the 3985. Never would have happened under Steve's watch, I'm sure of it. I think it was a "sad day" overall when Steve left the Steam Shop.... you may be correct on the 4014 coming back up "because" he was gone.... considering he wasn't all that "hot" on the idea of having a 4000 around the property in the first place... and really played down the idea, that it was even a remote possibility, on numerous occasions. He probably still is with WRC.... as you say, because the "he left there" rumor I heard... was back in Feb. or so. As far as seeing the 4014 actually run again... I have my doubts that it will make it to full fruition, too many things looming large on the horizon, that will likely unfold in the not too distant future, possibly relegating the completion of the 4014 to Not being on Anyone's "bucket list" of things to be done. Thanks again for your response.

[@rayman4449]

Engine looks great! I like the look of the engine with just the headlight on front.

[@Romans--bo7br]

+rayman4449..... Ditto !!..... the Mars Light was Not original equipment on her, as delivered in 1941... anyway. It was not installed until 1946. I was hoping they would remove the Elephant Ears as well. : )

[@razgrizaceblaze259]

Technically, #844 wasn't delivered until December 1944. However, that doesn't change the fact that she wasn't delivered with a Mars light. In fact, I've found photos of her in service without the Mars light. I hope that UP keeps her this way. She looks far more beautiful this way.

[@Romans--bo7br]

+razgrizaceblaze259..... Your right, and I noticed my mistake after re-reading what I wrote after hitting the "reply" button.... should have written a quick "PS:" to it and corrected the mistake right away, but had other things that needed my immediate attention... then forgot about it. So, thanks for the "heads up" on it.. anyway. My mind must've been on the delivery of #4000 when I typed the date. : )

[@davidreyes2298]

@@Romans--bo7br bad idea of removing the elephant ears

[@HarryMHaythornUPHS4043]

She looks good, still no Mars light but at least she is ready to pull the Frontier Days Train.

[@johnford5568]

not to self, always bring a 6600 hp locomotive with you on test runs just in case you need help getting home....

[@billr991]

One person I spoke to (I think he was a UP employee) told me that they used the 6936's dynamic brakes to provide a test load for the 844. If you go the Union Pacific steam website (link provided in the notes above), you will find the following: "Instead of a traditional train consist of heritage passenger cars, No. 844 and its tender pulled just four other pieces of equipment: a water car, a tool car, a boiler dorm and the Centennial unit, UP 6936, a 1969 diesel locomotive that simulated the dynamics of a longer and heavier train consist."

[@ronalddominguez6641]

Can anybody tell me what are those key chains that are being hooked on that rack next to the window? My guess is that they are some sort of safety process so that they always know who is working on the engine at any one time but i'm not sure. Please let me know if you have any idea about it. (thanks!) Ron

[@logancovington6171]

You're pretty spot on. It's basically a way for the engineer to know who is working on or around the engine at any given time. If their tag is on the rack then they can't move until that person is accounted for. You can only see so much from a cab window so it's a sure fire way of making sure that you know who is where. If anyone knows anymore or of any corrections to my comment fill free to add on!

[@paulw.woodring7304]

This is a Federal Railroad Administration rule, with serious fines and penalties for violations. This can be life or death stuff. "Blue flags" on equipment or a track denote employees are working on or around equipment and the equipment or track that is "blue flagged" cannot be entered or the equipment moved until every one working on the equipment has removed their personal tag to indicate that they are in the clear.

[@NachtAsile]

For some reason.. I see these steam engines bigger, better, and "braver" compared to the now day ones.

[@sparky107107]

what did the guy throw the engineer that he hung on the outside of the cab ?

[@renegadeoflife87]

I'm guessing either keys to some of the switches, or track tokens for sections of track the engine will be traveling on.

[@billr991]

Scroll down through these comments to Ronald Dominguez and Logan Covington

[@renegadeoflife87]

Oh neat. So that's how you do OSHA Lock out / Tag out on a steam locomotive. Good to know that's what it is for.

[@paulw.woodring7304]

Blue flag tokens. Every employee working on the locomotive has one. Blue flags are a FRA rule to protect workers performing work on or around equipment. This is serious, potentially fatal stuff. Every worker has to remove their chit before the equipment can move.

[@paulw.woodring7304]

Blue flag tokens. Every employee working on the locomotive has one. Blue flags are a FRA rule to protect workers performing work on or around equipment. This is serious, potentially fatal stuff. Every worker has to remove their chit before the equipment can move.

[@jamesshanks2614]

Spotted the id tags in an engine house video and wondered why they made them answered my own question by simply Keeping the eyes open rule number one for safety on the railroad be observant to yours surroundings this goes for the rail fans As well taking pictures or just watching. Can't tell you how many times I've had to lay on the horn cause some idiot was more interested In a picture and didn't notice he stepped right onto my track as I was approaching him. I'll tell you they run like frightened chickens When they step in front of you and heard the horn from an unexpected direction fortunately only had one step in front of a passenger Commuter look right at me and waved goodbye hard to stop from 70 mph when they step in front less than 200 feet from you. Still see the poor guy when I go to sleep Be safe out there.

[@Romans--bo7br]

+James Shanks..... Poor Guy ??.... from your description, it sounds more like premeditated suicide.... at the expense of your memories, to me. I'm sorry it's still with you... but certainly Not your fault in any way, shape or form.

[@ReinaldoRauch]

The people near de driver wheels are greasing them?

[@yankinga]

Shooting grease into the rod bearings. They need lubrication every 100 miles or so. The Alemite gun takes grease sticks and forces grease under air pressure into the rod bearings. The air is supplied from a fitting on the locomotive's air system. It takes three hands to do the job. One to hold the gun, the second to operate the control and a third to feed in the grease sticks, hence the two crew members working together, In the old days this would be performed during a regular station stop at a division point, by a stationary installation. Division points were spaced every 100-125 miles apart. Before modern steam locomotive began running through on multiple divisions, engines were swapped out and sent to the roundhouse for servicing, while a freshly serviced engine took over the run. Crews would change out at every division point, regardless of whether the engine went through or not.

[@yankinga]

+Cleo Pretty much any kind of work on the railroad is a pain at extreme temperatures, whether they be hot or cold.

[@BCSchmerker]

*Every 100 miles?* I thought those Timken® bearings could carry enough grease for 1,200 miles or so - enough for the legs between the major enroute yards where unit subtrains are coupled and uncoupled for deliveries to the truckers and down branch lines; the bearings would be repressurized at crew changes. Timken Roller Bearing Company actually had American Locomotive build them a 4-8-4 (SerNo 68056, delivered 1933, scrapped 1957 after 200,000 hard miles; had a firebox remanufacture at 95,300 miles due to low-water failure) at Schenectady, NY, USA, to demonstrate roller bearings consistent with those factory-installed on the 844 per the UP's specs for Classes FEF-2 and FEF-3.

[@jamesshanks2614]

+B. C. Schmerker the 844 has Timken roller bearings instead of lead babbitted bearing like older steam power did Roller bearings run in a pool of oil to provide lubrication.. The rod bearing on a roller bearing equipped engine refer to the axle bearings not the rod bearings. As an example N & W RR J class 4-8-4 Uses roller bearing rods which run longer between services and extend the distance you can run. That type of engine is referred to as all roller bearing equipped Even the big boys were roller bearing equipped on all axles greatly reduced the rolling friction on the locomotive.

[@manga12]

Huh I thought 4014 got first priority for attention, 844 is running again? what voodoo is this, I thought it was not planned to run till 4014 was finished and its still a year off at least from my take, so I am a bit confused. and Number 2 why not do the great thing the fans would love and let her haul revenue freight, to test her, heh sometimes they used to do that for the locos in the 1990's to test with an actual weighted consist. heh. On the other hand after further reading after I saw the split body, that is the Centennial unit so never mind it too is one of the last of its kind, and one of the meanest powerful diesels that ever were, if its not the top power per unit then its is in the top 3 to my memory of it, sure they had the ge 6000's but this has even more power, and you have the other turbine powered up locos that had more power but this was one of the biggest diesels and the last of her type to run in the heritage fleet.

[@Romans--bo7br]

+manga 12....... Because the "great thing" was what they did.... get the 844 out first, as it was already a "work in progress" when they brought the 4014 in house..... and if they hadn't of finished the 844 first, as they did.... there would Not be any steam running out of Cheyenne at all... until at least, the set "goal" date of 2019.... for the 150th (May 10th, 1869) Anniversary of the Golden Spike Ceremonies at Promontory, Utah. With the 844 back on the rails... it's the first time in over 3 years, that any steam has come out of Cheyenne..... so, be happy that the 844 is under steam again..... and enjoy what IS running... because the direction that this world and this country is currently headed.... I seriously doubt that finishing the 4014, will be on anyone's "bucket list" within the next three years..... if not, sooner.

[@Rebecca_The_Dragon]

they took the mars light off?

[@davidreyes2298]

The bolts that hold it was too rusty so they took it off they'll put it back again sometime soon

[@jamesshanks2614]

I noticed men tossing their id tags to the engineer to be added to the blue flag I worked as a locomotive engineer on Conrail and Penn Central and we never had anything like that. I think it's superb small outlay by the UP RR but a much simpler and safer way or Removing a blue flag. Should be a requirement for all railroads particularly at crew change points how is the engineer going on duty to know who set the blue flag? I like it!

[@Romans--bo7br]

+James Shanks..... From what I read, or heard somewhere... it's now an FRA mandated and highly enforced rule, with very stiff penalties for violations, thereof. I worked the Head-end brakeman position for several years before OJT as an engineer... when my wife of that era, gave me an "ultimatum" of... "the railroad, or us !"..... should have stick with the railroad. ; )

[@jamesshanks2614]

+2Stroke Diesel Power what road? I worked for pic cr and Amtrak locomotive engineer

[@Romans--bo7br]

+James Shanks...... I just wrote a whole "page" in reply... and must have hit the "cancel" button by mistake and the whole thing just disappeared !! Oh Well !!..... So, without any of the details... because it's getting late now... and I don't type very fast..... the "short" answer is the CPR.. Prairie Division... was OJT as an engineer... from Head-end brakeman.

[@Rebel9668]

Good, good, now they can focus on 4014.

[@Romans--bo7br]

+Rebel9668...... They already are, but the 3985 is the next one scheduled to be out of the shop, before the 4014... so, finishing the Challenger is the current focus... although work on the 4014 is progressing. : )

[@Romans--bo7br]

Ooops !!... I take my reply (right above this one) back.... was going by old inside info from a couple of years ago. I apologize, the 4014 is now the main focus to be sure it's ready by 2019 for the 150th Anniversary of the Golden Spike Ceremony at Promontory, UT (May 10th, 1869). Not sure what the plans are now for the Challenger (the 3985).... initially, the plan was to have a Triple header for the 150th... the 844, 3985 and the 4014 !! What a Powerhouse configuration of steam, THAT would be !!!

[@cherokeecook1260]

Are those dogtags hanging on the side of the cab? What for?

[@billr991]

Scroll down. Read discussion in comments below.

[@upstatenewyorkrailfan6775]

where's her Mars light?

[@Romans--bo7br]

+ Mr Railfanner........ Hopefully, in a rail museum somewhere. : ) She looks better without it, anyway.... just "she" did when delivered in 1941. Was not until 1946 that it was added.

[@upstatenewyorkrailfan6775]

2Stroke Diesel Power are they gonna put her Mars lamp back on?

[@davidreyes2298]

@@upstatenewyorkrailfan6775 soon

[@Toledo1940]

WHY did they block a public grade crossing to service the 844? There was plenty of room on either side of the crossing to lube the rods and feel the bearings for excess heat.

[@grayswandir47]

I speculate that it was so the crew had a hard surface to stand on while lubing the rod bearings and inspecting the engine.

[@Toledo1940]

Yes, that also occurred to me, but that's not the point. They blocked a public street for no good reason. Besides, the front 2 driving axles were away from the surface of the street. Look at 2:47, which shows the men standing on rock ballast to lubricate the rods.

[@billr991]

It is possible that they did not have a good reason. However, they did not appear to be seriously inconveniencing motorists, as there are two other crossings very near by -- one to the north and one to the south. The crowd on the street seemed to be enjoying the presence of the locomotive and I for one was glad that its parking spot made it easy for me to get some good close up video and medium distance shots.

[@Sertvitas]

Stopped with the firebox at the grade. That makes me think it may have been to allow emergency equipment easy access in the event of an issue that wasn't noticed as they were coming in. This was a shakedown/trial run, so the possibility certainly existed for some unforeseen issues.

[@averycamden4730]

The 844 crew can park where ever they damn well please lol. Would you ask them to move LOL? Additionally who cares, if any of you were on your way to work and this historic train of all things was blocking your way I dont know know about you but I would get out and look.

[@robertbowman3406]

How many out there know what the blue flag stands for?

[@unionpacificheritageflete2242]

Safety Flag it's Called, and it is used to protect the train and ground crew

[@Rocky54167]

Did they sell tickets for this run? Someone was trying to tell me they don't sell tickets for the UP 844 excursions to public anymore.

[@billr991]

This was a test/break-in run. No tickets were sold. Tickets were sold for the Cheyenne Frontier Days run which took place the following week.

[@Rocky54167]

Thats what i ment! Thank you i couldn't believe they didn't sell tickets to there excursions this i could believe as like you said it was a test run.

[@HerksTrainShed]

break in runs are to wear down their parts but yes they still sell public excursion runs just all the locomotives for it have been on down time up 4014 will be back this next spring no tickets sold but frontiers day trains will have tickets