Steam Engine #844

November 10, 2010
By Cliff Chamberlin


The Union Pacific Railroad ran the smaller of their steam engines today (Wednesday) through Kearney on the way to Omaha. It will be on display in Omaha for 2 days. It is the UP's 50th anniversary of taking the 844 out of service, the last steam engine on the UP to be retired. This engine is a 4-8-4 Northern, built for passenger service.

It will head West from Omaha on Saturday pulling a fair size passenger train full of paying customers who want to go for a train ride behind a steam engine. The one day ride from Omaha to North Platte NE , about 6 hrs, will cost each person $1000.00 to ride upstairs in any of the 5 VistaDome cars that will be in the consist. Downstairs riders will pay $750.00. All seats are sold out. The UP still owns a nice fleet of yellow streamliner passenger cars from the 50's that all have been refurbished to first class shape. This Westbound will have the 5 domes they own riding along.

Wish Jack and I were riding up front in the engine!

Click here to see #844 pictures.