Union Pacific 844 Pulls a Freight Train Out of Denver, CO
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- čas přidán 27. 08. 2024
- Back in July 2018, I received private word that the 844 would be leaving Denver with a handful of freight cars back up to Cheyenne to close out the 2018 Steam Season. I quickly high-tailed it to Denver's North Yard with nothing more than my own car, and my cell phone's camera. What I captured was the steam team running the giant Northern around its support cars on the Moffat Sub, then backing onto its short assortment of freight bound for Cheyenne. The train is then shoved all the way down the Belt Line Connection, and over to the 36th Street Yard. The tracks are then all lined up for the train to start North on the Greeley Subdivision. It sure was a wonderful surprise, as it had been more than 20 years since the 844 pulled anything other than passenger equipment. Since I was only filming with an IPhone, a couple of clips in this video may have short bits of lag time. I apologize for that. But let me know what you think of everything else! Rate. Comment. Subscribe. ENJOY!!! Copyright Nick Valdez Railroad Photography 2019.
844 was kept in service when the rest were put in storage. Starships and Steam Locomotives inspire awe and wonder. For exactly the same reasons. I want the world to have both. They are useful and beautiful. But there is, and always will be something unique about a steam locomotive that puts it among the modern wonders of the World. Union Pacific deserves the thanks of one and all !
Agree. There's even an anime that has the trains as starships and the main one is the Union Pacific Big Boy.
Galaxy Railways
@@kristinabegail Yep. Crazy how they use Big Boy as the main train despite most of the other trains being freelance design.
Love how she just glides along. And that whistle, almost sounds angry, love it.
Very similar to the Big Boy!
844's machinery is magnificent condition, what might be called slightly used museum condition. She runs so quietly with no effort, the power and elegance of this American masterpiece is breathtaking.
This locomotive always looks immaculate. A credit to those people who maintain and drive her. Love the flags at the front.
844 has such an amazing chime set. beautiful whistle blasts
What a magnificent piece of machinery. I had the pleasure of seeing it in person going by the St. Paul Union Depot, a few hundred feet from where I saw the Bicentennial Freedom Train go by many years ago. There ain't nothing like steam!
Poppa Steve What year did it go past Union Depot?
"What are you guys doing?" - "Oh, you know... Just making a revenue move using the steam engine, that's all!"
A plan
just an awesome spectacle of power and engineering. There's just something about a steam locomotive that is just awe inspiring......
@Kathleen Shaw You can tell it's hard at work.
@Kathleen Shaw All the moving parts are on the outside unlike a internal combustion engine.That's what I like about it too.
This a great demonstration of what these large steam locomotives were capable of doing. It will be amazing to see Big Boy 4014 on special occasions to pull a long freight train from Cheyenne to Ogden Utah over Sherman Hill as a demonstration of what the Big Boy Locomotives were designed to do.
David Grisez I bet they’re going to do that eventually. Ed knows that’s what we would love to see as a Big Boy has not been heard under steam since 1959, much less under steam on Sherman Hill working hard.
@Zero_Code_Name_Reaper The run you referred to,#3985 hauled a water tender, tool car, 28 five unit articulated stack cars plus a caboose, total 31 cars. That is what would have been on the conductor's paperwork. I know a video(now a DVD) was produced about this run( August 1st 1990) the sleeve notes showed what you qouted but they were in error as I have shown. Hope this info is of help.
Something on my bucket list is to see the 4014 hauling a fully loaded freight train by itself. I really want to see a Big boy locomotive maxed out.
Ended up on this video after looking at more videos of 4014 pushing the stalled freight train and then I see this comment, kinda ironic lol
Geez that whistle is unmatched!!
MrPLC999 ikr
American Steam engines have the loud and proud whistles! Sends tingles down my spine when I hear them blow!
Autobot Soldier It’s Awesome How Loud It Is
I like the Long-Chime Hancock 3 bell whistle on the 844
611’s whistle sounds a little better to me, but not by much, and that’s strictly personal preference at any rate.
Can't wait to see big boy doing the same later this year
Edit: well it turned out I was right
Big boy is coming alive? Really? I can't wait for it!!!!
No joke it's almost done being restored
@@hideri87 almost? Oh man! I can't wait!! Big Boy is my favourite american loco! I'm from Italy and our steam locos are very small, in comparation with Big Boy, but I love both! Gr. 740, Gr. 880, FCL 353 Borsig narrow gauge are some of my favourite locos of our "Bel Paese" :)
@@lowrangemaniac5326 To be totally fair, there's modern ocean-going vessels that are very small in comparison to a Big Boy!
@@Cemi_Mhikku AHAHAHA!!! You're right!!! And more important, those vessels are very fragile in comparison with Big Boy!! XD
Union Pacific I appreciate your persistence and support to bring back this totally awesome train. I want to ride on one before I die so it's on the bucket list. I will be watching for updates on the next one coming out of round house.
Thanks to Union Pacific for supporting railroad history! It is very much appreciated.
That engine is such a beauty
I lived three houses away from the railroad tracks and remember these magnificent beasts very well growing up in the early 1950s. My late beloved Father worked 38 years for Southern Pacific.. R.I.P. Beloved Dad.
I’m sorry for your loss. 😢
@@ryandunham1047 Thank you so much.
Thank you for this crystal clear video. The 484's were huge, almost as long as 3985.
What a great Catch !! and that kid at the beginning will have no idea what he really witnessed . A true large steam unit doing what they REALLY did and not just do excursion / publicity runs. oh, and the people on the crossings - sitting in your car thinking - " oh , I hate waiting on trains " and then 844 sits in front of you for a minute or two ! ( people in the small black car ) THanks for the load , AND Thanks to UP for letting us watch it ! We have 1225 running up here once in a while always a treat , but THIS is something different !! :)
Well this train is not going to be pulling people over again most likely hopefully I get to ride behind the big boy one day...
i'd say you've got a darn good phone. good enough vid quality for me that's for sure.
thanks for filming and posting this.
freight moving under steam power in America! who thought of that? cool huh?
A great tractive effort from the old steamer
Not really. It's only 63,800 lbf. A Tier 4 ES44AC has a tractive effort of 270,000 lbf.
@@Jemalacane0 Only when standing still. Once a steam locomotive gets going it produces more power per ton in weight, in comparison to an equivalent weight diesel locomotive. All the while based on torque.
@@MarcABrown-tt1fp More specifically steam locomotives gain more tractive effort at speed, while a diesel locomotive loses tractive effort at speed.
A train a steam locomotive can pull is one it can't start, but a train a diesel can start is one it can't pull.
I love Train's so much love that sound of the steam engine from back in the old days
Just the sound of the whistle gets me all misty eyed and then there is the Beauty of it.
The only complaint I have is that the train wasn't longer. But other than that, this was great to see! Especially with her basically doing switching moves
If it was in the steam era it might have been longer, as today's cars are much heavier then they were then.
Due to modern safety restrictions and rules, some steamers can't haul the large trains they use to pull due to the fact they have no air brakes, hence a diesel with air brakes are added to the back of the train and don't really do much but at like a caboose
@@zanefraser714 That kind of sucks. I'd love to see one of these pull a full train.
Zane fraser I think you mean Dynamic brakes, steam locomotives do have air brakes. They wouldn't be able to control those cars at all if they didn't, at any length.
@@andrewlucia865 oh right. Why don't we update them with dynamic brakes then
844 was just showing what an old steamer can do.
@Union Pacific big boy fan How? By pulling ~26 cars?
@@Jemalacane0 i know right
@Union Pacific living legend fan Hmm, not the best choice of words for this situation. I mean, 21 freight cars (plus auxiliary tender and tool cars) is a pretty good load for a passenger locomotive like 844, but to a freight locomotive like 3985, that's nothing. And most diesels can also handle this same load solo.
She proved that back in the 80’s or 90’s when she had to shove a massive freight train up a hill because it stalled and she was stuck behind it, while pulling her own train too.
@@James-Railyard wasn't that 3985? back when she was still running?
The tone and power of the 844 whistle is ferocious and magical.
What a thrill to see Bigboy running without a diesel in the consist! Great video.✌️👍🙏🏼😊Gracias
🤦♂️
That's not big boy that is the union Pacific 844
Oops, I know better. Guess it was wishful thinking!😊🚂
T D that is not a big boy
Muskogee, OK newspaper published an article about 40 years ago about a steam locomotive spending night on east-west track in SW part of town. A large turnout of steam locomotive enthusiasts and I had to see what turned out to be 844. It was an unforgettable time for many people and me, thanks to UP!!
It would be a shame to let all that power go to waste hauling just a couple of support cars...give her some real work to do.
it's probably pulling 25 or so cars that's maybe 2500 tons that's a pretty good load
wasn't the 844 a passenger locomotive originally FEF-iii class if i remember correct
There’s a video of the UP challenger pulling over 100 freight cars! She passes 3 Diesel electrics pulling a similar load!
@@mattwalden4020 143 Doublestack container wellcars, whilst managing 40-60mph
@@mattwalden4020 143 cars. And the diesels had 70.
I guess steam is still king
It’s amazing seeing that we still use steam locomotives for real train haulings!
Hardly happens, but when it does, it's always a sight to behold!
Always nice to see a steamer doing yard work
Going back home? Take some freight with you. Earn your room and board.
I always get a thrill from watching these videos of 844! Thanks Nick.
Since she is still in active service, I suppose this is a perfect way to utilize her. I am sure she was proud of the opportunity.
That sure is cool to watch! The gen-set providing backup was a subtle and practical move, good for the restoration team.
The 844 never looks like 844 without the beatiful yellow cars..
But it used to do this work back then though at least I think 🤔
Of course it did it was a freighter before fuel efficent but lower power generating diesels took over
Same for the union pacific big boy class
And also the 9000 class and other locomotives that look like freight locomotives
Well done video! Thank you. Glad to see them using the steam locomotive for something useful for once.
Beautiful loco , regards from the UK.
Neat! Needs a caboose.
Don't need it.
@Galaxy Purple Cause she's just such a diva
844 looks beautiful with the single headlight
That Whistle is so nice!! The bells are so nice!! I love that train!
Outstanding, what an elegant giant and that whistle is to die for.
The train is old-fashioned but still very good. awesome.
A truly amazing piece of heavy machinery! If it wasn't for the turbine whine (I assume), you'd hardly hear a thing! So weird not hearing that loud throbbing diesel drone, plus it puts out little smoke. Arn't those locos hard on the track? Nice video work!
Love the 844's whistle!
yes it is it helps me sleep at night
That whistle!!!!!!!!!! Spectacular. What a beautiful machine.
What a cool look at yesteryear! Thanks for posting.
Fact: when this freight train reminds me of something
844 ACTTULY PUSHED A FREIGHT TRAIN
Thanks for sharing this video. I'd seen 844 towing this consist back though Greeley but didn't have camera equipment with me. Again, thanks for sharing.
Love the sound of her whistle!!!!
Very nice. I was extremely fortunate to see 844 and 4014 four years ago at the Golden Spike 150th anniversary, and while they were sitting in a station and not moving, it was still quite an experience to see both up close. Moreover, my ringtone used to be an audio clip of 844 thundering along the tracks, though I still haven't figured out how to put it on my newer phone.
Epic steam train, what powerful steam locomotives those are! :D That Rocky Mountain Recycling operating at the end of the video was also nice, scrappers will always have business while there's metal to recycle! :D
You lucky dog! I would have loved to have seen this in person! Thanks for the post! At least we all got to see it this way!
Beautiful to see that mechanism. . .
They have the 844 pulling freight again
that would be nice to start seeing more steam engines come back to life it reminds me of my grandfather's time he told me that that's what the steam engines main job was
danny watson cowboyref I’m assuming you also know about the Big Boy 4014’s restoration? It should be back in service pretty soon.
i love how the dude just goes "Whaddaya know ya slacker" as his opener, its so funny
AWESOME NICE CATCH, it’s very rare to see 844 pull anything besides the yearly rodeo train, especially freight. That’s a really awesome catch by u
Just goes to show there’s nothing like raw power
Instead of shiny new coaches, he was pulling a very dirty freight train. “A freight train, a freight train, a freight train!” He grumbled. “The shame of it, the shame of it, OOH the shame of it!”
My Grandpa would of loved this! He use to work the Denver Yard! And my Great Grandpa worked on Steam trains so very cool.
It's kind of a surreal video. Like a view into some kind of alternate reality where integrated circuits and microprocessors were still invented but diesels never existed, so the globe stuck with steam power into the new millennium.
She is one of the most beautiful steam locomotives in the world!
The opening of your segment brought back some vivid memories, that location is the location of the former Denver & Salt Lake yard at Utah Jct. I went to the Utah Jct. School in the early '60s, which is just to the right of the big grain elevator in the background. I remember when that grain elevator was built, and I remember seeing the several passenger trains that passed by, including the California Zephyr, the Yampa Valley and the Prospector.
The 844=BEAST in every aspect of steam.
I saw UP 844 a few years ago when it toured through Arkansas on its way to Memphis. Awesome!
I would love to see Union Pacific put 844 to work once in awhile make her pull some freight earn her keep.
If the 844 is scheduled in the next town they may as well make money taking the locomotive there. Good thinking UP.
How'd you like to hear that on a moonlit night. I would!
She's so beautiful! Really brings a tear to your eye!
That's a whistle with authority.
844 is a very beautiful locomotive
I subscribed I have no complaints at all you did a wonderfull job.844 is one of my very favorite engines.That model was built for both speed and power to haul freight and passengers.I have a dvd of those northerns working they would haul 144 cars loaded in their day and time a simply awesome machine well built powerfull as any diesel and fast as a diesel.I just love 844.Love to see it get up and move out fast too.Thanks
That was positively fantastic! Love it! Leaking piston rod packings really upset the nice sounds though, and it was a bit of a let down to see no caboose. And I wish they'd ditch those fake electronic "bells" at the grade crossings. ;)
I do love seeing the 844. That whistle...
Great to see that one of them is still running while the Big Boy and Challenger are getting their rebuilds, there is just something about a steam engine that is AWE inspiring, I hope the UP never does away with it's steam program. And Nick considering the video was shot with an I phone I think it turned out Amazing.
I love 844 whistle indeed it hits my heart. The ghostly sound
Gaylene Morley Nothing like a steam powered whistle...
Be really impressive hooked up to 100 or more cars, like a real freight train.
the big boy can pull a 5.4 mile freight with no helpers at all. 1 big boy on level track can obtain 75 mph in no time
@Micheal Wood 844 is a challenger not a big boy, it can pull a 5 mile freight train.
c00lkid1001 gaming & vlogs 844 is not a challenger
c00lkid1001 gaming & vlogs 844 is an 844
c00lkid1001 gaming & vlogs also the 5 mile is theoretical and on flat track with no load. Furthermore the up challenger is a 4-6-6-4 type locomotive numbered 3985, the 844 hence it’s name, is a 4-8-4
Golly, I love seeing the ole gal pulling that freight. Thanks for the video!
Dat whistle is epic
The horn sounds ghostly but beautiful 😂
You can see that the engine is missing its signature Mars headlamp. It’s also important to highlight that the talented Steve Lee doesn’t drive this engine anymore.
This is a bomb ass video! Great trains, great sound, etc! Thank you for sharing!
nothing particularly wrong with an iPhone video. Looks nice. 844 always shows up and is an exciting watch.
Big daddy makes the diesels look like pipsqueaks. That "whistle" is bull-brutal domination...
Magnificent... What a machine...
a leslie RS5T isnt a pipsqueak horn
The very last of this is pulling for sure and a great job, too.
From the looks of her wheels, looks like she has been doing some real work for a bit. Why not? :-)
A great video, and you did a fantastic job using your cellphone, couldn't have been better with my Nikon! Thanks
How can one not love the old steamers? Thanks for this video.
Light work for 844, if all loaded this train makes 2500 tons at most.
Love the bell, this is a nice sounding real bronze one and not these clunky sounding cast iron things they call bells now, but I asume most locomotives would not have a bell at all after some time when they were still bronze.......
It would be closer to 25,000-35,000 tons.
The train itself (without locomotive) is 2 support cars and 21 freight cars.
The support cars are apr. 55 tons each, a fully laden freight car can have a maximum weight of 120 tons.
2x55tons plus 21x120tons makes 2630 tons.
But at least the grain hopper is empty, it makes a very hollow sound when rolling past.
The loco itself with tender is 414 tons and the additional water car about 140-150 tons, but loco weight is usually not counted in the train weight.
Man that’s a beautiful loco, look at those drivers
that is so awesome!!!!...thank you
Nice to see a little switching before pulling out onto the main.
0:41 Best whistle sound ever
Good job Nick. That's a real whistle!!! :-) Waiting on 4014 now.
Love the sound of that steam whistle! :-)
Sorry but she outclasses the Pig Boy by leaps and bounds! She's beautiful and her whistle is the best. Love those FEF--1 tenders.
HI Nick. I was going to comment on frame rate and shutter speed until I read how you shot it. Nice work with just a phone! I look forward to seeing more :-)
Wish they would bring these beautiful trains to southeastern Arizona. Would love to see it in person!
So 844 is performing so well and is such a solid machine that UP says why not use to haul some stuff if it's headed that direction anyway?
They're burning some coal. Might as well make some money off it ^.^
@@tanall5959 , I am pretty sure that 844 was converted to oil when it was still new, but I take your point, running some freight helps offset a bit of the cost of operating heritage steam.
They will do that sometimes. The Challenger was pressed into freight service hauling a container train when the regular locomotives had a breakdown.
@@rescue270, 3985 is next in line for a full restoration if I read correctly. Wouldn't it be a sight to see 3985 and 4014 double heading freight down the rails? I wonder if they ever have in the past?
@Artisan Auto Body The combined traction force of Challenger & 4041 would be one for the books. Wonder how long & heavy a load they could pull together ?
I have that exact train as both a static model and an N- scale version, with matching yellow passenger cars! I used to run it at our towns festival of trains at Christmas. Sadly I had to sell my layout. I kept the Engine and cars however. I forgot where I stored them.
Good to see the ol girl back to doing what she was made for