Locomotive Wiki
Don't have an account?
Register
Locomotive Wiki
Advertisement
Register
Locomotive Wiki
Locomotive Wiki
7,389
pages
in: Steam locomotives, ALCO locomotives, Tender locomotives,
and 17 more

Union Pacific No. 844

Edit


Union Pacific Railroad No. 844 is an FEF-3 class 4-8-4 "Northern" type steam locomotive owned by the Union Pacific Railroad (UP). Built by the American Locomotive Company (ALCO) in December 1944, it was the last steam locomotive delivered to the UP and is the only steam locomotive never retired by a major North American class I railroad. It is also the only member of the FEF series to run in excursion service. Today, it operates as part of the UP's heritage fleet, which is based in Cheyenne, WY, and is one of two active steam locomotives on the UP's current roster, the other being Union Pacific 4-8-8-4 Big Boy No. 4014.

Eighty–Four–Forty–Four

Eighty–Four–Forty–Four

History[]

844 was one of ten locomotives that were ordered by Union Pacific in 1944 and were designated as class FEF-3. The FEF-3 class was similar to the earlier FEF-1 and FEF-2 class steam locomotives built by American Locomotive Company (ALCO). It was designed for passenger service and pulled such trains as the Overland Limited, Los Angeles Limited, Portland Rose, and Challenger.

844 was eventually reassigned to freight service when diesel locomotives took over passenger service and operated from 1957 to 1959 in Nebraska as a heavy duty mixed traffic unit, and was eventually retired from primary service and used as a snowplow along the routes between Nebraska and Wyoming. During this time, 844 was situated or stationed at the Union Pacific's Bailey Yard terminals in North Platte, NE. It was saved from scrapping in 1960. It was chosen for restoration and has been a member of Union Pacific's heritage fleet since 1962. To this day, 844 remains the only steam locomotive in the United States that was never retired from a major class I railroad.

FEF-3[]

The FEF-3 (Four Eight Four; 4-8-4) class locomotives were some of the last steam locomotives built by ALCO, and were capable of dual service steam locomotive development, as funds and research were being concentrated into the development of diesel locomotives; hence the FEF Series 4-8-4 steam locomotives were once used to compete with early diesel locomotives.

Like the rest of Union Pacific's FEF Series steam locomotives, UP 844 was originally designed to burn coal, butwas later in 1945 converted to run on No. 5 fuel oil. It's believed the 844 could handle 26 passenger cars at over 100 mph on straight and level track. It was designed with a one-piece cast-steel bed frame and 80-inch drivers which were common on late-era steam locomotives (though, UP's timetables showed a speed limit for steam locomotives of up to 80 mph).

Specifications[]

Weight: 907,980 lbs. or 454 tons Engine & Tender
Length: 114 ft. 2-5/8 in. Engine & Tender
Tender Type: 14-wheeled
Water Capacity: 23,500 gallons
Fuel: 6,200 gallons
No. 5 oil
Gauge of Track: 4 ft. 8-1/2 in. = 1435mm
Cylinder: Diameter: 25 in.
Stroke: 32 in.
Driving Wheel Diameter: 80 in.
Boiler: Inside Diameter: 86-3/16 in.
PressureMax: 300psi
Fire Box: Length: 150-1/32 in.
Width: 96-3/16 in.
Tubes: 2-1/4 in. Diameter: 198 x 19 ft. 0 in.
5-1/2 in. Diameter: 58
Wheel Base: Driving: 22 ft. 0 in.
Engine: 50 ft. 11 in.
Engine & Tender: 98 ft. 5 in.
Weight in Working Order,
Pounds: 		Leading: 102,130
Driving: 266,490
Trailing: 117,720
Engine: 486,340
Tender: 421,550
Evaporating Surfaces,
Square Feet: 		Tubes: 2,204
Flues: 1,578
Fire Box: 442
Circulator & Arch Tubes: Removed, 1945
Total: 4,224
Superheating Surface,
Square Feet: 		1,400
Grate Area: Removed, 1945
Maximum Tractive Power: 63,800 lbs.

Trivia[]

  • 844 was renumbered to 8444 from 1962 to 1989, due to an E.M.D. GP-30 diesel locomotive wearing the road number of 844(this locomotive is preserved at the Nevada State Railroad Museum). Upon the retirement of the GP-30, 8444 was renumbered back to 844. Ironically, there's a EMD SD70ACe on the UP roster with the number 8444.
  • 844 was painted in the "greyhound" passenger paint scheme from 1987 to 1996.
  • 844 derailed during the final excursion for the 150th anniversary celebration of the Union Pacific.
  • In 2011, 844 operated several excursions throughout New Mexico and Arizona (aside from parts of Nevada and Texas) to celebrate New Mexico and Arizona's "Centennial" celebration events.
  • In 2007, 844 double-headed several excursions in the Pacific Northwest with SP 4449.
  • UP 838 (another member of the FEF-3 Class) is another 4-8-4 preserved at the UP's Cheyenne, Wyoming roundhouse (UP 844's main home) and is primarily used as a source of spare parts for 844. The smokebox, headlight, bell, and whistle have been used on or swapped with those from 844.
  • In 2010, 844 hauled the LCCA Steam Train Special with its tender was re-lettered "Lionel Lines" to celebrate Lionel's 110th anniversary.
  • In 1984, 844 traveled to New Orleans to represent the UP at the World's Fair.
  • In June 2013, the red mars headlight was removed from the locomotive and stored as the bolts that held it in place had deteriorated beyond use.
  • In late 2013, 844 was taken out of service early for a 15-year inspection and overhaul. The locomotive returned to service in July 2016.
  • 844 is famous for her film history. She has been on Trains Unlimited, Ghost Trains of the West, Extreme Trains, Grandpa Worked On The Railroad, Train Adventures for Kids, Running a Steam Locomotive Vol. 2, Steam Giants Across America, Railfair 91, Steam in St. Louis 1990, Steamin' To Los Angeles The 100 Engine Tape, St. Louis 1990 NRHS Convention, St. Louis Steam Spectacular, Cheyenne Steam Train, Eighty Four Forty Four, and most recently in the music video for Last Train Home. The locomotive also appeared in the intro of the children's TV series, Shining Time Station and in Herron Rail Video's Union Pacific Streamliners and Classic Steam in present day excursion service.
  • 844 is one of the original choices to pull the American Freedom Train but it didn't pull it. However in early October 1975, it was seen double-headed with Southern Pacific No. 4449 to travel west while rejoining the AFT at Ogden, 4449 pulled the train to pull it the rest of the way into Salt Lake City.
  • In June 1990, 844 was one of four steam locomotives attending the 1990 NRHS Convention in St. Louis, Missouri, and did a double-header run to Kirkwood with Frisco 1522 during the event.
  • On July 22, 2018, 844 was involved in a fatal pedestrian accident in Henderson, Colorado.
  • In December 2018, Union Pacific requested from the Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) waivers to exempt 844, 4014, and 3985 from federal Positive Train Control (PTC) requirements. In February 2019, the FRA officials responded that such waivers were not needed, although after 4014 was successfully fitted with PTC technology in August 2021, the UP is still planning to eventually install PTC technology on 844 too.
  • From May 4 to May 17, 2019, 844 double-headed with newly restored Union Pacific Big Boy 4014 to Ogden, Utah to participate in the 150th Golden Spike anniversary celebration. Both locomotives were on display in Ogden from May 9 to May 11, 2019.
  • In 2022, 844's whistle was swapped with 4014's whistle. The whistle from 844 is 4014's original service whistle which 4014 wore in the 1940s and 1950s.

Gallery[]

References[]

Preserved Union Pacific Locomotives
UP Class 700 No. 737
UP Class C-2 No. 237 • No. 264 • No. 561 • No. 616 • No. 618 • No. 6051 • No. 6237
UP Class C-57 No. 407 • No. 421 • No. 428 • No. 437 • No. 460 • No. 477 • No. 480 • No. 481 • No. 485
UP Class MK-1 No. 2005
UP Class MK-7 No. 2537
UP Class MK-9 No. 2295
UP Class MK-10 No. 2564
UP Class T-57 No. 1242 • No. 1243
UP Class P-1 No. 3206
UP Class P-2 No. 3203
UP Class TTT-6 No. 5511
UP Class S-4 No. 4420
UP Class S-5 No. 4436 • No. 4439 • No. 4442
UP Class S-6 No. 4455 • No. 4466
UP Class FEF-1 No. 814
UP Class FEF-2 No. 833
UP Class FEF-3 No. 838 • No. 844
UP Class 9000 No. 9000
UP Heavy Challengers No. 3977 • No. 3985
UP Big Boys No. 4004 • No. 4005 • No. 4006 • No. 4012 • No. 4014 • No. 4017 • No. 4018 • No. 4023
Community content is available under CC-BY-SA unless otherwise noted.
Advertisement

Fan Feed

More Locomotive Wiki