TrainPages: UP 844

Showing posts with label UP 844. Show all posts

Friday, May 16, 2014

4449-844 Doubleheader: Acknowledgements & Links

Obviously, thanks goes to the Union Pacific Railroad and its Steam Shop, the Burlington Northern Santa Fe Railway, the Oregon Rail Heritage Foundation and the Friends of SP 4449 for operating this doubleheader excursion. Additional thanks goes to the Chehalis-Centralia Railroad Association for their work caring for and operating CC&C locomotive #15 in Chehalis.

In putting together this webpage, the websites of the above organizations were invaluable references. Other websites that I would like to acknowledge as invaluable include Steamlocomotive.com, Steamlocomotive.info, The Museum of America's Freedom Trains, Don Strack's Utah Rails.net, and Charles Biel's BN & BNSF Photo Archives. I used these websites extensively in researching the complete history of the equipment documented on this page. I would also like to thank the Albany Democrat-Herald for their excellent coverage of #4449's visit to Albany.

Wednesday, May 14, 2014

4449-844 Doubleheader: Union Pacific #844 in Portland

Only a handful of people had come to see #844 (probably because it wasn't publicized) and we had the ability to freely walk around it and take pictures without a lot of spectators in the way. It was also a beautiful evening with a clear sky, and #844 was pointed west toward the low sun, lighting it almost perfectly.

I don't have a lot of commentary for these photos. They pretty much speak for themselves.

Water Tender #814 Joe Jordan

Express Box Car #9336

Continue to Wallowa Union RDC-3 #31…

4449-844 Doubleheader: Switchers with #844 in Portland

Sure enough, #844 was right where we were told it was, along with a couple of Union Pacific yard switchers that were going about their business. The switchers themselves were worth a quick look before they moved back toward the yard.

UPY MP15DC #1300

UPY #1300 is an EMD MP15DC built in June, 1974. It was built as Pittsburgh & Lake Erie #1577. It was the first of a group of 15 former P&LE MP15DCs purchased secondhand by Union Pacific in December 1984. It was initially assigned Union Pacific #1275, which it wore while remaining in P&LE paint. In mid-1985, it was painted in Union Pacific colors and renumbered as Union Pacific #1000. On June 3, 1987, it was renumbered to Union Pacific #1300. It was transferred to Union Pacific's new UPY reporting mark for yard locomotives as UPY #1300 on December 18, 2002.

UPY MP15AC #1445

UPY #1445 is an EMD MP15AC built in September, 1975. It was originally built as Southern Pacific #2716. It was acquired by Union Pacific along with the Southern Pacific in 1996. It was repainted and renumbered to UPY #1445 on August 21, 2003.

But, I wasn't really here to see switchers; I was here to see #844. And what a look I got.

Continue to Union Pacific #844 in Portland…

4449-844 Doubleheader: The Doubleheader in Centralia

Almost immediately after the second Amtrak Cascades pulled out of Centralia, we heard #4449's steam whistle in the distance and the doubleheader made its appearance.

Doubleheader approaching Centralia

SP #4449 & UP #844 Doubleheader approaching Centralia

Southern Pacific #4449 leading the train into Centralia

Union Pacific #844 pulling into Centralia.

It was about 4:30 when the train came to a stop at the Centralia depot. The original schedule had it arriving in Centralia at 12:30, so it was now a full four hours late. I took the opportunity to get more photos of #4449 and #844, including some detail photos.

Southern Pacific #4449 in Centralia

#4449's Builder's Plate & Freedom Train Plaque

Engineer Doyle McCormack and crew in the cab of #4449

#4449's tender showing the As-Delivered version of the Daylight paint scheme.

Data on SP #4449’s Tender

Southern Pacific #4449 in Centralia

Union Pacific #844 in Centralia

Engineer Steve Lee and crew in the cab of #844

Union Pacific #844 in Centralia

The stop in Centralia was a lot shorter than I expected it to be. This was probably because the train was running so late. The train was only in Centralia for a few minutes before continuing on its way. I didn't even have enough time to walk around to the other side of the train for pictures of the other side. Before I knew it, #4449's bell started ringing, signaling its imminent departure. #4449's whistle sounded twice, #844's replied with the same signal, and then they were off.

SP #4449 & UP #844 Doubleheader departing Centralia

SP #4449 & UP #844 Doubleheader leaving Centralia

Here are some of the cars of the train as they pull out of Centralia. In order, they are: Baggage Recreation Car #5769 Council Bluffs, Dome Lounge #9005 Walter Dean, Dome Dining Car #8008 City of Portland, Dome Dining Car #7011 Missouri River Eagle, Business Car #102 St. Louis & Inspection Car #203 Idaho.

Baggage Recreation Car #5769 Council Bluffs

Dome Lounge #9005 Walter Dean

Dome Diner #8008 City of Portland

Dome Diner #7011 Missouri River Eagle

Business Car #102 St. Louis

Inspection Car #203 Idaho

I wasn't planning on chasing the doubleheader any farther than this, especially considering how late it was, so after it departed, I walked back over to check out the diesel that had arrived after I arrived. I was not expecting anything special, but I was pleasantly surprised to be wrong.

Continue to BNSF GP38 #2075 “Pacific Pride”…