UP 844 Steam Update w/ Video

excellent!

No. 844 Prepares for Frontier Days Debut

UP’s Living Legend No. 844 continues to pass its exams as it readies for its big return to service at Cheyenne Frontier Days July 23. No. 844’s engine was successfully test fired June 16, and a full steam test was completed on June 17.

Congrats / Ed Dickens & The Steam Shop Team.

Click on screen shots to enlarge.

Wait...What is the diesel doing there?

smd4 posted:

Wait...What is the diesel doing there?

Gary

Who knows..my guess would be to pull her out of the shop to light her up.

Well that is good to see.  I must admit for the past 3 years I have been convinced that this wouldn't happen, and I'm happy to say I was wrong.  It looks like she will indeed make her debut for Frontier Days after all.  Thanks for posting the link/video. 

Me too. Things looked rather bleak for a while. I'm very glad though that those passengers who were hoping for steam on the head end are now getting their early Christmas wish!

smd4 posted:

Wait...What is the diesel doing there?

Maybe the diesel is for backup braking or dead weight for loading or both?

So where was the tender refurbished and repainted??

The good news is progress is being made. I wish I could afford  tickets.

I "have no dog in this fight" over the UP steam program. But that vid of 844 under steam, even without all her cladding is just beautiful!

Go UP!

"All the neat tools and cool stuff we’ve built will apply to the 4014 project....."

Never mind that Ed's statement "All the neat tools and cool stuff we've built" sounds like how a 12-year-old would phrase it, if these things (whatever they are) also prove useful for the 4014, that's great. Begs the question of how the previous steam team managed to do the work without "all the neat tools and cool stuff," but whatever works for this team now, fine.

breezinup posted:

"All the neat tools and cool stuff we’ve built will apply to the 4014 project....."

Never mind that Ed's statement "All the neat tools and cool stuff we've built" sounds like how a 12-year-old would phrase it, if these things (whatever they are) also prove useful for the 4014, that's great. Begs the question of how the previous steam team managed to do the work without "all the neat tools and cool stuff," but whatever works for this team now, fine.

Hmm. Wonder if they sent some of the work "odd house"? 

May have sped up the process.

She passed all the steam tests with flying colors.  Great job steam team.  Now maybe we can read without all the negative comments on the engine, team and delight in seeing it run again.

Sounds like good news to me, not concerned about who accomplished it. NOW, IF we could only get the lovely PRR K4 1361 in running order !!

But she has not been on the road. YET.  That should be the real test.  

smd4 posted:

Wait...What is the diesel doing there?

I would think just as a safety feature just in case of there's not enough Air  pressure to apply the brakes.

Anyway It's  a beginning . 

Ed Dickens, Union Pacific’s senior manager – Heritage Operations, said the locomotive reassembly is nearing completion. “We’ve gone from a boiler to an operating locomotive in a matter of weeks.”

With a successful hydrostatic inspection of No. 844 under their belt, the team confirmed the unit’s pressure vessel is sound. “There were no issues with the hydrostatic inspection,” Dickens said. “The inspectors present were very pleased with the professionalism and craftsmanship exhibited by the staff. It was a nice end to that part of the work.”

The team has moved on to testing No. 844 with steam. When the locomotive reached full pressure, Jimmy Thompson, boiler maker, was the first person to blow the whistle. “The whistle came to life,” Dickens said. “And at that moment the City of Cheyenne could hear – No. 844 is back.”

Gary

Gary

I'm glad they got one outta the three going! 

 Excellent News, let's hope the break in runs have no major hiccups

Al