trainroomgary posted:
Gary
For who? Most non-railfans I know will shrug their shoulders over this news.
Most everyone who cares has probably been following this all along.
albertstrains posted:Nice to hear a UP steamboat whistle again........
Al
No such thing.
That is a Hancock Long Bell 3-Chime whistle. Though UP applied them to all the 800s, 3800s, 3900s and 4000s it was common as dirt in the late steam era, applied to hundreds of locomotives on many, many railroads.
SP 4449 and N&W 611 both carry the same model whistle.
The reason for it's wide application on modern steam power was that it was designed not to "overblow", i.e., squeal or produce unwanted tones, at steam pressures in excess of 250 PSI.
http://uphs.org/the-streamline...-whistle-recordings/
Nick Chillianis posted:albertstrains posted:Nice to hear a UP steamboat whistle again........
Al
No such thing.
That is a Hancock Long Bell 3-Chime whistle. Though UP applied them to all the 800s, 3800s, 3900s and 4000s it was common as dirt in the late steam era, applied to hundreds of locomotives on many, many railroads.
Well, I guess there kinda is such a thing. 
From the article you cited:
The “long-bell” (deep-tone or “steamboat”) version of Hancock’s whistle was used by many railroads as well as these 175 Union Pacific locomotives.
I stand corrected! Lol
Thank you for the info on the whistle specs(saves me lookin). I do love the sound tho...
Al
Two weeks until the Frontier Days trip. Has there been any further reporting about 844's status?
Keystoned Ed posted:Two weeks until the Frontier Days trip. Has there been any further reporting about 844's status?
Well, sort of. A week ago, they tried to do a test run, and many executives flew out from Omaha, plus the Editor of Trains Magazine. They never got out of the shop area, due to air brake and cab signal issues. They may try and "schedule" a test run this week.
I heard the same as Hot Water heard, except the reason given was the lady from Omaha was satisfied with a trip through the yard and didn't want to go down to Greeley. From what I was told they gave a green light. The 'test' run is going to be when they haul the cars to Denver for the Frontier Days special.
If that story is true, and somehow I highly doubt it, then this bunch are bigger fools than I thought. The REASON you do a test how is make sure everything works, not impress VIPs from Omaha. Waiting until you have to be somewhere to see what you have is a recipe for disaster.
A recent cab photo showed 300 psi on the gauge. Perhaps they already had a midnight break-in run and 844's "friends" at Trainorders missed it? They have been missing a few things and seeing a few things lately. Weird!!
Tranz4mr posted:A recent cab photo showed 300 psi on the gauge. Perhaps they already had a midnight break-in run and 844's "friends" at Trainorders missed it? They have been missing a few things and seeing a few things lately. Weird!!
Sure. There is NO WAY they could have had a "test run", physically outside of the Cheyenne terminal, WITHOUT calling a pilot crew!
This is a an e-mail I received about the UP 844
Hi Gary July 1, 2016
I haven’t written any more stories about 844. UP hasn’t kept us in the loop about the progress of the restoration, so I end up learning about something like the testing after the fact. I only found out 844 was coming back this year because I stumbled upon a post on their website.
That being said, I’m not ruling out writing more about 844, I just have not so far.
Matt Murphy / Wyoming Tribune Eagle
Gary
I seriously doubt senior UP management or Mr Dickens would run the risk of using the ferry run to Denver as the first track speed run before showtime on July 23. One would think a track speed break in run would be out and back from Cheyenne so that if issues developed they could return to the shop to address them. As to Hot's point on not calling a pilot crew, it would seem last week's run in the yard was never intended to be more than that. Possibly it was show and tell time/IPR (in process review) for mid level managers triggered by concerned higher ups. As Hot suggests, I'd watch for a road test run this week and the way we'll first learn of that is not thru a UP publicity release or a newspaper item, but when a pilot crew is called and shares the news with fellow railroaders.
If the Wyoming reporter wanted to be on top of the story he'd find out the names of those in the steam crew actively working on 844 and make some calls.
As a steam fan I hope they succeed. If they don't watch for feathers to fly.
Chuck Sartor posted:I heard the same as Hot Water heard, except the reason given was the lady from Omaha was satisfied with a trip through the yard and didn't want to go down to Greeley.
Not really, as the cab signal/ATC and air brake system kept giving them problems, so they couldn't even get out of the shop area, let alone make a "trip through the yard". The scheduled "test run" was canceled about 1:30PM.
From what I was told they gave a green light.
Told by whom?
The 'test' run is going to be when they haul the cars to Denver for the Frontier Days special.
That would be WAY TOO potentially dangerous, incase something went wrong in route with a full passenger train, even an empty one. That is why they are trying to reschedule the aborted "test run" to Greeley, this week.
The 6936 will be there in case of a break down.
Chuck Sartor posted:The 6936 will be there in case of a break down.
Chuck,
The 6936, and maybe even the A-B-A set of Executive E Units, HAS to be there, because the 844 is simply not capable of handling such a long heavy passenger train, over THAT terrain, all by herself.
Hot - how much notice would a pilot crew normally need before an 844 run to Greeley is made? Would they need 2 crews, one to pilot 844 and another for any accompanying diesels?
Keystoned Ed posted:Hot - how much notice would a pilot crew normally need before an 844 run to Greeley is made?
The actual crew themselves, generally get a two hour "call". However, I really think you mean how much time the current manager must "schedule" such a move with the Operating Department in Omaha, i.e. the Harriman Dispatch Center. I believe at least a day, would be minimum notice.
Would they need 2 crews, one to pilot 844 and another for any accompanying diesels?
No, just one Pilot Crew, as the trailing diesel would be MU'ed with the 844 and controlled from the cab of 844.
Thanks Hot - makes sense. Sooo - if one wanted early info on 844's planned moves the place to get it would from the right dispatcher in Omaha. Does anyone know if 844 was scheduled for a run to Greeley last week and cancelled?
Keystoned Ed posted:Thanks Hot - makes sense. Sooo - if one wanted early info on 844's planned moves the place to get it would from the right dispatcher in Omaha. Does anyone know if the were cleared for a run to Greeley last week and cancelled?
Yes, that is the case, as they not only could "make a trip through the yard", nor depart the shop area track. Canceled about 1:30PM, and the "folks from Omaha" flew back home.
I did not realize the ATC system was in operation that far west on UP.
