UP No. 844 for billcody by junge1
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No AI - This artwork was created entirely by hand or with traditional digital tools.
Description
Wolfgang das ist fuer Dich. No. 844 was the last steam locomotive built for Union Pacific Railroad. It was delivered in 1944. A high-speed passenger engine, it pulled such well-known trains as the Overland Limited, Los Angeles Limited, Portland Rose and Challenger trains.
When diesel locomotives took over pulling passenger trains, No. 844 was placed in freight service in Nebraska between 1957 and 1959. It was saved from being scrapped in 1960 and held for special service.
This engine has run hundreds of thousands of miles as Union Pacific's ambassador of goodwill. It has made appearances at Expo '74 in Spokane, the 1981 opening of the California State Railroad Museum in Sacramento, the 1984 World's Fair in New Orleans and the 50th Anniversary Celebration of Los Angeles Union Station in 1989.
No. 844 specifications:
Gauge of track: 4-ft. 8 1/2 inches
Fuel type: No. 5 Oil
Tender Type: 14-wheeled
Weight Engine & tender: 907,980 lbs or 454 Tons
Fuel Capacity: 6,200 gallons
Water capacity: 23,500 Gallons
Grate Area: Removed in 1945
Length Engine & tender: 114-ft. 2 5/8 inches
Driving Wheel Diameter: 80 inches
Boiler Inside diameter: 86 3/16 inches
Pressure: 300 lbs.
The locomotive uses about 22 gal/mile at 70mph and may use as much as 30 gal/mile in the mountains.
This picture was taken on 13 November 2011,
Sig...
To clear up the confusion. No. 844 was converted from burning coal to burning fuel oil in 1945, one year after its delivery.

Comments (31)
The steam, the man with his hat, the sheer scale of this thing ... it's powerful and intimidating and fabulous! What a great shot. A most excellent work, my friend.
Great angle and fantastic capture of the person on the right!
Stunning capture my friend. God Bless.
i can hear the steam was always a noise wich gave me the feeling of long travels around the world.
Thank you, Sieg, for this fine dedication. I can smell the smoke! Very fine moment catch with the steam and the man who lifted the helmet just in this moment. I thing this engine represents the top of steam locomotive construction worldwide. Rememembering sitting on my sofa empying my winebottles and watching railroad tapes?
@billcody. Yes, we both did!
The whistle of No. 844 was replaced with one from the 'Big Boy', a massive freight locomotive 4-6-6-4 that weighted 1,200,000 lbs. After no. 844 stopped to switch the diesel locomotive from behind the steam engine to the back of the train about 1/4 mile down the track it took off again. We were waiting at the first road crossing and it blew its whistle just as it crossed the road. The only thing that was as loud as that was when I got caught about 150 feet behind a B-1B bomber that was taking off and lit all four afterburners. I thought it would blow my brains out. No. 844 came close to that, it hurt my ears.
An absolutely fantastic picture, it's no wonder the engieer is taking his hat off to it!
great foto, good it wasnt scrapped in 1960.
Amazing capture!
Superb photo and loco this is fabulous what a great looking machine. Well captured Sig!!
Bit confused to start there I'm afraid Sig, you see on reading about this very impressive looking and sounding Loco, I suddenly came across 'Fuel Capacity: 6,200 gallons'.. That threw me completely.. Oil? Steam? See, here in the U.K. and as far as I know Europe, all Steam engines were driven by coal and it meant that some poor unfortunate soul had to keep filling up the boiler with it to keep going at 10mph (as some of our engines were going).. And, they pulled vast loads of coal as well as the passengers.. BUT! This is a very impressive looking engine, it has to be said! Stunning shot, well done.. Rob
Looks like a wonderful machine and a great piece of history.
absolut klasse !! das wäre was für meinen Dad als ehemals Lokführer!!
Really cool train. Excellent shot!
WOnderful shot! :)
IMPRESSIONNANT !!
Shining shot.
fantastic close up!! great dedi
Fabulous engine! Blimey oil fuel and at that rate expensive to run.. But there again makes sense in the good old USA.. I wonder how much coal would be needed?
EXCELLENT POV
I remember steam engines as a boy...I think the last time I saw steam on a mainline route was in 1953 pulling long coal trains in Ohio. I am sure oil was a big upgrade in 1945 but railroads always fighting high costs were glad to convert to diesel in the 1950s. I'd love to see live steam on the move again...even if it was just pulling through some town on a special publicity run. This is an excellent picture! BTW, check out this link...it shows where 844 is now:)
This is amazing shot sig...
What a beauty.. great shot :)
very cool shot!!!!!
Yes, this locomotive seems to me like a reptile, which winds through the country. Very fine technique!
Wonderfu capture and picture !
Stunning capture erland
Xcellent detailed photograph!
A real monster !!!