Beautiful sight. Truly spectacular video. I wish these wonderful engines still reigned supreme on America's railroads. Imagine what a sight it would be in small towns and big cites across America. Imagine those great whistles once again echoing through small towns across the rural america and that wonderful sound it makes on the rails entering cities like Philadelphia and Chicago.
This is such a cool video. I love it at 1:35 when the Hogger decides to get serious about leaving Greeley and hauls back on the throttle! 844 really starts to talk then.
Wow, I really enjoyed this video, seeing the engine start from nothing and get up to a terrific speed, wonderful! Congrats to videographer AND driver! Well done.
Beautiful sight. I wish these wonderful engines still reigned supreme on America's railroads. Imagine what a sight it would be to see this all the time in small towns and big cites across America from sea to shining sea.
My Grandma lived in La Hunta, and my sister and I rode a train from L.A. to there when we were kids. I will never forget that ride. Thanks for the upload that was a great vid! Aloha......
This is a fantastic video. It shows what this engine can really do. At 1:35 you can just hear her talk when the Engineer opens up the throttle. Watch the speed of this train increase rapidly!
Holy crap! she's got to hitting 75 mph there toward the end. see it passing those cars on the highway like they're standing still?! thanks for posting! awesome video!
Very impressive how quickly this big beast accelerates with a heavy train. There used to be a few clips on UA-cam of New York Central Niagaras, engines very similar to UP 8444. Thanks johnr1960 for all your great steam posts!
844 is an oil burner now. She burns No. 5 furnace oil. If she burned coal, there'd be a completely opaque towering cloud of smoke coming out of that stack instead of just a little puff.
I live in Greeley and hear this train everyday...that was a lot of people hangin around watching it on the side of the road. Maybe it was more popular back in 89 to sit and watch trains. I got to see one while it was connecting all the cars in a chain reaction...was badass.
@John Rockey - THANK YOU for uploading this so that we can see a historical work of Engineering Steam Engine Locomotive art! You are doing the Lord's work sir. I have to see this in person one day.
It was so great that you managed to keep up with her for so long and show her in full action.A beautiful clip , thanks for filming this and sharing with us! :)
This was the first video of a steam locomotive I ever watched 10 years ago or so, prior to that I didn't know steam locos even ran in America any more. My life hasn't been the same since. ;)
This is a GREAT video, nice and steady! You can tell when the Engineer opens her up, probably when the last car cleared the siding switch. Great sounds.
WOW! 3 minutes to 60 MPH? Amazing! I'd love to see an inside the cab video of this clip to see what it takes to go from a standing start to that speed. No doubt a blur of activity. Thanks for posting this.
a deisel broke down one time and the challenger was running excursion on the line it hooked up and pushed the freight tain as well as its own cars amazing power they have
Actually man, the 844 was there at the State Fair last year, and they talked about bringing it back this year as well. We lived in Monument at the time, and went and sat at the tracks in Palmer Lake to watch it fly by. They ran from Denver to Pueblo and back. VERY impressive indeed! I could not believe the size of this thing when it went by...I believe those drivers are around 7 foot tall!
Although the momentum of the rods is great at the 60 or so mph she was traveling at, she wasn't going all that fast. That engine doesn't develop its maximum horsepower until 90 mph, and is capable of sustained speeds of over 100 mph.
WOW!!! What an impressive piece of history. It must have been amazing to see this monster in action. If only they would come to my town of Pueblo, Colorado. That would be quite the experience.
Union Pacific 844 looked really handsome in the classic "Greyhound" paint scheme and I really hope that in the future the UP rr heritage steam crew will reapply this paint scheme back to the 844. The "greyhound" paint scheme was applied to Union Pacific rr passenger equipment from 1946-1952 and this was a unique and attractive looking scheme used on the passenger trains.
Those guys in the cab have the coolest jobs. How many can, when asked what they do for a living, say that they run the baddest steam locomotive on the planet.
nice. Reminds me of abut 20 years back when I worked at a school in Clinton Co. IA. One of the teachers was a rr enthusiast so he brought his class and I tagged along. I don't think it was steam but it was certainly a "400" type of train. In 1956 our HS class took the RI line to Chgo, rough track by Blue Island. Twenty years later, same roughness, same place. The financials drained the road dry and then some.
that old engine could still do 100mph plus i think. you can tell wen he lets her go and put the heat to the boiler too .nice video.thanks 4 posting it .
Glad you like it. I still watch it even though it is over 15 years ago. I remember the day so well. I do sell a DVD of the trip that day if you are interested.
I love the gray and yellow paint scheme, wish they kept it lol I didn't like the black at first but its growing on me too I guess they went with black because it's easier to paint among other things!!! lol
You're right about the sound change at 1:30 range. Open her till you think she's gonna blow then back off just a tad! Does anyone have a cab video from a standing start? I'd love to see the activity required to get a hot & ready engine to start moving.
Brings back lots of memeryos of my childhod when a steamer ran through Clifford mich, it was the grand trunk line running north and south, took it off in 1959,put on diesel, Very sad day when that happend. I always herd it called the polley ann, dont know how it got that name, probely someone just tacked that name to it.
That's a heck of a lot of steam/smoke being pumped into the air. Then again, it's moving an extremely heavy string of metal objects. Ah, this reminds me of my 24-hour train ride from Chicago to Colorado [and back]! (That was Amtrak, but still, I thought I heard train whistles for WEEKS after the trip ended, haha)
Not sure exactly when, but I know the numbering had to do with the UP retiring an old GP-30, numbered 844. This unit went to a RR museum, just south of Las Vegas.
I love her in black but I love her even more in the two-gray with small yellow stripes paint scheme even more. 124 miles per hour amazing. That is probably second to PRR 7002 here in the western hemisphere.
and just think, these are actually pulling the train instead of the modern engine acting as a generator driving the electric motors on the cars, just plain impressive
Wow. I wonder what the speed is at the end - it regulary run trips at 80mph, so maybe close to that? Also amazing is the nearly smokeless exaust at high speed ... cool.
Top speed is a bit faster than that... On the 15th of april 2009 (just the other day) we clocked her in my car going 80mph along I-80 out of Lovelock, NV. And they weren't going all-out either. I have video to prove it, just cant get it on my computer as of yet. I think he was referring to the ORIGINAL "bullet trains", the steam powered ones. I agree, the gray paint scheme needs to come back.
Nope, you're wrong, genius. You're thinking of CFC's. Put some static precipitators or other pollution control equipment in steam locomotives' smokestacks and we could use 'em tomorrow. This is an excellent video and must've been tricky to record. How fast is 844 going at the end? It looks to be around 60mph, and there aren't many contemporary videos of steam locomotives travelling THAT fast!
What a slick looking train. The legendary 844 is amazing to watch in action.
Just after the 1:30 mark where you can hear him really crack open the throttle... that gives me goosebumps. What a fabulous machine!
It was amazing when he did, and he just took off from there, up to 60 mph in under a minute.
Beautiful sight. Truly spectacular video. I wish these wonderful engines still reigned supreme on America's railroads. Imagine what a sight it would be in small towns and big cites across America. Imagine those great whistles once again echoing through small towns across the rural america and that wonderful sound it makes on the rails entering cities like Philadelphia and Chicago.
This is such a cool video. I love it at 1:35 when the Hogger decides to get serious about leaving Greeley and hauls back on the throttle! 844 really starts to talk then.
Wow, I really enjoyed this video, seeing the engine start from nothing and get up to a terrific speed, wonderful! Congrats to videographer AND driver! Well done.
I watch this one about three times a week. I cant get enough.
Beautiful sight. I wish these wonderful engines still reigned supreme on America's railroads. Imagine what a sight it would be to see this all the time in small towns and big cites across America from sea to shining sea.
Unbelievable, I was born and raised in Greeley, and I was never able to experience anything like that before, thanks!
My Grandma lived in La Hunta, and my sister and I rode a train from L.A. to there when we were kids. I will never forget that ride. Thanks for the upload that was a great vid! Aloha......
This is a fantastic video. It shows what this engine can really do. At 1:35 you can just hear her talk when the Engineer opens up the throttle. Watch the speed of this train increase rapidly!
Oh my! I got goosebumps, especially as it was whistling for those crossings. Think of the forces at work in this machine!
Fantastic is right! Thanks for sharing.
Holy crap! she's got to hitting 75 mph there toward the end. see it passing those cars on the highway like they're standing still?! thanks for posting! awesome video!
Very impressive how quickly this big beast accelerates with a heavy train. There used to be a few clips on UA-cam of New York Central Niagaras, engines very similar to UP 8444.
Thanks johnr1960 for all your great steam posts!
Thanks for making this video. It captures not only the brute force of 844 but also its elegance and beauty.
844 is an oil burner now. She burns No. 5 furnace oil.
If she burned coal, there'd be a completely opaque towering cloud of smoke coming out of that stack instead of just a little puff.
Awesome! I just love the gray passenger scheme! Bring it back UP!!
I live in Greeley and hear this train everyday...that was a lot of people hangin around watching it on the side of the road. Maybe it was more popular back in 89 to sit and watch trains. I got to see one while it was connecting all the cars in a chain reaction...was badass.
@John Rockey - THANK YOU for uploading this so that we can see a historical work of Engineering Steam Engine Locomotive art! You are doing the Lord's work sir.
I have to see this in person one day.
It was so great that you managed to keep up with her for so long and show her in full action.A beautiful clip , thanks for filming this and sharing with us! :)
I am in tears. Wonderful video! BRAVO!
Fantastic! I can almost feel the ground shudder as she roars by!!
The UP844 is one of the most beautiful machines ever created. :)
The NY CENTRAL NIAGARA ALCO Steam Engine was a little better, but sadly there are none left.
This was the first video of a steam locomotive I ever watched 10 years ago or so, prior to that I didn't know steam locos even ran in America any more. My life hasn't been the same since. ;)
This is a GREAT video, nice and steady! You can tell when the Engineer opens her up, probably when the last car cleared the siding switch. Great sounds.
WOW! 3 minutes to 60 MPH? Amazing! I'd love to see an inside the cab video of this clip to see what it takes to go from a standing start to that speed. No doubt a blur of activity. Thanks for posting this.
a deisel broke down one time and the challenger was running excursion on the line it hooked up and pushed the freight tain as well as its own cars amazing power they have
Thanks. It is incredible to watch, listen, and smell!!
Beautiful steam locomotive. Great video.
Thank you so much, a great vid of raw power accelerating. Someday I need to be near one of these to get the full affect, until then this will do.
844 great locomotive ill never forget my cab ride from cheyenn to lasalle hope they never stop running it
...WOW... LOVE THAT START UP... Shows you how the engine gets faster, and faster, and faster. Wow...
I have to agree. This is my favorite steam video on youtube. I like it so much every time I open youtube it opens on this video.
dude, I've said it before, but that is a truly incredible video! thanks a million!
Wonderful just a wonderful video. I saw plenty of these in Utah in the mid 50's.
Actually man, the 844 was there at the State Fair last year, and they talked about bringing it back this year as well. We lived in Monument at the time, and went and sat at the tracks in Palmer Lake to watch it fly by. They ran from Denver to Pueblo and back. VERY impressive indeed! I could not believe the size of this thing when it went by...I believe those drivers are around 7 foot tall!
MAN! That was freaking GREAT! Thanks!
Fantastico ! Always more near, always more fast. Almost hypnotic. Congratulazioni from Rome
One of the best videos on You Tube!
Although the momentum of the rods is great at the 60 or so mph she was traveling at, she wasn't going all that fast. That engine doesn't develop its maximum horsepower until 90 mph, and is capable of sustained speeds of over 100 mph.
WOW that is really an amazing video of a beautiful machine! Thank you so much for posting this!
What a beautiful beast of a loco!
Excellent video, I hope I'm as lucky making video of this classic at the Keddie Wye on May 2.
WOW!!! What an impressive piece of history. It must have been amazing to see this monster in action. If only they would come to my town of Pueblo, Colorado. That would be quite the experience.
Union Pacific 844 looked really handsome in the classic "Greyhound" paint scheme and I really hope that in the future the UP rr heritage steam crew will reapply this paint scheme back to the 844. The "greyhound" paint scheme was applied to Union Pacific rr passenger equipment from 1946-1952 and this was a unique and attractive looking scheme used on the passenger trains.
now thats power. nice vid.
Powerrrrrr!!!!!! - Jeremy Clarkson
Good start, impresive stack talk! Shame about the wind effect later, and the mission controller on the radio. Thanks for posting though
lol the car blows by @ 2:45, then about 15 seconds later you see him slowing way down and rubbernecking...he was NOT expecting that, me thinks.
Outstanding is all I can say
The full effect is in one word; intense!!
1:30-2:10 PEDDAL TO THE METAL! Awesome video.
1:30
1:20
This is what the word "Awesome" was meant to describe!
It's great seeing that powerful engine without any diesels behind it. Quite a heavy train, looks like!
Awesome video, i love it, well done!
Still enjoy watching this John :) :)
Nice video. I got to ride in in May of 2006 when it came thru North Little Rock.
Those guys in the cab have the coolest jobs. How many can, when asked what they do for a living, say that they run the baddest steam locomotive on the planet.
Steam is in my blood !! Thanks Mate
nice. Reminds me of abut 20 years back when I worked at a school in Clinton Co. IA. One of the teachers was a rr enthusiast so he brought his class and I tagged along. I don't think it was steam but it was certainly a "400" type of train. In 1956 our HS class took the RI line to Chgo, rough track by Blue Island. Twenty years later, same roughness, same place. The financials drained the road dry and then some.
that old engine could still do 100mph plus i think. you can tell wen he lets her go and put the heat to the boiler too .nice video.thanks 4 posting it .
Glad you like it. I still watch it even though it is over 15 years ago. I remember the day so well. I do sell a DVD of the trip that day if you are interested.
Really nice video ! I prefer this scheme rather than the all black one.
these locomotive where really the pinnacle of steam technology
A choice clip - Thanks, love that grey paint!
That guy in that vehicle was not watching the road!! Outstand clip!
not when they're climbing up mountains. The sound of 16 cylinder EMD engines in a mountain pass matches that of a steam engine in noise
I love the gray and yellow paint scheme, wish they kept it lol I didn't like the black at first but its growing on me too I guess they went with black because it's easier to paint among other things!!! lol
You're right about the sound change at 1:30 range. Open her till you think she's gonna blow then back off just a tad!
Does anyone have a cab video from a standing start? I'd love to see the activity required to get a hot & ready engine to start moving.
This is the only operating Northern that I know of. The 844 / 8444 has been in a couple of different color schemes over the years.
FANTASTIC, CONGRATULATIONS!!!!
At 60 mph she was burning hot and clean. Magnificent !!!
Thanks johnr!
Great video! I could have watched this for 30 minutes more!
Fire and water ! Who needs oil? Very good clip...
Great video. Thanks
That's true power right there.
Brings back lots of memeryos of my childhod when a steamer ran through Clifford mich, it was the grand trunk line running north and south, took it off in 1959,put on diesel, Very sad day when that happend. I always herd it called the polley ann, dont know how it got that name, probely someone just tacked that name to it.
Great 0-60 acceleration run !
Magnificent! Railways lost all their character when steam engines retired.
1:30 844 hauling @$$
That's a heck of a lot of steam/smoke being pumped into the air. Then again, it's moving an extremely heavy string of metal objects.
Ah, this reminds me of my 24-hour train ride from Chicago to Colorado [and back]! (That was Amtrak, but still, I thought I heard train whistles for WEEKS after the trip ended, haha)
Not sure exactly when, but I know the numbering had to do with the UP retiring an old GP-30, numbered 844. This unit went to a RR museum, just south of Las Vegas.
Great Video!!
wonderful how you can hear the engineer open the regulator...my dream...
The train was doing approx. 60 mph at the end of the clip.
I love her in black but I love her even more in the two-gray with small yellow stripes paint scheme even more. 124 miles per hour amazing. That is probably second to PRR 7002 here in the western hemisphere.
fantastic job on that chase, i must say
and just think, these are actually pulling the train instead of the modern engine acting as a generator driving the electric motors on the cars, just plain impressive
Up 844 high speeds fast
at 136 he puts the juice to it and wham were off!
My goodness is it gorgeous!!
awesome!!! I love trains!
That is one hell of an engine !! superb video.
My videos don't match this
Wow. I wonder what the speed is at the end - it regulary run trips at 80mph, so maybe close to that? Also amazing is the nearly smokeless exaust at high speed ... cool.
Wow! 844 in the Greyhound livery!
This steam locomotive is going to be in North Platte this coming weekend
Up 844 está soprando o original whistle igual a voz do meu primo Júnior
Great Video....
have you been to the forney transportation meuseum? they have a real 4-8-8-4 Big Boy there
Top speed is a bit faster than that... On the 15th of april 2009 (just the other day) we clocked her in my car going 80mph along I-80 out of Lovelock, NV. And they weren't going all-out either.
I have video to prove it, just cant get it on my computer as of yet.
I think he was referring to the ORIGINAL "bullet trains", the steam powered ones.
I agree, the gray paint scheme needs to come back.
That looks like just north of Platteville. I lived there from 1980 (when I was born) to 1992.
Nope, you're wrong, genius. You're thinking of CFC's.
Put some static precipitators or other pollution control equipment in steam locomotives' smokestacks and we could use 'em tomorrow.
This is an excellent video and must've been tricky to record. How fast is 844 going at the end? It looks to be around 60mph, and there aren't many contemporary videos of steam locomotives travelling THAT fast!
Wow, awesome. Is that the limit for that mainline? As I recall, 79mph is also Amtrak's limit in the Southeast ("diesel" trackage south of DC.)