SPECIAL Union Pacific Movements

eomaha · Post by **eomaha** » Thu Jul 28, 2005 12:26 am

These No. 844 and Challenger 'fly bys' are truly awe inspiring sites to see (and feel!). Don't miss it! (I love when it runs right down the interstate during rush hour! ...which it will be doing tomorrow. Don't get hit by anyone!). Another nice spot to get up close as it speeds by is Bob Boozer Drive.

Real time locator map: http://www.uprr.com/aboutup/excurs/trace.cfm

Display schedule:
• 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Friday and 2 p.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday at Qwest Center Omaha
• 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Sunday and Monday at Golden Spike Park, South 21st Street and Ninth Avenue in Council Bluffs

Trip schedule:
Thursday 7/28
• 8 a.m., leave North Platte, Neb., from Front Street between Chestnut and Poplar Streets
• 11 a.m., 30-minute stop at U.P.'s Grand Island office, 601 S. Front St.
• 6 p.m., arrive at Qwest Center Omaha, near 10th Street and Abbott Drive

Tuesday 8/2
• 8 a.m., leave Council Bluffs' Golden Spike Park
• 11 a.m., 30-minute stop in Grand Island
• 4 p.m., stop overnight in North Platte.

Wednesday 8/3
• 9 a.m., leave North Platte
• 10:30 a.m. MDT, 30-minute stop at Ninth and Grant Streets in Sidney, Neb.
• 2 p.m., arrive in Cheyenne, Wyo

World Herald story: http://www.omaha.com/index.php?u_pg=46& ... nd=6211844

Post by **Brad** » Thu Jul 28, 2005 4:29 pm

Yeah, Its been a while, but its always cool to go see. I went last time it was in town, I didn't realise it was that long ago, I am starting to feel old. Was there not another locomotive parked back behing the qwest center last rivercity roundup, the challanger, also cool to go see.

eomaha · Post by **eomaha** » Thu Jul 28, 2005 11:47 pm

That was indeed the Challenger at the last Roundup Brad.

eomaha · Post by **eomaha** » Sat Jul 30, 2005 12:40 am

I was disappointed to discover it came to town earlier than their published schedule. It was already down by the railyard north of the Qwest Center before 4pm. I guess we'll have to catch it as it moves over to Council Bluffs this weekend... or on the return trip to Cheyenne on Tuesday.

almighty_tuna · Post by **almighty_tuna** » Sat Jul 30, 2005 6:55 pm

Right now its sitting alongside Riverfront Drive, opposite Riverfront Place. Looks neat!

OmahaChef · Post by **OmahaChef** » Sat Jul 30, 2005 10:23 pm

I left work and managed to catch it on the way in, and hope to do so again on Tuesday when it leaves Omaha. It is VERY impressive!! If you are into trains, you have to see this!

Post by **Brad** » Sun Jul 31, 2005 6:08 pm

I just drove over to CB to the Golden Spike Monumemt to See the 844. As always quite impressive. The other impressive part was the Very large amount of people there. From a Railfan point of view I was encourged by the diverse age group that was there. On the way out of there I drove by the Rock Island Depot Museum. I am very suprised that I never put 2 and 2 together but the Rock Island Depot has the 814 which is they same class of locomotive as the 844 so if you missed it you can go see the 814, another older steam locomotive, and an awsome Model Railroad all at the Rock Island Depot right off the South Expressway in sothern CB. (I will post dates and times later)

eomaha · Post by **eomaha** » Thu Jul 27, 2006 9:37 pm

http://www.omaha.com/index.php?u_pg=46& ... nd=4889913

Track it's location: http://www.uprr.com/aboutup/excurs/trace.cfm

Schedule:

Aug. 3:
11-11:30 a.m.: Service stop, downtown Lodgepole.
4 p.m.: Overnight stop, Front Street between Chestnut and Poplar Streets, North Platte.
Aug. 4:
8 a.m.: Depart North Platte
11-11:30 a.m.: Service stop, 601 Front St., Grand Island
1 p.m.: Ten-minute whistle-stop, 10 S. Main St., Fremont
2-2:30 p.m.: Service stop, North 12th Street crossing, Blair
2:40 p.m.: Ten-minute whistle-stop, Kirlin Street crossing, Missouri Valley, Iowa
4:30 p.m.: Arrive Golden Spike Park, Council Bluffs
Aug. 5-7
8 a.m.- 6 p.m.: Public display; free rides on miniature train. Golden Spike Park, Ninth Avenue and South 21st St., Council Bluffs
Aug. 8-10
8 a.m.-6 p.m.: Public display; free rides on miniature train. Durham Western Heritage Museum, 801 S. 10th St., Omaha.
Aug. 11
8 a.m.: Depart Western Heritage Museum
11-11:30 a.m.: Service stop, Grand Island
4 p.m.: Overnight stop, North Platte
Aug. 12
9 a.m.: Depart North Platte
11-11:30 a.m.: Service stop, Ninth and Grant Streets, Sidney

Post by **Brad** » Thu Jul 27, 2006 10:13 pm

Josh can you find out when it is going to travel from Council Bluffs to Omaha for a photo on the Missouri River Bridge!

the1wags · Post by **the1wags** » Thu Jul 27, 2006 10:15 pm

Hmmmm, I'll see what I can do.

the1wags · Post by **the1wags** » Mon Jul 31, 2006 9:52 am

Actually, the 2nd link provided by Jeff is what you want to keep an eye on. UP has put GPS on the 844 and will update the position map every 5 mins.

http://www.uprr.com/aboutup/excurs/trace.cfm

Sounds like the best plan would be to have your camera ready and have Jake with ya with his laptop.

Post by **Brad** » Mon Jul 31, 2006 9:59 am

Well it moves monday night/tuesday morning. I am off that night, so I hight be able to catch it!

icejammer · Post by **icejammer** » Fri Aug 04, 2006 3:17 pm

Looks like the train is about 2 hours behind schedule right now, it was supposed to be in Fremont about 1 and it's there right now (3:15)

w8ing · Post by **w8ing** » Fri Aug 04, 2006 4:06 pm

Would it come across on that bridge next to Harrah's garage? That would be a prime picture place if that's the case.

icejammer · Post by **icejammer** » Fri Aug 04, 2006 4:10 pm

When the train crosses over from CB to Omaha, yes. The route today, after Fremont, was to Mo Valley and then south to CB.

eomaha · Post by **eomaha** » Fri Aug 04, 2006 7:31 pm

I barely made it through the rush hour traffic over the Missouri River (boy I'm glad I don't have to commute from Iowa!) to catch it going through a few crossings... most of my time I spent doing the camcorder. I'm just in awe watching these massive, snorting monsters on the move. Of interest to the model railroaders (who probably already knew?)... I ran into a friend of mine there who said that UP decided to use the royalty money they're forcing train modeling companies to pay, to maintain Challenger and #844. Now if they would have said that from the beginning, they probably would have been applauded by model railroad enthusiasts.

w8ing · Post by **w8ing** » Sat Aug 05, 2006 3:49 pm

Some pics from the golden spike monument park today.

I can't believe the size of these wheels!

All the bells and whistles (literally, ha!) inside

From the front

Post by **Brad** » Mon Aug 07, 2006 9:26 pm

Here is a sneak preview of my photos,I have 350 to go through.... Josh will be posting a bunch also!

Coyote · Post by **Coyote** » Mon Aug 07, 2006 9:30 pm

Well - hurry up Brad!

Post by **Brad** » Mon Aug 07, 2006 10:12 pm

OK Coyote, I am ready....

Tonight Josh and I went down after work to see UP 844 the last steam engine ever delivered to the Union Pacific.

We started in Council Bluffs at the Golden Spike monument. We watch them back the train out on the the mainline. Then as it started moving foward we hoped in the car and raced to Harra's Parking Garage. We took many pictures at it slowly rolled to a stop on the bridge, you couldn't get any better than that. We even had enough time to drive back to Omaha, park in the 10th street bridge and then a few min later we heard the wistle and soon it appeared. It all unfolded so perfect!

Coyote · Post by **Coyote** » Mon Aug 07, 2006 10:14 pm

Nice! Good timing. Thanks for sharing them Brad.

Post by **Brad** » Mon Aug 07, 2006 10:17 pm

Coyote wrote:Nice! Good timing. Thanks for sharing them Brad.

I had some lighting issues tonight. Hopefully josh has some better ones!

the1wags · Post by **the1wags** » Mon Aug 07, 2006 10:47 pm

Just a couple for tonight, I'm tired and lazy.

I think the clouds lighting in general were giving us both problems tonight. I'm wondering if I shoulda slapped on my UV filters for a few shots.

Heres my two for now, I'm going close up art mode with it. The copyrights are a little darker than what I want too, still working on new ones.

Great shots Brad. The straight on one @ the Durham from 10th is an angle I totally missed.

Post by **Omaha Cowboy** » Tue Aug 08, 2006 12:25 am

Wow..Great pics guys..

..Ciao..LiO....Peace

w8ing · Post by **w8ing** » Tue Aug 08, 2006 7:52 am

Wow! You'd make good p.i.'s or groupies. lol

Very cool pics. I especially like the one with the smoke coming out the top.

Zephyr · Post by **Zephyr** » Tue Aug 08, 2006 9:50 am

Very nice shots, Brad and Josh! I especially like the view on the bridge over the river.

Post by **Brad** » Sat Aug 12, 2006 4:05 pm

On my vacation day on Friday, I woke up early and followed (chased) the 844 all the way to just eas of Columbus.

In all of these pictures the locomotive was moving about 60 to 65 mph (estimate by railroad workers) The first pictures were just west of Fremont. I took the pics and jumped in the car immediately (as well as a bunch of others) and hit the gas heading west on Highway 30. How no tickets were issued in the informal carravan of cars following the 844 was beyond me. I bet I was doing close to 80 theough north bend. I also passed a car in another town. About half way to Collumbus the group I was following pulled of at a "good" road for snaping pics and hopping right back on the highway. The final pcis are snapped in I believe Richland, the town just east of Columbus.

Overall a fun morning.

Stop #1

Stop #2

Stop #3

Coyote · Post by **Coyote** » Sat Aug 12, 2006 4:20 pm

Great job Brad. I wish I could have taken the day off for that.

the1wags · Post by **the1wags** » Sat Aug 12, 2006 5:47 pm

Great shots Brad. Those with the smoke pouring out are awesome, they musta had her really going. That dude in the red should be glad there wasn't UP police around, thats a bit close to the track.

Post by **Omaha Cowboy** » Sat Aug 12, 2006 8:29 pm

Wow..

Good stuff Brad..

..Ciao..LiO....Peace

eomaha · Post by **eomaha** » Sun Aug 13, 2006 2:56 am

Nice guys!

If I get a chance later today, I'll upload some of the video I took when it arrived in CB a week ago.

Post by **Brad** » Sun Aug 13, 2006 2:12 pm

Josh, the police would have to patrol every crossing between Omaha and Columbus. There were people everywhere.

That thing was amazing doing 60 to 65 mph the sound and the shaking earth, very cool.

eomaha · Post by **eomaha** » Sun Aug 13, 2006 2:19 pm

It always gets me kind of worked up/emotional when I see these engines come barrelling by. It's a life changing experience man!

the1wags · Post by **the1wags** » Sun Aug 13, 2006 9:47 pm

I wish I coulda seen it at high speed.

Maybe next time.

MTO · Post by **MTO** » Sun Aug 13, 2006 10:15 pm

i second that one huston

eomaha · Post by **eomaha** » Mon Aug 14, 2006 10:58 pm

My first YouTube contribution

(unfortunately, I have no where near enough bandwidth to host these) ...

Here's a great one...

the1wags · Post by **the1wags** » Tue Aug 15, 2006 6:30 am

THAT IS AWESOME!!!!!!!!! Thanks for sharing those Jeff. I'm gonna have to go watch it at high speed sometime now, amazing.

Zephyr · Post by **Zephyr** » Tue Aug 15, 2006 8:16 am

Great photos again, Brad! Looks like you were able to find a crossing that was not swarming with foamers! Thanks for sharing these.

Post by **Brad** » Tue Aug 15, 2006 9:09 am

Thanks Eric.

That crossing was all the way out near Columbus.... about an hour and a half away. However almost every crossing had people at it.

SaOmaha · Post by **SaOmaha** » Fri Aug 25, 2006 7:39 pm

I enjoy reading interesting things about the UP #844 here.

Two week from Yesterday, I rode the bus to downtown to photographing the Union Pacific Steam locomotive #844 and its heritage fleet cars on the south side of the Durham Western Heritage Museum. I have no photos or videos of this train arriving or deporting the Museum.

On a related topic, I have some interesting shots of the miniature-train next to the heritage fleet cars

All my UP #844 at Durham Western Heritage Museum photo are on at:

http://phpdev.ist.unomaha.edu/~sadams/2 ... allery.htm

I may take more photos then next time the UP #844 in town.
.