844 and 4449 doubleheader trip EDITED

May 3 - May 31, 2007 Northwest Trip

May 3rd: Cheyenne - Rocksprings
May 4th: Rocksprings - Pocatello
May 5th: Pocatello - Boise
May 6th: Boise - Layover and display Boise Station 8:00 am to 5:00 pm
May 7th: Boise - LaGrande
May 8th: LaGrande - Hinkle
May 9th: Hinkle - Layover and display 8:00 am to 5:00 pm
May 10th: Hinkle - The Dalles
May 11th: Layover and display 8:00 am to 5:00 pm
May 12th: The Dalles - Fife
May 13 thru 17th: Layover and display 8:00 am to 5:00 pm
May 18th: Tacoma - Everett - Tacoma
May 20th May 19: Tacoma - Everett - Tacoma
May 21st May 20: Layover and display 8:00 am to 5:00 pm
May 22nd: Fife - Kenton
May 23rd: Portland - Hinkle
May 24th: Hinkel - LaGrande
May 25th: LaGrande - Nampa Departure @ 4:00 am
May 27th: Nampa - Pocatello
May 28th: Pocatello Layover and display 8:00 am to 5:00 pm
May 29th: Pocatello - Montpelier
May 30th: Montpelier - Rocksprings
May 31st: Rocksprings - Cheyenne
I thought everyone might want the heads up. I’m gonna chase them all through Everett.
I’m not sure of other changes, but go to UP’s website to make sure.

OH! Oh man… it almost hurts how bad I want to go! Please, post pics if you get any!

A double no less…One of these days I will make a trip up north and see one of the beauties pounding the rail in person. Unfortunalty, Classic “big” steam just doesnt make it into Phoenix.

We are going ot try and get up the Grand Cayon Railway this summer to see theirs run.

Oh I’m not getting pics. I’m gonna take a movie of it.

Wow–TWO big handsome Northerns! I just hope 844 can keep up with 4449, LOL!

Tom

That begs the question of when and how is the 4449 going to get to Cheyenne? That sounds like some interesting photo opportunities.

I don’t think the entire trip from Cheyenne is a doubleheader, only the Tacoma-Everett portion.

http://www.sp4449.com/

Andre

I don’t think the entire trip from Cheyenne is a doubleheader, only the Tacoma-Everett portion.

http://www.sp4449.com/

Andre

Andre–

Actually, I was wondering about that. UP still seems very shy (or is it envious?) about letting 4449 on their trackage.

Tom

Isn’t it the other way around - 4449 keeping up with 844!!![:D][:D]

Not sure which one will run the fastest but 844 has the newest everything.

The 844 will be pushing. Did anyone get a chance to see the surving steam locos together pulling some passenger cars? The 1522,4449,y6b, and the j-class. My father has a vidoe of it that was amazing.

I dunno, 4449 just had a reman bearing installed on the #2 driver axle…

NO steam makes it to the Champlain Valley.[:(]

And all us little kiddies get to watch her go through portland 2000 miles away [:D]

http://www.western.com

Two great steamers 4449 & 844 & I’m too far away to see the action.

Oh well, at least I’ve seen 2816 up close & in person & met Doyle McCormack who helped build her & 4449

Gordon

This is one of those times that I would love to be home right now. The Navy stuck me down here in VA so I can miss all the fun back home in WA. If any one here goes there please take some picks I would love to see them.

Massey

Turns out they’re running through my favorite railfanning spot(Where I saw 4449 7 years ago), so I’m going to get a video and they’re on display in Tacoma, and I’ll get pix there.

Well, could be–but I saw 4449 heading down the Chico cutoff to Railfair here in Sacramento once, and she was going so fast through Lincoln she almost sucked a bunch of us video freaks right in to her, LOL! That baby was PUMPING!!

Actually, both of them are incredibly successful locos for what they were designed for. I’d like to be there to see them working together.

Tom [:D]

Mark, Thanks for the schedule. Does that mean that it will be in Washington for over a week?

Sue[yeah]

Union Pacific just gave the 844 a rebuild that the 4449 crew could only DREAM about doing, not that she isn’t deserving, I live in Portland and the 4449 is a BEAUTIFUL locomotive. But Uncle Pete does have thhe funding and facilities that Doyle and crew wish they had.

As far as who will be struggling to keep up with who, the 800 class locomotives, had a design speed of 110 MPH, I don’t know what the GS class engines were built for, But I can’t imagine it being any faster than the 110MPH of the 800s. But it doesn’t much matter anyway, with most trackage (if not all) outside of the Northeast corridor having a maximum Passenger train speed limit of 79 MPH or less. Even if there was trackage available with a higher speed limit, it is doubtfoul that either locomotive would be allowed to run to its true potential, as the wear,tear and abuse of the machinery increases exponetially with higher speeds. So it is all just going to amount to some (hopefully) good natured speculation, discussion and debate, with each locomotive having its own fans. They are BOTH WONDERFUL locomotives that we are LUCKY to have had preserved and maintained. My bet is on the 844. It is too bad that we will probably never know the answer. But I am still Thankful that both of these locomotives ( and also the SP&S 700, which is also maitained in Portland) are still in service. I have read that barring a derailment, grade crossing accident or some other unforseen mishap, after the major overhaul that the 844 received Uncle Pete expects her to make it to her 100th birthday in 2044 still in service. This is a locomotive that has NEVER been retired, or removed from the active roster, only been taken out of service for maintanence.

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