Famous Union Pacific steam engine will arrive in Southeast Idaho on Wednesday
Steam locomotive No. 844 is making a 1,600-mile round trip this month in honor of the historic Boise Depot’s 92nd anniversary, and the journey will include three stops in Southeast Idaho: Montpelier, Soda Springs and Pocatello.
“Railfans are going to love it,” said Ed Dickens, UP’s senior manager of heritage operations, adding that it has been about seven years since the locomotive last came through this area.
No. 844 is the last steam locomotive built for Union Pacific Railroad, and it was delivered in 1944, according to UP officials. They say the high-speed passenger locomotive once pulled well-known trains such as the Overland Limited, Portland Rose and Challenger.
“When diesels took over all passenger train duties, No. 844 was placed in freight service in Nebraska from 1957 to 1959. It was saved from being scrapped in 1960 and held for special service,” according to information provided by UP.
The locomotive is known as the Living Legend because it is the only steam engine in the fleet that hasn’t been taken out of service, according to UP officials.
They say No. 844 has a towing power of 30 tractor-trailers and can travel 300 miles on a single tank of fuel. The engine and tender weigh 454 tons.
Dickens said the locomotive once traveled as fast as 100 mph and was used to carry not only passengers, but mail.
He noted that it was so efficient that letters mailed between nearby states could arrive on the same day they were sent.
During its April journey, No. 844 will make about 30-minute whistle stops in Montpelier and Soda Springs this Wednesday, at about 1:30 p.m. and 2:45 p.m., respectively. It will arrive in Pocatello around 4:45 p.m. Wednesday and will remain on display on the tracks off North Harrison Avenue and Omaha Street until departing at 8 a.m. Friday for Minidoka.
