Steffan Blaser's Lake Oroville Real Estate Blog

Parade, Car Show, Craft Market, Games, Food, Antiques, Art and more.

Vist the Oroville Chamber of Commerce for Details–here–under LINKS

Steam Locomotive No. 844 is the last steam locomotive built for Union Pacific Railroad. It was delivered in 1944. A high-speed passenger engine, it pulled such widely known trains as the Overland Limited, Los Angeles Limited, Portland Rose and Challenger.

Many people know the engine as the No. 8444, since an extra ‘4′ was added to its number in 1962 to distinguish it from a diesel numbered in the 800 series. The steam engine regained its rightful number in June 1989, after the diesel was retired.

When diesels took over all of the passenger train duties, 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.

The 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.

Hailed as Union Pacific’s “Living Legend,” the engine is widely known among railroad enthusiasts for its excursion runs, especially over Union Pacific’s fabled crossing of Sherman Hill between Cheyenne and Laramie, Wyoming.

It will be open for Tours Friday May 1st from 8am to 5pm off  Mitchell Avenue by the PCP Cannery

For more information about this historic steam locomotive go to  http://www.uprr.com/aboutup/excurs/up844.shtml

I will be checking the site thruout the day & try to answer your questions as quickly as possible. I usually check in at 10 am, 1 pm &  around 5 pm to 6 pm. Sometimes if I am out with a client showing properties there maybe a time lag. Thanx for your patience. I am looking forward to helping you. I will provide links to local events, businesses, area pictures to let you see for yourself, what a Beautiful area We have and a Wonderful Place to Call Home by the Lake and the Foothills.   Smiles, Steffan