Let's visit Union Pacific's steam shop for a close look at the 844 an the 4014!
Union Pacific 844 is a 4-8-4 "Northern" type steam locomotive built by the American Locomotive Company in December of 1944 for the Union Pacific Railroad. Constructed as a member of the FEF-3class of 4-8-4's, the 844 was the last steam locomotive delivered to Union Pacific. Originally built for high-speed passenger work the 844, along with the other FEF class Northern's, was pressed into a variety of dual-service work. While commercial Union Pacific steam operations ended in the late 1950's, the 844 was retained by the railroad for special activities. Today, it is one of UP's oldest serving locomotives and is the only steam locomotive never retired by a North American Class I railroad.[2]
No. 844 was one of ten locomotives that were ordered by Union Pacific in 1944 and designated as class FEF-3. The FEF-3 class represented the epitome of dual-service steam locomotive development; funds and research were being concentrated into the development of diesel-electric locomotives. Designed to burn coal, they were converted to run on fuel oil. Like the earlier FEF-2 class, FEF-3 locomotives were designed as passenger engines. They pulled such trains as the Overland Limited, Los Angeles Limited, Portland Rose and Challenger.
Union Pacific 844 hauling the Pony Express in 1949.
Union Pacific 844 on display in 2009.
Built and designed in a joint-effort between the Union Pacific and ALCO, the 844 and the rest of the FEF-3 class could safely handle 120 mph. On one occasion, one of the engines of the FEF-3 class pulled a 1,000-ton passenger train at a 100 mph. All FEF classes were considered by the Union Pacific to be capable of producing between 4,000 and 5,000 drawbar horsepower.
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
UP 844 at Painted Rocks, Nevada, on September 15, 2009
|
|
| Type and origin | |
|---|---|
| Power type | Steam |
| Builder | American Locomotive Company |
| Serial number | 72791 |
| Build date | December 1944 |
| Specifications | |
| Configuration | 4-8-4 |
| UIC classification | 2′D2′ h2 |
| Gauge | 4 ft 8 1⁄2 in (1,435 mm) standard gauge |
| Driver diameter | 80 in (2,032 mm) |
| Wheelbase | Loco & tender: 98 ft 5 in (30.00 m) |
| Weight on drivers | 266,490 lb (120,878 kg; 121 t) |
| Locomotive weight | 486,340 lb (220,600 kg; 221 t) |
| Locomotive and tender combined weight |
907,890 lb (411,812 kg; 412 t) |
| Fuel type | No. 5 fuel oil, originally coal |
| Fuel capacity | 6,200 US gal (23,000 l; 5,200 imp gal) |
| Water capacity | 23,500 US gal (89,000 l; 19,600 imp gal) |
| Boiler | 86 3⁄16 in (2189.2 mm) diameter |
| Boiler pressure | 300 lbf/in2 (2.07 MPa) |
| Firegrate area | 100 sq ft (9.3 m2) (grate removed in 1945) |
| Heating surface: – Tubes |
2,204 sq ft (204.8 m2) |
| – Flues | 1,578 sq ft (146.6 m2) |
| – Firebox | 442 sq ft (41.1 m2) |
| – Total | 4,224 sq ft (392.4 m2) |
| Superheater area | 1,400 sq ft (130 m2) |
| Cylinders | Two |
| Cylinder size | 25 in × 32 in (635 mm × 813 mm) |
| Performance figures | |
| Maximum speed | 120 mph (190 km/h) |
| Power output | 4,500 hp (3,400 kW) |
| Tractive effort | 63,800 lbf (283.8 kN) |
| Factor of adhesion |
4.18 |
| Career | |
| Operator(s) | Union Pacific Railroad |
| Class | FEF-3 |
| Number(s) | 844 (8444 from 1962-1989) |
| Disposition | Overhaul, based on Cheyenne, Wyoming, in roundhouse |
Union Pacific 4014, or UP 4014, is a four-cylinder articulated 4-8-8-4 Big Boy-type steam locomotive owned by Union Pacific Railroad. 4014 was retired from service on July 21, 1959 and donated to the Railway & Locomotive Historical Society in Pomona on December 1961. The locomotive reached its destination in January 1962 and was displayed in Fairplex until November 2013. Union Pacific 4014 is currently in Union Pacific's Steam Shop in Cheyenne, Wyoming, undergoing extensive restoration work which is intended to return the engine to operational status. When 4014 officially returns to service, it will displace UP 3985 as the largest, heaviest and most powerful operational steam locomotive in the world.
History
UP 4014 was one of 25 4-8-8-4 class locomotives developed by Union Pacific and Alco to overcome issues with the preceding 4-6-6-4 Challenger class locomotives. It was determined that the goals that Union Pacific had set for its new class of locomotive could be achieved by making several changes to the existing Challenger design, including enlarging the firebox to approximately 235 by 96 inches (5.97 m × 2.44 m) (about 155 sq ft or 14.4 m2), lengthening the boiler, adding four driving wheels and reducing the size of the driving wheels from 69 to 68 in (1,753 to 1,727 mm).The Big Boys are articulated, like the Mallet locomotive design. They were designed for stability at 80 miles per hour (130 km/h). They were built with a wide margin of reliability and safety, as they normally operated well below that speed in freight service. Peak horsepower was reached at about 35 mph (56 km/h); optimal tractive effort, at about 10 mph (16 km/h). The locomotive without the tender was the longest engine body of any reciprocating steam locomotive in the world.
Alco delivered No. 4014 to Union Pacific in December 1941 and it was fully retired on December 7, 1961. 4014 traveled 1,031,205 miles (1,659,564 km) for Union Pacific during its 20 years in service.
The last revenue train hauled by a Big Boy (No. 4015) ended its run in the evening of July 21, 1959. 4014 completed its last run earlier the same day at 1:50 in the morning. Most were stored operational until 1961, and four remained in operational condition at Green River, Wyoming until 1962. Their duties were assumed by diesel locomotives and gas turbine-electric locomotives (GTELs). Of the 25 built, 8 were preserved at various locations around the United States. 4014 was donated by Union Pacific to the Southern California chapter of the Railway and Locomotive Historical Society in 1961. It did not reach its destination of Pomona until January 8, 1962.
Union Pacific "Big Boy" Number 4014 on static display at the RailGiants Train Museum in Pomona, California, United States
|
|
| Type and origin | |
|---|---|
| References:[1] | |
| Power type | Steam |
| Builder | American Locomotive Company |
| Serial number | 65572 |
| Build date | September 1941 |
| Specifications | |
| Configuration | 4-8-8-4 |
| UIC classification | (2′D)D2′ h4 |
| Gauge | 4 ft 8 1⁄2 in (1,435 mm) |
| Leading wheel diameter |
36 in (914 mm) |
| Driver diameter | 68 inches (170 cm) |
| Trailing wheel diameter |
42 in (1,067 mm) |
| Wheelbase | 72 ft 5.5 in (22.09 m) |
| Length |
|
| Width | 11 ft (3.4 m) |
| Height | 16 ft 2 1⁄2 in (4.94 m) |
| Weight on drivers | 540,000 lb (244,940 kilograms) |
| Locomotive weight | 762,000 lb (345,637 kilograms) |
| Tender weight | 342,200 lb (155,219 kilograms) (2/3 load) |
| Locomotive and tender combined weight |
1,250,000 lb (566,990 kilograms) |
| Fuel type | Coal |
| Fuel capacity | 28 short tons (25.4 t; 25.0 long tons) |
| Water capacity | 24,000 US gal (91,000 l; 20,000 imp gal) |
| Boiler | 95 in (2,400 mm) |
| Boiler pressure | 300 lbf/in2 (2.1 MPa) |
| Firegrate area | 150 sq ft (14 m2) |
| Heating surface: – Tubes and flues |
5,035 sq ft (468 m2) |
| – Firebox | 720 sq ft (67 m2) |
| – Total | 5,735 sq ft (533 m2) |
| Superheater type | Type A |
| Superheater area | 2,043 sq ft (190 m2) |
| Cylinders | 4 |
| Cylinder size | 23.75 in × 32 in (603 mm × 813 mm) |
| Performance figures | |
| Maximum speed | 80 mph (130 km/h) |
| Power output | 6,290 hp (4,690 kW) |
| Tractive effort | 135,375 lbf (602.18 kN) |
| Factor of adhesion |
4.11 |
| Career | |
| Operator(s) | Union Pacific Railroad |
| Number(s) | 4014 |
| Nicknames | Big Boy |
| Last run | July 21, 1959 |
| Retired | December 7, 1961 |
| Restored | Commenced August 2013 |
| Current owner | Union Pacific Railroad |
| Disposition | Undergoing restoration for excursion service |
| Restoration includes conversion from coal to no. 5 oil. | |
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