Union Pacific 844 Charges to California

UP steam engine 844 launches The Western Heritage Tour Union Pacific Railroads rolling goodwill ambassador historic steam locomotive No. 844 The Western Heritage Tour will cover four states in 32 days. The tour will cover much of the territory first pioneered by the nations first transcontinental railroad, including participation in the city of Roseville, Calif., Centennial, the Western Pacific Railroad Centennial at Portola, Calif., and the 140th anniversary of the driving of the Golden Spike in Ogden, Utah. We are very excited to be part of so many celebrations this year, said Steve Lee, UPs manager for operating practices and No. 844s chief engineer. The towns that we are visiting have strong ties to the railroad. No. 844 is the last steam locomotive built for the railroad in 1944 and is one of two operating locomotives that pull special trains for the railroad. Both are based in Cheyenne. Rail fans will be able to follow the trains journey through GPS reports available at UPs Web site, www.uprr.com. Union Pacific is one of the nations largest railroads and serves 23 states in the western two-thirds of the country.