UP 838
UP 838 was sent from Omaha to Cheyenne in 1977. From that time on, it
has been used as a parts supply for the famous UP Northern: 844. It has
been said that the running gear and boiler of 838 is now in better condition
than that of 844 because of 844's extended use, although it is beyond
economic repair. Perhaps one day 838 will be put on display.
There is a photo of 838 in two-tone gray in the April 30, 1999 issue of Classic Trains on page 22.
I would be interested in any other photos or information about this locomotive.
More Photos
- 838 (Photo courtesy Allen Dale)
UP 5511
In its last years of use, 5511 was used as a stationary boiler at Ogden, then at Green River. Such use was very hard on boilers as they seldom received blow-downs and in general were not watched as closely. Its piston rods were cut (see photo on the right) when it was towed from Green River to Cheyenne for storage and possibly scrapping back in the late 50s (1959?). Cutting the piston rods was standard procedure when preparing a locomotive for the scrapper's torch. The drive rods would be left on so that the drivers would be balanced during transport but the main rods would be severed so that there would be no chance for the pistons to bind which could cause a derailment. 5511 arrived in Cheyenne but was fortunately saved from the cutters torch possibly because it was featured in the movie Last of the Giants made by UP about the Big Boy locomotives. 4-6-0 1243 was also featured in that movie and was also stored in the UP roundhouse for many years before being sent to Omaha for display.I have heard conflicting information regarding 5511's current condition. One report stated that 5511 is not in very good mechanical condition. The report stated that most of the cab appliances have been removed (although they could have been removed by UP staff, I don't know). It went on to say that since returning from Green River, 5511 had not had a hydro test or any kind of boiler inspection and its condition was a bit of a mystery. A recent report stated that the steam crew looked at the boiler and "ran all sorts of tests" and concluded that it would not take much work to restore it. Whatever its current condition, as a candidate for restoration it is very poor. It was built as a "drag" locomotive. It has a very long wheel base, longer than that of 844. Contrary to what some people have told me, Steve Lee of the UP steam program has informed me that the center driver is NOT blind. It has friction bearings (which is another strike against any restoration efforts). It has a small tender, limiting its range, and finally its large cylinders and small drivers would limit its speed. In service this class of locomotives was limited to 45 mph. In all, it would not be a very useful locomotive to have running. In 2004 I heard that this locomotive would be offered for sale.
The UP shop crew would like to get it out of the roundhouse and into a museum
somewhere. It does have the "not-so-common" Young valve gear and would make
a great museum display piece someday. It hasn't been moved much over the
years except to pull it out of the roundhouse for a Union Pacific Historical
Society convention a few years ago. Cosmetically it looks pretty good since
the shop crew painted it for the convention and posed it on the turntable for
photos.
More Photos
- 5511 (Photo courtesy Allen Dale)
