More UP Preservation in Cheyenne

Alexander D. Mitchell IV · **Posted:** Thu Jun 16, 2022 12:43 pm

https://www.trains.com/trn/news-reviews ... -railcars/

Quote:

WASHINGTON — The city of Cheyenne, Wyo., has received a federal grant for more than $600,000 to support renovation of three historic railcars.

The $618,400 grant from the U.S. Department of Commerce’s Economic Development Agency, is intended to support local tourism. It will be matched by $154,600 in local funds. Cheyenne says the project will create nine jobs and generate $500,000 in local development.

The three cars, currently located in the Union Pacific yard in Cheyenne and in the city’s Lions Park, would be moved to city-owned property adjacent to the city’s railroad station for “display as historic artifacts or use as space for retail, dining, or small business use,” according to a city council resolution. They would be part of a larger project, the “Cheyenne Railroad Visitor Experience,” supported by the council [see “Cheyenne, Wyo., makes plans for rail-oriented tourist project,” Trains News Wire, Oct. 25, 2021].

“This EDA investment in the Cheyenne Railcar Renovation Project leverages the region’s railroad heritage to diversify its local economy and spur economic development,” Assistant Secretary of Commerce for Economic Development Alejandra Y. Castillo said in a press release.

The grant is part of a $240 million Travel, Tourism, and Outdoor Recreation program under the American Rescue Plan.

NS 3322 · **Posted:** Thu Jun 16, 2022 1:42 pm

Alexander D. Mitchell IV wrote:

https://www.trains.com/trn/news-reviews/news-wire/federal-grant-will-help-fund-renovation-of-cheyenne-railcars/

Quote:

WASHINGTON — The city of Cheyenne, Wyo., has received a federal grant for more than $600,000 to support renovation of three historic railcars.

The $618,400 grant from the U.S. Department of Commerce’s Economic Development Agency, is intended to support local tourism. It will be matched by $154,600 in local funds. Cheyenne says the project will create nine jobs and generate $500,000 in local development.

The three cars, currently located in the Union Pacific yard in Cheyenne and in the city’s Lions Park, would be moved to city-owned property adjacent to the city’s railroad station for “display as historic artifacts or use as space for retail, dining, or small business use,” according to a city council resolution. They would be part of a larger project, the “Cheyenne Railroad Visitor Experience,” supported by the council [see “Cheyenne, Wyo., makes plans for rail-oriented tourist project,” Trains News Wire, Oct. 25, 2021].

“This EDA investment in the Cheyenne Railcar Renovation Project leverages the region’s railroad heritage to diversify its local economy and spur economic development,” Assistant Secretary of Commerce for Economic Development Alejandra Y. Castillo said in a press release.

The grant is part of a $240 million Travel, Tourism, and Outdoor Recreation program under the American Rescue Plan.

The Trains article is super vague. After some digging I found this link:
https://cheyenne.granicus.com/MetaViewe ... _id=115926

"The Railcar Renovation Project will move three railroad vehicles (a historic locomotive, business/
passenger car, and caboose) to the City-owned attraction site on 15th Street and will fully renovate them for
display as historic artifacts or as space for retail, dining, and small business use."

The "historic locomotive" is likely Union Pacific 4-6-0 #1242.
https://www.steamlocomotive.info/vlocom ... splay=1375

Steamguy73 · **Joined:** Wed Dec 24, 2014 3:15 pm **Posts:** 595

Good decision. Not many people know about that locomotive. Good to see it’s getting some care and attention.

The big · **Posted:** Sat Jun 18, 2022 7:09 pm

It would be good to move UP4004 here too

Just sad to see UP838 stay in the roundhouse serving as a source of spare parts for 844

smbtrain · **Joined:** Mon Mar 12, 2018 6:12 pm **Posts:** 42

To be fair, what else can they do with UP 838? It's so gutted for parts that no city would want it publicly displayed. I think it's still kept incase they need to swap boilers. Even when UP is done with it, I don't see its fate being anything other than scrap. Even for a cosmetic restoration, you'd need a lot of money to make the parts to make the locomotive look somewhat normal. Plus there are two other UP 4-8-4s on display.

Steamguy73 · **Joined:** Wed Dec 24, 2014 3:15 pm **Posts:** 595

The good part about 838 is that for the most part, all the parts are still there. It’s simply up to the UP crews as to whether they’d spend the time piecing it back together.

I don’t think they would ever end up scrapping it though. They are aware of the significance of it, and they would’ve done it years upon years ago if that was what they wanted to do.

Richard Glueck · **Posted:** Tue Jun 21, 2022 10:32 am

I took these images of 5511 and 838 at the U.P. Steamshop, Cheyenne, in 2011. Both locomotives are carefully preserved and nobody is going to torch either of them. This was all pre-4014 of course. 838's tender remained outdoors and on the ground. A docent told me 5511 was being considered for restoration at that time, but evidently that was not the case. 838's boiler is said to be in excellent condition. All parts off 844 are stored with 838 to make replacement possible for cosmetic or other purposes.

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