UP 844 under steam today

elueck · **Posted:** Mon Apr 30, 2012 7:25 pm

Railspot board reports that UP 844 is under steam today and making a shakedown run to Hearne, TX. UP E units and 150th anniversary train is scheduled to arrive in Hearne tomorrow morning at 9:30. Remarkable work by the UP as a railroad, the UP steam crew in particular and the contractors who turned the drivers (reportedly Strasburg and TVRM).

Kelly Anderson · **Joined:** Tue Sep 14, 2004 7:52 am **Posts:** 2477

060 Hogger · **Posted:** Mon Apr 30, 2012 11:49 pm

Like !

filmteknik · **Posted:** Tue May 01, 2012 12:57 am

Great news.

Kelly, were they trucked on flatbeds or within an enclosed vehicle? I was sure someone would have photographed a set somewhere, going to or coming from either location if they were openly visible.

Steve

Zak Lybrand · **Joined:** Tue Jul 06, 2010 1:57 am **Posts:** 210

Kelly Anderson wrote:

To paraphrase Donald Sutherland, “Have some faith baby, have a little faith. It’s a mother beautiful engine and it’s gonna run. Why don’t you say something righteous and hopeful for a change?”

A little bit off topic, but I want to let you know that seeing that quote in such a pessimistic hobby (industry?) made me very happy. Thanks for the goofy grin, Kelly!

Mike Tillger · **Posted:** Tue May 01, 2012 7:19 am

Kelly,
I assume you like the title of the movie you took your quote to paraphrase from? A large cast of well known actors. He does give off some negative waves with his own comment " Shermans "aiant" no match for panthers." Great work on bringing one of UPs finest back to the rails, same to the guys at TVRM.

Mike Tillger

Mark Jordan · **Joined:** Fri Nov 07, 2008 11:21 am **Posts:** 490

.........and just what kind of quote would you expect from a guy named "Kelly"??......

sbhunterca · **Joined:** Sun Aug 22, 2004 7:58 am **Posts:** 728

Way to go, UP, Strasburg, and TVRM!

The truckers must have hustled too, getting those wheelsets delivered and returned so quickly.

It's awesome to hear 844 is feeling better so soon.

:-)

Steve Hunter

whodom · **Posted:** Tue May 01, 2012 8:54 am

sbhunterca wrote:

Way to go, UP, Strasburg, and TVRM!

The truckers must have hustled too, getting those wheelsets delivered and returned so quickly.

A very impressive piece of work and quick turnaround by all involved. They probably couldn't have done much better when steam was still the motive power of choice.

Randy Gustafson · **Posted:** Tue May 01, 2012 9:48 am

Wow. Salute!

Howard P. · **Posted:** Tue May 01, 2012 11:42 am

Two weeks, from "problem" to "problem solved". Amazing, simply amazing.

Howard P.

brettcog2000 · **Joined:** Thu May 05, 2011 8:36 am **Posts:** 159

Nice Job guys....and I agree with Kelly. Nice to see a little bit of optomism.

softwerkslex · **Posted:** Tue May 01, 2012 5:25 pm

How much time did sending one pair of axles to one shop and another pair of axles to another shop save? Would also make me nervous. Would not the results be more consistent to have the same machinist turn all four x 2 wheels?

sbhunterca · **Joined:** Sun Aug 22, 2004 7:58 am **Posts:** 728

Quote:

How much time did sending one pair of axles to one shop and another pair of axles to another shop save? Would also make me nervous. Would not the results be more consistent to have the same machinist turn all four x 2 wheels?

Easily solved with a simple phone call between the shops... determine the diameter that will accommodate the worst-case wheel and have both shops work to that figure.

Steve Hunter

filmteknik · **Posted:** Tue May 01, 2012 8:18 pm

Mind you I have no expertise in this area but I think very tiny differences, just from the tolerances between different lathes, will quickly wear in and make them all match. Machining crankpin holes with a quartering machine is probably not something you'd want to do on different machines!

Steve