MSC News

MSC News National Headlines Sports Top Headlines CBS US News CBS Technology

Printer Friendly

Email to a Friend

Last U-P Steam Locomotive Visits Atchison

By David Meyer & Neil Wieland

03/26/2012

The last steam locomotive built for the Union Pacific Railroad made a stop through Atchison Sunday afternoon.

The U-P 844, arrived at the Santa Fe Depot around 1:30 Sunday afternoon with great anticipation from the crowd, about 30 minutes behind from its last stop in Falls City, Nebraska.

Crew members did some routine maintenance work on the train, taking 20 minutes to do so as children, parents and grandparents marveled and took pictures.

Many people stopped at the crossing got out of their vehicles and viewed the locomotive as well.

The train was first delivered in 1944 as a high speed passenger engine.

When diesels took over all passenger duties, it was placed in freight service in Nebraska from 1957 to 1959.

It was saved from being scrapped in 1960 and held for special service.

Since then, the engine has run hundreds of thousands of miles as an ambassador of good will.

More than 100 people viewed the train in Atchison, including Roy Carroll who came from Leavenworth to see the train and his eight year old grandson Colin from Kansas City.

(Play Audio) RT: :09

Colin was pretty amazed by the trains as well.

(Audio Continues) RT: :34

The train departed Atchison around two for Kansas City, with waves from the conductor and crew.

You will need to be logged in to leave a comment.

Please Login

The posting of advertisements, profanity, or personal attacks is prohibited.

Click here to review our Terms of Use.