Steam & Excursion > UP's Four Heritage Steam Locomotives on Display

As part of Cheyenne's Depot Days, the Union Pacific Steam Shops were open for free tours. The four steam locomotives available for viewing were:

UP 844
UP 3985
UP 5511
UP 838

Picture 1 - UP 844 in the steam shops.

Picture 2 - UP 3985 in the steam shops. Work is continuing on the firebox. UP 844 is visible to the left behind the yellow water car.

Picture 3 - UP 5511 in the roundhouse

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Pictures 4 - 6

Rarely seen Northern UP 838 was taken from the roundhouse for the first time in many years. It is used as a parts source for sister UP 844. Union Pacific Engineer Lynn Nystrom is standing next to the cab of UP 838.

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Nice photos-thanks for sharing! Did you happen to see the D&RGW 5371 (last Rio Grande tunnel motor)? If so, any idea what is to become of this locomotive?

Thanks!
-Brian-

5371 is safely stored inside the UP Steam shops. They even recently made new numberboards for it. See this thread: http://www.trainorders.com/discussion/read.php?1,1677923

Rio Grande Fan
Denver, CO

Front and Rear Views of D&RGW 5371 in the UP Steam Shops.

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Great news. Thanks for the information!

-Brian-

What wheel arangement is the 5511?

2-10-2 with Young valve gear...the only engine extant in the US with it.

What happened to 838's pony truck?? She is now an 0-8-4.

If you look closely at the trucks under the cab, you will see there are no wheels or axles. I believe that would make UP 838 an 0-8-0.

The missing parts are either under UP 844 or UP 3985 or in storage in the steam yard. There are numerous trucks and wheel sets on the storage tracks surrounding the turntable.

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What is going to happen to 5511? What kind of condition is it in? Thank you, Charles

Interesting to finally see some pictures of #838 in daylight. Thanks!

Here's some good information on the condition of #5511 and #838. #5511's mechanical condition is largely unknown. Due to her wheel arrangement, she's not a good candidate for excursion operation, so no serious evaluation's ever been done. She looks good cosmetically, but I'm not crazy about the big plastic Union Pacific sign hanging on the front.

http://www.steamlocomotive.com/northern/upstorage.shtml

UP 5511 was painted and cosmetically restored for the UPHS Convention in 1992. It was used in a photo session at that convention. It has been stored in the roundhouse and protected from the weather and vandalism since that time.

As mentioned previously it is not a candidate for restoration to running condition due to its 2-10-2 wheelbase configuration.

When the plaza in front of the Cheyenne Depot was under construction, there was talk about building a covered pavilion for display of a steam locomotive. Moving Big Boy UP 4004 from Holliday Park was initially suggested but rejected due to potential problems in moving the locomotive. UP 5511 was mentioned as a potential candidate but the pavilion idea was dropped before any serious discussions began.

There have been periodic rumors about the Union Pacific selling or donating the engine to a museum. At least four different museums have been mentioned as candidates. I don't believe any of the rumors were credible.

For the immediate future, I expect it will remain stored in the roundhouse.

Nice--a rare glimpse inside the hallowed halls of the Cheyenne roundhouse!
Thanks for sharing.

Hey what is to the left of 3985?

As mentioned previously it is not a candidate for restoration to running condition due to its 2-10-2 wheelbase configuration.

What is it about a 2-10-2 wheel configuration that makes it unsuitable for passenger excursions?

From Steamlocomotive.com:

"(5511) was built as a "drag" locomotive. It has a very long wheel base, longer than that of 844... 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 the photo of #3985, #844 is to the left. In front of #844 is one of the recently-refurbished water cars redone by Wasatch Railroad Contractors.

In the old U.P. movie called "Last of the Giants", I believe there is a short scene showing one of those Young-geared 5500's in action. In her present state, the 838 resembles one of those big Marx sheet metal steamers that had the overall proportions of a Mountain or Northern, but only 4 wheels, the disc drivers, with tiny "simulated" 2-wheel pilot and trailing trucks stamped into the metal. I have one of them, dressed as NYC 3005, complete with elephant ears, and in profile she looks an awful lot like the 838 does now. But at least the Mohawk is operable.

There are four bays in the Steam Shop. Picture 2 shows three of the bays.

In Bay 1, to the left of the picture, are a yellow water car in front and UP 844 in the rear.

In Bay 2, in the center, is UP 3985.

In Bay 3, to the right, are the "Art Lockman" Tool car and the "Howard Fogg" Boiler car.

In Bay 4, not shown in the picture, were E9B, UP #963B and the last "pure" D&RGW locomotive #5371.

"Last of the Giants" featured #5511, which is one reason it was saved.