Steam & Excursion > Any pics of 8444 derailed in Vegas, ca. 1979-80?

I think it was 1979, but possibly '80. The then-8444 jumped the track on a curve in the yard downtown. Watched them working on it for a while, but I finally had to go home and go to bed. Had school the next day and I couldn't convince my parents to let me skip it. My dad stayed all night watching them get it back on though.

Anyway, any other TO members there? Any pics?

CZ

I was there! When they were turning the engine, the ties sounded like the creeking timbers of an old sailing ship, and I halfway expected a rail to turn over.

esinclair Wrote:
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> I was there!

Oh yeah? What derailed?

I've heard that Centipede tenders don't hold the rail so well backing through yard switches.

* JB *

844(4) is very rigid in wheelbase due to the centipede tender and long driver wheelbase. This past May, an uninformed MOP at North Little Rock specified a display track for 844 and train which had a slight "S" curve in it. Steve Lee, experienced in re-railing 844 in the past, decided to get out and walk alongside the locomotive, watching the drivers as Ed Dickens slowly backed the train into the specified track. As 844 entered the "S" shaped portion of the track, the drivers began to climb up off the rails. One driver was 2 inches up off the rail when Steve yelled "STOP". After a discussion and explanation to the uninformed, another track which has been used in the past was approved for the display. Among the places 844 has been derailed are Council Bluffs, Laramie and St. Louis but I didn't know about Las Vegas.

tolland Wrote:
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...the drivers began to climb up off the rails...

This happened in Salt Lake in 1997, too. It took a good 90 minutes or so to go the last mile into the station. I don't uhmember exactly what he said but Lee was obviously not thrilled with the instructions he got from the yard office. After unloading, 844 was uncoupled and moved to an adjacent track for servicing. That track had a bit of curve coming off the switch and rear tender wheels came off the rail as they came to a stop. I was outta film, of course.

More information on this incident: It was May of 1980, according to Steve, to celebrate the 75th anniversary of Las Vegas. They took 8444 around the wye and were not sure about the curvature of the wye. They had no choice because the next place west was Los Angeles. They crept around the wye and the drivers went on the ground. Steve says that it took 4 SD40's to drag 844 through the wye curvature to straight track, then it was rerailed in 15 minutes. It was Steve's first trip with 8444.

trial by fire! stick on an old tender for different look.

Hello

It's funny this came up, one of my hoghead's last week was tilling me this store. He stated they where trying to wye the 8444 and the rail folded under the tended. he was called as to run the power trying to pull the 8444 out of the problem. it took the better part of 8 to 10 hours to get 8444 off the ground. this all took place in may or june of 1979 in the old las vegas yard down town. ( it was my hogheads first call a mark up engine man).

Chris

PS

he stated has some photos, Next time I see him I will ask if he get copy to me so I can post them.

On a related note, when 3985 ran on the Clinchfield(CSX) in 1992 for the 50th Santa Special it derailed several times trying to turn it on a wye in Kingsport TN that was supposed to be able to handle it. It didn't. They had to end up dragging the 3985 backwards back to Shelby KY for the Santa run.
Mike

Dragging 8444 with 4 SD40's....Now THAT would have been really somethin' to see. Someone out there has film of that one hopefully. She is ONE TOUGH OLD GAL!

Found this old thread I'd started. Thought I'd connect it with the one I just started to post photos my dad took.

http://www.trainorders.com/discussion/read.php?11,2730841,2731132