Steam & Excursion > Shooting 844

We were at Pacific, Missouri, on October 18, 2016, and were preparing to shoot U.P. 844 on its way to Memphis. We went up to a park on the bluffs above town, just to see if there was a good vantage point to get a high and distant view. Not really as it turned out, but the display struck us as amusing as were preparing to "shoot" an engine. That's Kurt Jensen, whose work features prominently in many of the videos I post, joining in with the corny humor.

The next morning, the locomotive was headed down the Chester Subdivision near Rockwood after making its service stop at Chester, Illinois. Kurt took the photo.

Mary McPherson
Dongola, IL
Diverging Clear Productions



Edited 4 time(s). Last edit at 03/21/18 04:39 by MaryMcPherson.

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Man, I just can't get used to the mars light being gone!

bankshotone Wrote:
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> Man, I just can't get used to the mars light being
> gone!


Does look a little bald, doesn't it?

Mary McPherson
Dongola, IL
Diverging Clear Productions

MaryMcPherson Wrote:
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> bankshotone Wrote:
> --------------------------------------------------
> -----
> > Man, I just can't get used to the mars light
> being
> > gone!
>
>
> Does look a little bald, doesn't it?

It is certainly different, just looks like something missing.

bankshotone Wrote:
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> MaryMcPherson Wrote:
> --------------------------------------------------
> -----
> > bankshotone Wrote:
> >
> --------------------------------------------------
>
> > -----
> > > Man, I just can't get used to the mars light
> > being
> > > gone!
> >
> >
> > Does look a little bald, doesn't it?
>
> It is certainly different, just looks like
> something missing.

I like the look, especially with the darkened smoke box.

Im glad the mars light is gone.

JMT-844-97 Wrote:
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> bankshotone Wrote:
> --------------------------------------------------
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> > MaryMcPherson Wrote:
> >
> --------------------------------------------------
>
> > -----
> > > bankshotone Wrote:
> > >
> >
> --------------------------------------------------
>
> >
> > > -----
> > > > Man, I just can't get used to the mars
> light
> > > being
> > > > gone!
> > >
> > >
> > > Does look a little bald, doesn't it?
> >
> > It is certainly different, just looks like
> > something missing.
>
> I like the look, especially with the darkened
> smoke box.


Me too. The darkened smokebox looks much better than the silver paint used in the early excursion service days.

Scott Griggs
Louisville, KY

There's a scenic overlook at the east end of Pacific, just east of the Silica sand plant that would have been a good spot to shoot video. At least I think it would. They reopened it about 3 years ago and it looks like the trees are gone. Used to be a good spot to shoot trains way back before long lenses.
I think you guys shot from around the silica plant. That's the morning I got the bath and the bird.

Ok so with all of the glad its gone posts, what was on it in service? Bob K the answer is>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>?
Doesn't matter to me one way or another but all of those who jump at any chance to say its not done right here goes.

Frisco1522 Wrote:
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> There's a scenic overlook at the east end of
> Pacific, just east of the Silica sand plant that
> would have been a good spot to shoot video. At
> least I think it would. They reopened it about 3
> years ago and it looks like the trees are gone.
> Used to be a good spot to shoot trains way back
> before long lenses.
> I think you guys shot from around the silica
> plant. That's the morning I got the bath and the
> bird.


Yes, your B&B was visible on my video.

Mary McPherson
Dongola, IL
Diverging Clear Productions

BAB Wrote:
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> Ok so with all of the glad its gone posts, what
> was on it in service? Bob K the answer
> is>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>?
> Doesn't matter to me one way or another but all of
> those who jump at any chance to say its not done
> right here goes.


As built, the 844 did not have a Mars light. I believe UP added them to 800's in the late 1940s.

Scott Griggs
Louisville, KY

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Very true.

BUT........

The Mars lights came before the elephant ears. Had the smoke flaps gone along with the Mars light, then we could see 844 as built. I know, I know, I know... another whining steam fan! LOL

Mary McPherson
Dongola, IL
Diverging Clear Productions

bankshotone Wrote:
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> Man, I just can't get used to the mars light being
> gone!


Looks pretty obvious that the shot across her bow took it out.

MaryMcPherson Wrote:
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> Very true.
>
> BUT........
>
> The Mars lights came before the elephant ears.
> Had the smoke flaps gone along with the Mars
> light, then we could see 844 as built. I know, I
> know, I know... another whining steam fan! LOL


What do you make of these? :-)


http://digital.denverlibrary.org/cdm/singleitem/collection/p15330coll22/id/50218/rec/5

^ First #8, Los Angeles Challenger; 21 cars, 55 MPH. Photographed: near Archer, Wyo., September 2, 1945.  The engine is a coal burner on this date.  According to "BUILDING UNION PACIFIC 844" by John Bush, this is the earliest known photograph showing the 844 in regular service.



http://digital.denverlibrary.org/cdm/singleitem/collection/p15330coll22/id/50221/rec/7

^ Train #27, San Francisco Overland Ltd.; 50 MPH. Photographed: near Rock River, Wyo., August 26, 1946.  I believe the engine has been converted to burn oil in this photo.


Photos from the Otto Perry collection, Denver Public Library Western History Department


Scott Griggs
Louisville, KY

A little salt, a little pepper, and those words go down smooth and tasty!

Mary McPherson
Dongola, IL
Diverging Clear Productions



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 03/21/18 17:26 by MaryMcPherson.

If you want an as built appearance, you'd have to go back to the original feedwater heater arrangement. I prefer the mars light because it's one of 844s most iconic features, it's basically been on since the beginning, and it's a safety device (old but useful).

My only hesitancy to the current appearance was the belief it never looked that way in service. Well, that objection has been quashed. Highball! Being used to seeing it with the Mars light my whole life, it does take some getting used to. That said, I can learn to love it!

Mary McPherson
Dongola, IL
Diverging Clear Productions

Well I asked Mary and got very pleasant responses from all and lets just kind of put my question to rest with, GLAD ITS RUNNING again and we can enjoy her. Boyd in Chiloquin waiting for more, yes more snow.

MaryMcPherson Wrote:
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> My only hesitancy to the current appearance was
> the belief it never looked that way in service.
> Well, that objection has been quashed.


No, not "quashed", since the FEF-2 and FEF-3 class engines did receive the red Mars Signal Light up-grade, some time in the mid to late 1940s. However, 844 did not receive the up-grade to the Worthington type S Feedwater Heater system until the early to mid 1950s. Thus, all her late years of "regular service" as well as most all of her "excursion service" career, she had the red Mars Signal Light. That means that her current appearance no longer reflects her "in service" appearance.

Highball!
> Being used to seeing it with the Mars light my
> whole life, it does take some getting used to.
> That said, I can learn to love it!

The silver smokebox and firebox went away in the late '80s, along with a lot of the other non-service baubles it had acquired during the '60s and '70s.

The effort now seems to be focused on polished parts it never had in service, nearly black smokebox and firebox and on super-shiny, spick and span cleanliness.