Steam & Excursion > UP 838 Last UP steam at Council Bluffs

UP 838 sat in the sun for a number of years in the Council Bluffs yards. Those were the days when you could hang out in the cab and dream of big steam on the road.
The side shots are from late 1968.
The other 2 are from inside the backshop building in Council Bluffs. Date on brother Tom's backshop slides are May of 1972.
We suspect that they moved it inside to get it ready for it's trip to Cheyenne to become an organ donor for 844. 

Rick Z

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and 1 more from the yards in late 60's.

Rick Z

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I hope someday #838 is cosmetically restored and placed on display somewhere to acknowledge its role in keeping #844 operating all of these years.

Any idea of how many parts have been donated to the 844?

cvrrr

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Wonder whatever became if its number plate?
The last I had heard the last usable part was the smoke box door and that was traded for eroded 844 door a few years ago. I seen the 838 in 2011, she looked pretty bare and hacked up.

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Wasn't the 838 the locomotive they used to provide steam for the Snow Melter?

Great pictures of the 838 when in Council Bluffs before going the Cheyenne in that late 1970's.
Here is the plate from the 838.


Mike

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mike4023 Wrote:
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> Great pictures of the 838 when in Council Bluffs
> before going the Cheyenne in that late 1970's.
> Here is the plate from the 838.
>
>
> Mike

Hmmm... I don't suppose you have the one for #833 too, do you? I've always wondered where that one went. The one on it (it's on display in Ogden, UT) is a sheetmetal hand-painted replica that's probably been on it longer than the original.

Mike -  Thanks for posting the photo of your UP #838 shield.  Your plate should have the numbers all cast in.  I am including a photo of my UP #842 which has all cast in numbers.  A friend of mine has the #832 shield, but I do not know who has the #833.  I am sure that most of these shields have been saved as they are such great looking plates!

Ron

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Some years back, a close friend had either 2 or 3 4000 class plates.  They looked huge in his basement.  He let a friend talk him out of the cheap (this was back in the late 60s)   He passed five years ago but was furious with himself because of what they are worth now.

Saw this one at the Railroadiana show in St. Charles, IL about 4 years ago. I think they were asking $9,000 for it.

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I do not know where the 833 plate ended up.  I do know that the original 844, 3985, & 4000 plates are still around.


Mike

A good friend of mine purchased the UP 4010 shield that made the rounds.  He brought it to me to see and my wife could tell that it was no good when he pulled it out of his car.  He finally returned it to the seller.  This plate was made up with numbers that someone had.  You really need to know your stuff when you get into the higher end plates.   The back of the plate can also tell a story.  I am enclosing photos of my UP 4013, front and back, bolt on numbers.

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zoohogger Wrote:
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> UP 838 sat in the sun for a number of years in the
> Council Bluffs yards. Those were the days when you
> could hang out in the cab and dream of big steam
> on the road.
> The side shots are from late 1968.
> The other 2 are from inside the backshop building
> in Council Bluffs. Date on brother Tom's backshop
> slides are May of 1972.
> We suspect that they moved it inside to get it
> ready for it's trip to Cheyenne to become an organ
> donor for 844. 
>
> Rick Z

One thing that always surprised me is 838 kept it's original swing out coupler from when it was built. 844 has the newer design along with both challengers and all 8 big boys that survive.

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