Nostalgia & History > UP passenger steam in the boonies

I had just re-filed the image below when I took a break and started into my usual forum surfing. When I saw that ‘valmont’ had posted this thread: ( Little engine but big smoke !!!! ) I knew I had to post this image ASAP. I think you’ll agree when you take a look...

1. UP 535 leads an unknown passenger train near Albany, WY on July 7, 1956.
Ektachrome copy slide by Emil Albrecht, from the late James W. Watson collection.

Thanks for looking back!
Lance Garrels
santafe199
Remembering the late Emil Albrecht



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 03/12/25 12:57 by santafe199.

---

Sanding the flues? Wow!!
Go

I thought at first it might have been a fantrip but Don Stracks awesome site lists mixed locals 221 and 222 from Laramie - Coalmont, CO in 1956.  Could be one those.  https://utahrails.net/pass/1946-1959.htm

stevelv Wrote: > ... Don Strack's awesome site lists mixed locals 221 and 222 from Laramie - Coalmont, CO in 1956 ...

At first, I was also thinking excursion. But the baggage cars up front made me question that. And I forgot to mention that I looked at the original scan (8500+ dpi) and I'm sure the number boards have "X-535" in them, for whatever that's worth...

Lance

Yes the white class lights indicate it is an extra train of some kind.

good chance an excursion by rocky mtn club, may have been notable as  an early COD streamliner obs may have been on it, may have been another couple years later.., one it's last trips

A superlative steam image!
Bob

santafe199 Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> stevelv Wrote: > ... Don Strack's awesome site
> lists mixed locals 221 and 222 from Laramie -
> Coalmont, CO in 1956 ...
>
> At first, I was also thinking excursion. But the
> baggage cars up front made me question that. And I
> forgot to mention that I looked at the original
> scan (8500+ dpi) and I'm sure the number boards
> have "X-535" in them, for whatever that's
> worth...
>
> Lance

Looks like the second baggage car's doors are open...common practice on excursions of that time to allow audio recording.

Dave

dan Wrote:

> good chance an excursion by rocky mtn club, may have been notable as  an early COD streamliner
> obs may have been on it, may have been another couple years later.., one it's last trips

The RMRC had an excursion behind UP 535 on the Coalmont Branch on August 4, 1956, but this wasn't it.  Otto Perry was on the August 4 trip, and his photos in the Denver Public Library collection show only one baggage car:

https://digital.denverlibrary.org/nodes/view/1075497
https://digital.denverlibrary.org/nodes/view/1075503

Wow! That's all I can say.

Evan_Werkema Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> dan Wrote:
>
> > good chance an excursion by rocky mtn club, may
> have been notable as  an early COD streamliner
> > obs may have been on it, may have been another
> couple years later.., one it's last trips
>
> The RMRC had an excursion behind UP 535 on the
> Coalmont Branch on August 4, 1956, but this wasn't
> it.  Otto Perry was on the August 4 trip, and his
> photos in the Denver Public Library collection
> show only one baggage car:
>
> https://digital.denverlibrary.org/nodes/view/10754
> 97
> https://digital.denverlibrary.org/nodes/view/10755
> 03

think the obs car i was talking about may have been a trip in 1958 i want to say, see if i can find the book sometime rmrrc excursions, not sure where my copy is,   thanks for the search you did, oh watch this Evan  from the latest meeting, only a couple left,    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-8D3-7VjOFk

Evan_Werkema Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> dan Wrote:
>
> > good chance an excursion by rocky mtn club, may
> have been notable as  an early COD streamliner
> > obs may have been on it, may have been another
> couple years later.., one it's last trips
>
> The RMRC had an excursion behind UP 535 on the
> Coalmont Branch on August 4, 1956, but this wasn't
> it.  Otto Perry was on the August 4 trip, and his
> photos in the Denver Public Library collection
> show only one baggage car:
>
> https://digital.denverlibrary.org/nodes/view/10754
> 97
> https://digital.denverlibrary.org/nodes/view/10755
> 03

think the obs car i was talking about may have been a trip in 1958 i want to say, see if i can find the book sometime on rmrrc excursions, not sure where my copy is,   thanks for the search you did, oh watch this Evan  from the latest meeting, only a couple left,    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-8D3-7VjOFk

If an oil burner I'd hate to be under that cloud of oil smoke.  Drops of oil would be coming down with the smoke.

Here's a possibility - According to Jim Ehernberger - The University of Wyoming summer school students operated several excursions up to Fox Park, WY, and no doubt that is the July 1956 trip

The RMRR Club operated two steam power excursions between Laramie, WY, and Northgate, CO.  August 4, 1956 and September 15, 1957.  He's pretty sure the 1957 trip was the last operated until Wyoming Colorado RR (WYCO) took over.

Lance, this a nice photo, my favorite UP steam engines were the 2-8-0s, UP ran then around Eastern KAnsas until steam ended here. I do have a 1957 8mm film clip that has the 535 on an excursion I think to Coalmont, it has an oberservation on one end and a gon on the other, went through Fox Park and a couple of other towns. I will try to get it on tomorrow. KCRW287