Union Pacific Steam Engine Returns To Oklahoma This Weekend

NewsOn6.com

UNDATED -- One of Union Pacific Railroad's historic steam locomotives, No. 844, will return to eastern Oklahoma on Saturday. 

Earlier this month, the locomotive stopped in Muskogee and McAlester before moving on to Texas.

4/8/2010 Related story: Union Pacific Steam Engine Rolls Across Eastern Oklahoma

On Saturday, No. 844 is headed north and will be leaving Van Buren, Arkansas for Wagoner, where it will stop at the old depot at 302 South Main from 11 a.m. - 11:30 a.m.

After Wagoner, it will follow the Union Pacific rail line through Claremore and South Coffeyville, before stopping for the night in Coffeyville, Kansas.

No. 844 was the last steam locomotive built for Union Pacific Railroad and was delivered in 1944. A passenger locomotive, it pulled such trains as the Overland Limited, Los Angeles Limited, Portland Rose and Challenger.

Union Pacific says a Global Positioning Satellite (GPS) transmitter was installed on No. 844. The GPS system has been integrated with a map on UP's web site. Where train enthusiasts can follow the steam engine's travels.