Union Pacific's Steam Engine 844 Makes Stops In Oklahoma

A steaming giant of railroad history rolled through Oklahoma Wednesday. 

Union Pacific's Steam Engine 844 is nearly 500 tons of huffing and puffing power.

It was raining in when the steam engine made one of its first stops in Wagoner. 

If you're a real steam train geek like Marc Montray, a little rain is nothing.

"I've been in freezing rain, sleet, hail, it doesn't matter," Montray said. "They're running steam trains today."

People came out in full force with cameras, camera phones and umbrellas to wait for the Union Pacific's number 844.

"This is a big event," Montray said. 

The big steam engine is enough to give you goosebumps, if you're old enough to remember.

"This was built by the American Locomotive Company in 1944 and weighs close to a million pounds," Montray said.

It last pulled freight in the late 50s but it's never been retired.

Now it does special events like one in Memphis last weekend. 

She's Union Pacific's ambassador. It's a show horse not a work horse.

In Wagoner long enough for a little maintenance and to pick up a couple of people from the Oklahoma Railway Museum, then off they go.

The 844 makes periodic runs through Oklahoma.

The last time was April of 2010.