Historic Union Pacific Steam Locomotive Returning To Oklahoma

NewsOn6.com

UNDATED -- One of Union Pacific Railroad's historic steam locomotives, No. 844, will make two trips across eastern Oklahoma in April.

According to Union Pacific, on April 8th the steam locomotive will be stopping in Muskogee and McAlester before moving on to Texas.

The Muskogee stop, which will last from 11:30 a.m. to 12:00 p.m., will be at 5 East Martin Luther King Street.

From there it will travel to McAlester and arrive at 1:30 p.m. at 1 East Krebs Street.

It will stay in McAlester overnight and leave April 9th at 8 a.m.

It will return to Oklahoma on April 24th and this time it 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.

It will then proceed north to Coffeyville, Kansas, where it will spend the night before heading north.

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.

No. 844 last visited the Sooner state in 2007. 

9/5/2007 Related story: Union Pacific Locomotive No. 844 Heading To Oklahoma

When diesel-electric locomotives took over all passenger train duties, No. 844 was placed in freight service in Nebraska between 1957 and 1959.

It was held for special service in 1960.

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.