UP844 Doing 80 MPH and NO diesel engine involved.

Union Pacific 844 steamer (circa 12/1944) doing 80 MPH just north of Laramie WY.

[VintageSlots]

The reason you cannot hear the UP844 is because the train was filmed by a drone and you would hear what sounds like a swarm of bees.

[whoisthisdude]

If my calculations are correct, when this baby hits 88 miles per hour, your gonna see some serious shit.

[michaelnaisbitt]

Union Pacific are be commended for keeping this magnificent loco in running condition. She truly is beautiful

[davidgilbertson]

"Although it is stated that the UP FEF series were designed to safely operate at 120 mph (190 km/h), no one really knows how fast the final 4-8-4 could go" (Steve A. Lee, Manager of Union Pacific Steam Program).

[CJODell]

The old timer can still keep up with the youngins. Just goes to show that steam will never die.

[bigtex]

A clean stack, high speed, and no diesel. How it was meant to be.

[mastro]

Those 80 inch drivers are a sight to behold at 80 mph!👍👍👍

[DocHallenstein]

Wow! And no stinking diesel tender. She's free! Go girl.

[glasslinger]

Look at how fast those drive wheels are turning! WOW! All that steam switched at that rate!

[seymoarsalvage]

They dont put the diesel in for extra power or speed (most freight engines are geared for 75). They do it for the dynamic brakes and to help fuel mileage (not exactly alot of coaling towers anymore..). And for those saying they should "push" her more... Remember, extra speed/extra load = extra wear on one-of-a-kind parts. There are no large steam locomotive manufacturers anymore, same for the parts. Edd Dickens explained it best in his video on the subject

[limited]

Union Pacific's sprawling system still has occasional steam locomotives roaming the rails. Excellent.

[hansenfiet]

Top allowed speed for the 844 until a few years ago was 70mph. They’ve since reduced it to 60mph due to increased wear and tear. I paced her at 68mph in the Columbia River Gorge in 2010.

[thairatcatcher]

"You smell that? What? Steam 'n oil.son . I love the smell of steam 'n oil in the morning" Cue The ride of the Valkyries.

[infledermaus]

My mother worked in a little telegraph shack in or near Simi Valley in the dark of night during WWII. She would have loved this video! She used to hand orders up to these drivers on a little cane pole. Can you imagine standing 2 feet off the track as one of these beasts can barreling by at 70+ mph! One night it was raining like hell and she was so cold and wet that when the train barreled by she just let go and peed her pants. I'd love to know where she actually worked. She said the trains came out of the mountains hauling ass. One young woman failed to let go of the cane as the driver put his arm through the loop. It yanked the driver out of the cab, and she was thrown up over the train to her death.

[limited]

A testimony to her builders and Union Pacific's maintenance and preservation. The locomotie can still do the job.

[kman-misu]

Whenever I hear that song, I keep expecting to see a swarm of Huey helicopters coming in to blow the train to kingdom come! ala Apocalypse now.

[PRR]

Nothing "old" about that beautiful locomotive!

[fanatic]

This locomotive is capable of speeds over 100mph

[bertcresta]

Shot of amazing! What a locomotive…and kudos to UP for maintaining it so well!!

[minh-khanguyen]

I'd love to see this one back in two-tone grey.
As a matter of fact, 3985 fitted with smoke deflectors and painted two-tone grey would look awesome too (look no further than 3977 for proof!)
Can you imagine a double-header with those two?
(Note - I'm aware that at one point these two locomotives have in fact pulled a double-header. But as Greyhounds...mm.)