Interesting background behind the MSNBC Broadcast right now. Behind Carter, KO & Tweety....

[A HERETIC I AM]

are the distinctive yellow rail cars of a Union Pacific excursion train, in front of Denver's Union Station, visiting Denver specifically for the Democratic convention.

I find this interesting in part because of this thread I started last Friday.

The train has as it's locomotive, the Union Pacific #844, the last Steam Locomotive purchased by and built for the Union Pacific railroad. It is a 4-8-4 "Northern" type, built by ALCO in Schenectady, New York and delivered to the UP RR in 1944.
Here is a picture of this magnificent machine;


It is accompanied by two of the rail industry's most environmentally friendly Locomotives.

From the Union Pacific website;

On Board No. 844, August 20, 2008 – Union Pacific Railroad's No. 844, the last steam locomotive built for Union Pacific, has brought many people track side along Colorado's Front Range as the locomotive makes its way from Cheyenne to Denver and back, to celebrate railroad history and heritage during the Democratic National Convention.

"We are proud to have No. 844 on display during the convention because of our historical connection to the campaign trail," said Bob Turner, Union Pacific's senior vice president – Corporate Relations. "Long before candidates traveled via planes or automobiles, rail offered candidates a way to deliver themselves and their platforms to far-flung voters from one end of this country to the other."

Before there was the highway system we know today or passenger air service, Presidential candidates would ride the rails and make frequent short stops – or "whistle-stops" – in the many communities along the rail line. The candidates would "stump" for votes by making speeches from the back of the last car on their train. Union Pacific hosted Presidential campaign whistle-stop tours across its system over the years including those for Woodrow Wilson, Herbert Hoover, Theodore Roosevelt, Franklin D. Roosevelt and Harry Truman. <snip>

Connecting its past and future, Union Pacific will also have two of the rail industry's' most environmentally friendly locomotives – one used for long haul and the other used in rail yards – on public display. The rail yard locomotive, called a Genset switcher, was pioneered by a Union Pacific employee.

The Genset switcher reduces emissions of nitrous oxides by 80 percent and particulate matter by 90 percent. It also uses up to 37 percent less fuel compared to older switching locomotives. This fuel savings translates into a greenhouse gas reduction of up to 37 percent.

Union Pacific's EPA Tier 2 long-haul locomotive

Built in May 2006, diesel locomotive UP 1989 is an EPA Tier 2, long-haul 4,300-horsepower road unit that reduces exhaust emissions by more than 40 percent compared to road locomotives built before 2000. Its 16-cylinder engine will consume several hundred thousand fewer gallons of fuel in its lifetime than those built just two years earlier.

I just thought this obscure background sight was interesting as it tied in to the thread I put up last week. It is also relevant to the revolution the railroads have undergone, from the days of steam to the current, environmentally friendly power units.

Regardless of how you feel about the railroads in general or Union Pacific in particular, they should be applauded for making this historical machine and train available at our convention.

[slor]

1. I wish they would...

build an updated national rail system now. I am not a big fan of flying; have done it a few times, and I am typically petrified the whole trip. I did also travel by train, from Cincinnati, OH to Austin, TX, with extended stops in different cities, and I loved it!

[A HERETIC I AM]

2. Not to kick my own thread, but here is a short video of UP 844 pulling out of Hope, Arkansas.

If Steam trains interest you, turn your speaker volume UP!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T5-IvMgcELE&feature=related




My apologies for the self kick, as it is not something I normally do, but the appearance of this train and historical locomotive at the convention should be given the recognition it deserves.

[Stinky The Clown]

3. Chuff ......... chuff ......... chuff ..... chuf ..... chuf chuf chuf chufchufchufchuf

I love that sound.

[A HERETIC I AM]

4. Cool, isn't it?

Plenty of other videos on that YouTube link of 844 and other UP steamers in operation.

I think it is cool that she is at the convention. Lots of history there.