Now here's something you don't see everyday! UP 844 gets a police escort down the streets of Oakland's Jack London Square. This is the first time the 844 has visited Oakland and the last time a st... (more)

THe UP 844 crossed the Martinez Benicia bridge on the former SP Cal P line at milepost 33.4 on it's Western Heritage Tour of 2009

UP 844 leads the western heritage special over the Benicia Bridge. This is the first time 844 has visited the Bay Area and this is the first time in 10 years that a steam locomotive has run on the... (more)

UP 844 gently drifts downgrade on the #1 track passing through a cut of rocks at Clipper Gap.

UP 844 storms upgrade at Iceland, while crossing the Truckee River. She was doing about 40MPH and the diesel helpers were in idle going up the 1.6% grade.

UP 844 rounds the S-Curves of Casa Loma leading the Western Tour train.

At Yuba Gap, just West of where the SP's City of San Francisco was snowbound in 1952.

With my snow boots/pants left at home, I wasn't going to hike away too far into the Donner Winter leftover North face snow. So a simple Yuba-G wedgie shot from a rock 20ft from the tracks was fine... (more)

Steam, and snow! Who'da thunk we'd see steam in California in 2009, over Donner Pass?! UP 844 gently glides down the mountain on her Western Tour.

Also known as Bloomers Cut, this area just West of Auburn was completed by the CPRR in early 1865. Named for the local Bloomer family landowners, this 63 foot near-vertical by 800 foot long cut wa... (more)

Along the Truckee on the bank opposite from Interstate 80

UP steam to Donner Pass! Today's UP844 tour leg starts in Sparks, NV (Reno), but our chase across the Sierra begins a little further West in the NV foothills. With "Heritage Unit Help" assisting u... (more)

The UP, on the former SP shot from the CP. Which means I was standing on the original CP right of way as UP844 heads for California

Our reservation at the Nugget hotel in Sparks requested a room with a view of the rail yard. When we checked in the desk clerk volunteered that a higher floor would provide a better view. When w... (more)