Union Pacific 844 Steam Engine

Maintenance and water, your right, steam can't compare. However if we were to ask N&W's, South African Rail, and in the near future China's operating dept's. Bet you'd get a few opposing views. Especially with the price of oil these day's, and it's only going to get better!

Power charts are not everything. So inefficient no comparison, wasteful, polluting, enormous BTUs just to raise water temperature to working steam. Need to haul water and too many water stops. Breakdowns required SO MUCH maintenence, overhaul, etc. I love, and my great uncle loved his steam locomotives, but if not for Diesels, railroads would go bankrupt.

One of my best friends ever was a steam locomotive engineer from the 1920s til 1950s and he said: "A diesel engine is an electric motor mounted on a flatcar, but a steam locomotive is an Iron Horse." During these days of $100 bbl oil it may not be a bad idea to go back to steam in some cases.

Robertgift,not quite right, look at a power chart sometime, internal combustion flatlines fairly quick, steam combustion expands BIG time with added heat. Why do you suppose Navy vessels are (nuclear) actually steam boats, just a different fuel to boil water. Diesels could never do the job.

My Great Uncle was a PRR locomotive engineer.
He loved going to work. Said his huge 4-8-4 locomotive had a "personality" like a mule.
He loved it. He learned to operate a diesel, but said some engineers refused and retired. They "did not want to drive a car."

You're right, there is NO comparison to a steam locomotive, not by a long shot. LLS!

Late whistle and gates late getting down in first view.
Try to photograph from the SUNNY side!
Diesel engines are so much more efficient and reliable, there is no comparison to steam engines which require frequent repair and overhaul.

@ ferroequistrian: Diesels were made BECAUSE of steamers. Nobody likes shoveling coal from the tender to the firebox, or the pollution it puts out. And what's more, a steamer takes hours to start because it needs heat.

A diesel engine avoids all of those problems.

But steamers are better looking. XP

So I ask you..At the price of diesel...wouldn't steam be the way to go? I say bring back the Big black Beauties.

and besides that, the 844 has NEVER EVER been retired so take that :p

THE 844 is the 2nd largest steamer in the world.

This engine has boiler psi of 300. the GWR only gits about 160 tops. This could pull a 22 car train without deisel help. it is the stupid rail way regulations that require deisels.

they should of kept the steam engines

Bring back the steamers!! Especially with todays HIGH fuel prices. :-) I wish I was around to see them when they ruled the rails! :-D

This monster puts the Gp-38 to shame... I like the Gp-38 too...