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Program 111
Union Pacific 844 In Chicagoland / Dolton, Illinois Hot Spot

The Union Pacific Railroad maintains the last corporate sponsored, steam powered excursion program in the United States. Over Labor Day weekend in 1996, one of the stars of the program was dispatched to the Chicagoland area for a series of excursion to coincide with the Democratic National Convention. Union Pacific 844 bears the distinction of never having been retired and removed from the active locomotive roster.

Program host Dave Reed visits with Steve Lee, who oversees the whole operation and other members of Union Pacific's "Heritage Program".

Videotaped in September 1996.

Dolton, Illinois is the featured Hot Spot segment. Dolton is one of the more unusual places Trackside has visited due to a plethora of crossings. It may have been a gray day, but the activity was jumping.

Videotaped in February 1997.

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Union Pacific 844 gathers speed as it heads east out of Marshalltown Iowa. Lining the next track to the north is a long line of dead ex-C&NW SD45's, SD9's, and GP7's & 9's.

The Pacific Limited excursion to Milwaukee started at Proviso Yard in Elmhurst, Illinois.

Fireman's side of the cab.

Steam hisses from open angle cocks as the 844 pulls the train ahead for loading.

Now loaded and moving out, the excursion train rolls through Schiller Park.

The next day, Union Pacific's trio of E9 diesels pulled an excursion out to the Illinois Railway Museum at Union. Weight restrictions on the Fox River bridge at Elgin kept the 844 at Proviso Yard. To load passengers for the return trip home, the UP train was brought right into the IRM station.

Adios, Chicago. The 844 and company begins the journey west by crossing over the Elgin, Joliet, and Eastern at Turner Junction in West Chicago, Illinois.

A westbound CSX freight moves through Dolton. Union Pacific and Indiana Harbor Belt trackage also pass through here.

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