UP 844 steam locomotive and train ran from West Marion, Arkansas to Pine Bluff to Little Rock on Friday, March 30, 2012. This was its final leg of a long journey pulling a train called the "Shiloh Limited" from Council Bluffs, Iowa to Marion, Arkansas. This trip was celebrating the 150th anniversary of UP and also the Battle of Shiloh during the Civil War. The train that ran to Marion had 21 cars full of Civil War reenactors and a flatcar with Civil War cannons. The train you'll see today was much shorter - the other cars were moved back north out of Marion.
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The train and 844 will be on display in North Little Rock through Sunday, April 1, then the locomotive and train will stay in North Little Rock for 2 weeks, until April 14. After then I understand it will go to Texas.  Most of the UP Steam Crew will fly back to Cheyenne from Little Rock while the engine stays here, then fly back to take it to Texas in mid-April. I was told the locomotive may have some work done on the wheels while here in North Little Rock.
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The day was mostly cloudy, with a few sprinkles in the early morning. I've also included a video of the train arriving in Brinkley, AR and entering the sharp curve at the Brinkley Depot Museum early in the day. The video is a little shaky since I forgot my tripod at home, but there's some nice sounds of long whistle blasts from the 844 as it crossed a street just east of the depot. I was looking straight at the locomotive with steam all around, kind of a lonely, relaxing and soothing scene.
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I've also included photos of a few other trains, including shots of UP 2010 (which was part of  844's consist), UP 1982 (MoPac Heritage) and UP 1989 (Rio Grande Heritage), which were all in North Little Rock today. UP 4141, the George Bush unit, is here also, but hidden behind UP's Jenks Shops.

Here's that video of 844 arriving in Brinkley at 8:30 a.m. on March 30th:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=60FmrpTqky0

Included today:
1) UP 9682, 7835, 844, 8352, 8688, 1982, 1989
2) NS 7557
3) Unknown ID 6547
4) BNSF 7518
5) UP 904514 flatcar with load of engines
6) Rio Grande 1900


Brinkley, Arkansas Depot Museum, 6:56 a.m. Friday, March 30, 2012.


UP 9682, 734 a.m.


UP Special Agent car at the depot.


UP 7835, 7:47 a.m.


You can faintly see 844's headlight in the distance coming from the east. This is UP's Brinkley Sub, which merges with the Jonesboro sub at the depot. This used to belong to Rock Island.


8:33 a.m. Train will stop here for servicing for 15 minutes. To see a video of this scene, either click on the photo above or the link below:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=60FmrpTqky0




Taken from the US Highway 70 crossing in Brinkley. It had been advertised to get here at 9:30, but instead got here at 8:30.






Now I'm in Pine Bluff, AR, around 60 miles west of Brinkley, at 10:57 a.m. UP 8352 heads an eastbound freight.


UP 8688, dpu.


Some of my usual railfan friends at the Pine Bluff Historical Museum, the old Pine Bluff Union Station.


UP 9682, 11:13 a.m. This same train passed Brinkley at 934 a.m.


NS 7557 passing the depot at 11:45 a.m.


According to Ian Murray, this SD60 locomotive No. 6547 is a Norfolk Southern engine. They bought like 60 of the SD50's and SD60's from HLCX a few months ago. It will get rebuilt and become a SD60E


My longtime friend, North Little Rock Mayor Pat Hayes and his grandson at the Pine Bluff station. He will ride the train all the way to North Little Rock.


I was initially on the other side of the tracks, but a lot of us moved to the north side because BNSF 7518 arrived at 11:58 a.m. UP 844 can be seen coming on the closest track in the distance.






Shot of the Pine Bluff depot and fans with the train in the station at 12:02 p.m.


Servicing the locomotive. For a video of workers lubing the 844, either click on the photo above or link below:
http://youtu.be/ewrGv_N_JXI


Now in Little Rock at my old stomping grounds, Union Station, at 1:35 p.m. waiting for UP 844. As I'm typing this, TV news locally are inviting the public to view the train this weekend on 4th Street in North Little Rock. The train will remain here for 2 weeks.


UP 844, 1:40 p.m.




UP 2010, the Boy Scout special unit.


Big Yellow Train passing the station.


844 arriving in North Little Rock at 2:20 p.m. They had to do some maneuvering to get it on the right track.






Passing Jenks Shops at 2:22 p.m.


UP is having its Family Days this weekend.


UP 904514 flatcars with engines at UP's Jenks Shops.

Following are my photos of  the 4 special units in the area today, plus Rio Grande 1900:


UP 844.


UP 2010, the Boy Scout unit.


UP 1982, Missouri Pacific heritage.


UP 1989, Rio Grand heritage.


Rio Grande 1900.


I'll end today with a rose from my front yard.

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