After arriving on April 11, 2012 at the place where UP 844 has been stored since March 30 in North Little Rock, AR, I found an empty space where 844 had been. Turns out the crew was getting it ready for its run to Pine Bluff on Saturday, April 14 and had moved it to another track. I also got more shots of UP 1982, the MoPac heritage unit, and UP 7808, which will pull 844 and its train backward to Pine Bluff on Saturday. 844 Engineer Ed Dickens said that UP 7808 will lead the train Saturday with 844 being on the rear facing backwards. All this because there's no place to turn the train in Pine Bluff and 844 needs to be facing west after it gets to Pine Bluff. They are still planning  on leaving North Little Rock at 7 a.m. or before Saturday morning and I plan on being at Union Station to get photos and a movie of it passing. I don't think I ever saw a video of 844 being pulled backwards before.
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Ed and the UP steam crew gave me permission to get in the tool car "Art Lockman" (6334) and get pictures of 844 on the next track over. That was a unique experience for sure.
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I also got a couple of closeups of 1982. The Eagle seems a little worn.


UP 1982 getting ready to be added to the steam train.




Note the engine back of the coach Katy Flyer, UP 7808. This locomotive will be pulling UP 844 and train backward to Pine Bluff on April 14.






Taken from inside the tool car Art Lockman.










844 Engineer Ed Dickens boarding Art Lockman. This 'new' steam crew has been very friendly while here in North Little Rock.


UP 7808.


Closeup of side of UP 1982. The Eagle seems to be a little worn.


Map of 844's route through Texas from UP's site:
http://www.up.com/aboutup/special_trains/steam/trace.cfm

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