(The Associated Press circulated the following story by Karen Cotton on July 20.)
CHEYENNE — Union Pacific engineer Lynn Nystrom sat in the black vinyl engineer’s seat of steam engine No. 844.
Nystrom sported overalls that an engineer might have worn in 1944, the year the steam engine was delivered to the Union Pacific Railroad.
Nystrom wore a blue T-shirt beneath his overalls, and his head was crowned by a ball cap with “Steam Crew No. 844” stitched on it in black.
Around him a menagerie of gauges, levers and red knobs stuck out of the back head of the boiler that the cab wrapped around.
The only modern thing inside of No. 844’s cab was a fairly new communications radio and a cup holder to the right of Nystrom’s seat that held a Gatorade bottle.
Nystrom is one of a dozen people who work with the historic steam locomotive program for Union Pacific.
The sleek black locomotive rested in the Union Pacific steam shop as its engine was having final touches done to it in preparation for two excursions during Cheyenne Frontier Days.
The first is the sold-out Cheyenne Frontier Days Denver Post Train excursion on July 19. The second is the Cheyenne Depot Train Excursion on July 20 to Denver. There are still tickets left, although seating is limited.
A working steam engine locomotive is a rare sight these days.
The Union Pacific Historic Fleet is one of the last of its kind in the country.
There are only 100 steam engines running in the United States.
“The Union Pacific Railroad is the last major railroad that has this program,” Nystrom said.
That’s why the Cheyenne Depot Train Excursion during Cheyenne Frontier Days is such a treat.
On the morning of July 20, passengers board a bus that takes them from Cheyenne to Denver. At Denver’s Union Station, passengers board the train pulled by engine No. 844.
The train heads to Cheyenne and even gives passengers an opportunity for a photo run-by during the trip.
“Most of the money from this excursion goes into our budget,” Nystrom said, “to help maintain the cars and the engines.
“T-shirts and hat sales are also what help the bottom line to keep this stuff going.”
But such an undertaking requires substantial maintenance.
There are five mechanics and a handful of operators who work with No. 844 whenever it goes somewhere.
Nystrom said he wouldn’t be able to do his job if it weren’t for the behind-the-scenes guys, who rarely get recognized.
“Without the mechanics, you don’t need an engineer,” Nystrom said. “At times, I’m utterly amazed, and it’s a miracle that we can keep going.”
Historically, there were over 300 people who took care of steam engines at each depot across the country.
“Every 100 miles there used to be some kind of service facility with water, fuel and grease lubrication,” he said.
Those facilities have gone the way of the past. So, too, have most water towers.
“Now we take a water car with us, that holds 28,000 gallons of water,” he said.
Whenever a steam engine goes on an excursion the crew also takes thousands of tools and lubrication that are housed in the tool car.
No. 844 was the last steam locomotive built for the Union Pacific Railroad.
It was known as a high- speed passenger train, but Nystrom said today great care is taken with the steam engine.
“It would be like taking a 1945 car out of the barn for a drive on the interstate, you really don’t want to risk it, that’s why you drive the car around town.”
With that said, don’t be fooled — No. 844 still can reach some breakneck speeds.
“We’re limited by a timetable rule not to go in excess of 81 mph, but it used to routinely go to 100 mph.”
Still, Henry Krening said, “Lynn is like the rocket man when he takes out of here — zoom!”
Krening is the oil and gas electric master power foreman and machinist.
Krening and Nystrom went down a ramp that led to the wheels and the underbelly of the train. They were checking on a small oil leak on one of the engine’s lubricator lines.
As Krening worked on the problem his hand became full of grease.
The lubricants for the steam engines are getting hard to find, Nystrom said.
“Some of them are so specialized, you can’t find them at a Kmart or Auto World,” he said. “Some of the stuff is special made and at a fairly large amount. We’re working on finding substitutes in the industry that will work.”
Not only is No. 844 a piece of living history, the Union Pacific Roundhouse is registered on the National Historic Register.
Nystrom said the steam crew worked hard to make sure the brick structure with large windows that overlooked the train yard and depot didn’t get torn down.
It houses a couple of steam engines, a gigantic snow plow for the tracks that the steam engines run and the souvenir car.
Nystrom walked out of the roundhouse and pointed to foundation ruins that used to support a much larger roundhouse. He explained that the steam engines like No. 844 are among a select few of the last of the steam locomotives.
“It used to be grandparents bringing the kids down to remember the good old days, but most of those people are gone,” Nystrom said. “In the 1950s we had passenger trains, but not steam engines, so the people that you have now, who are fully grown adults with children, nobody’s ridden a train.
“We find that everywhere we go.”
With the help of Thomas the Tank Engine, “Harry Potter” and “The Polar Express,” enthusiasm for trains continues to grow.
“Whatever gets youngsters involved in it, helps,” Nystrom said.
Nystrom spoke of the mystique of steam engines.
“It’s like going down to see an old World War II bomber,” Nystrom said. “There used to be thousands of them, now there’s only a few.”