(The following story by Carlos Mayorga appeared on the Standard-Examiner website on May 10, 2009.)
OGDEN, Utah — Photographing the Union Pacific Locomotive No. 844 as it steamed out of Ogden in 1964 was one of the most prized moments of Emery Mitton’s life.
Just as the train was departing for Laramie, Wyo., Mitton saw it while he was driving across the Riverdale Road overpass. He quickly pulled over his brown 1959 Ford and ran over to snap the photo.
“I just happened to see it,” Mitton said. “It raised the hair on my head the moment I took that picture.
“I was ecstatic that I had the opportunity to catch that train.”
Mitton’s photo, profiling the massive 454-ton locomotive spouting steam and charging forward, now hangs in Ogden’s Union Station museum.
Mitton, now 73, was a young photographer, just 27 at the time. He snapped the slide image with his Nikon FA camera.
On Friday, a grateful Mitton had the chance to see No. 844 again. The locomotive returned to Ogden to commemorate the 140th anniversary of the driving of the Golden Spike at Promontory. That event on May 10, 1869, completed the first transcontinental railroad.
Mitton joined curious onlookers and enthusiasts alike who flocked to the 14-wheel locomotive Friday.
Ogden resident Tim Manning brought several members of his family to see it. Manning had the chance several years ago to engineer the locomotive through a portion of Wyoming, starting in Green River and ending in Evanston.
“I wanted to get off it as soon as I could,” he said, laughing. “It was hot, noisy and stinky.”
Although he admires the historic locomotive, Manning said it was difficult and labor-intensive to engineer. He remembers having to use ear plugs and communicate with other crew members through hand signals during the short journey.
Still an employee of Union Pacific, Manning is usually assigned to newer, quieter diesel locomotives, complete with air-conditioning and computerized controls.
“It’s pretty amazing, all the many parts,” Manning said. “I’m just glad I don’t have to work on it. I don’t know how those guys in the old days did it.”
In its heyday, No. 844 was a well-regarded, high-speed passenger locomotive. When diesel engines became common in 1957, No. 844 was used to transport freight.
It was the last steam locomotive built for Union Pacific and was preserved for special service in 1960 after nearly being scrapped.
Today, the locomotive is based in Cheyenne, Wyo. and has made a number of visits to Ogden. No. 844 will leave Union Station at 8 a.m. Monday, en route to Cheyenne through Weber Canyon.
The locomotive, with its 80-inch driving wheels, awed many of the visitors, including Clearfield resident Gary Bush and his 5-year-old grandson, Kayden.
“It must cost them a lot of money to keep this thing going,” Bush said. “I’m thankful Union Pacific keeps these things going just so the kids don’t forget.”
For Bush, seeing No. 844 brought back fond memories of his father, who was once a Union Pacific steam locomotive engineer and wrote memoirs of his journeys.
Bush now shares those nostalgic stories with his grandson.
“He loves trains,” Bush said. “(844) is just an amazing piece of equipment.”