What Steam Engine to use.

[lescar]

I'm still trying to figure all this out and would like to have a steam engine by / in the engine house, what was the last steam that was used by Union Pacific before switching to diesel's.

Thanks 
Les

[BaltoOhioRRfan]

UP still has two active steam engines, 844 a 4-8-4 and 3985 a 4-6-6-4.

[ABC]

Union Pacific 844 was the last steam locomotive delivered (in 1944) to Union Pacific and is unique in that it is the only steam locomotive never retired by a North American Class I railroad.
The UP 3985 locomotive was built in 1943 by the American Locomotive Company of Schenectady, New York. It is currently the largest operational steam locomotive in the world. UP 3985 operated in its last "regular" train service in 1957.

[jettrainfan]

The last engines were the "big guns" 4-8-4s,4-6-6-4s(challenger),and 4-8-8-4s(big boy)

[RAM]

I was on a short fan trip in the summer of 1956.  It had a 2-8-2.  on that day it was the only steam powered train on the U.P.  They fired up a 4-8-4 and a 4-6-6-4 and moved them outside for pictures.  To show how things have changed.  They were upset because no one climbed into the cab of those two locomotives.  A lot of us did climb up and talked to the crew of the 2-8-2.

[hotrainlover]

There are UP 4-8-4's, # 844's available.  Search for it on Ebay.  I have the Rivarossi ones from 2003 runs.  They are great engines....

[ebtnut]

In practical terms, virtually all of the UP steam was sidelined by about 1959.  The fan trip locos are a special case.  There were a number of locos that were "stored servicable" for a couple of years after, until they were sure there were enough diesels to handle all the work.  In general, the year 1960 marks the end of regular service steam in the US on major roads.  Short lines and private operators carried on for a few more years, generally until their locos wore out.