No. 844 to steam with Big Boy, back in public for first time since 2019

Union Pacific’s steam locomotive No. 844, a 1944 4‑8‑4 Northern classified as the railroad’s “Living Legend,” will make its first public appearance since 2019 on 21 November. The locomotive will double‑head with Big Boy No. 4014 on a Make‑A‑Wish charity train that departs from Greeley, Colorado, and arrives in Denver, Colorado. The announcement of the run was issued on 5 October, following an earlier 17 September release that described a Big Boy event from Cheyenne, Wyoming, to Denver. The 5 October release added No. 844 to the itinerary and renamed the ticketed fundraising run “Greeley to Denver.”

The two engines last travelled together in 2019 when they were sent to Utah for the 150th anniversary of the Golden Spike. Big Boy’s recent coast‑to‑coast tour for America’s 250th anniversary covered 14 states and included a stop in Philadelphia for the Fourth of July. Big Boy No. 4014 possesses approximately 2.1 times the maximum tractive power of No. 844 (135,375 lb‑force versus 63,800 lb‑force), while No. 844 has the larger driving wheels; these figures are drawn from Union Pacific’s vital statistics for each locomotive.

Tickets for the Greeley‑to‑Denver run are available to patrons of the Union Pacific Railroad Museum beginning 16 October, with general sale opening on 19 October. Only adult tickets are offered, and Union Pacific has not yet released fares, seat numbers or departure times. After the November 21 run, both locomotives will be displayed at Denver Union Station, where entry is free and families are invited to view the engines. The event will feature Santa Claus and elves handing out limited‑edition gifts inside the terminal and will benefit the Make‑A‑Wish Foundation; Union Pacific’s Community Ties Giving Program will add a donation to the proceeds.