47^th Star Blog

“Land of Enchantment Centennial Special” Union Pacific Vintage Steam Train to Visit New Mexico in Honor of its Statehood Centennial, November 4-9, 2011

October 24, 2011  SANTA FE, NM— The New Mexico Centennial announces an historic steam train, “The Land of Enchantment Centennial Special” will tour New Mexico in honor of the state’s 100^th anniversary of statehood.  Steam Locomotive No. 844 is the last steam engine built for Union Pacific Railroad, and will travel from Tucumcari to Lordsburg November 4-9, 2011.

Visitors can view the train at the events and whistle stops listed here (times are approximate):

Date	Town	Arrives	Departs	Location
11/4	Tucumcari	3:00pm	11/5 at 7:00am	100 E. Railroad Ave.*Special event
11/5	Santa Rosa	8:45am	9:15am	21 N. 4th Street
11/5	Vaughn	11:30am	Noon	Vaughn Station
11/5	Carrizozo	12:45pm	1:15pm	near 4th and Court Ave.
11/5	Alamogordo	2:30pm		Alameda Park, N White Sands Blvd
11/6	Alamogordo	(8:00am – 5:00pm)		Alameda Park, N White Sands Blvd*Special event
11/7	Alamogordo		8:00am
11/9	Santa Teresa	8:45am	9:15am	Foamex Rd Crossing
11/9	Deming	11:00am	11:30am	100 E. Railroad Blvd.
11/9	Lordsburg	12:45pm	11/10 at 8:00am	401 Southern Pacific Blvd.

On November 4, Tucumcari will host the event FIRED UP! in the rail district of downtown Tucumcari with music, food and exhibits open to the public.  On November 6, Alamogordo will host ALL ABOARD with the train on display from 8am – 5pm at Alameda Park on North White Sands Boulevard.   Food, music and vendors will be on site from 11am – 3pm.

“We thank Union Pacific Railroad for their grand support of the New Mexico Centennial, and for bringing this historic train to the state,” said Jodi Delaney, Director of NM Centennial 1912-2012.  “The story of railroads in the last century is important to share with our children, as its impact continues to resonate in communities statewide.”

No. 844, also known as Union Pacific’s “Living Legend,” was delivered in 1944 and pulled such widely known trains as the Overland Limited, Los Angeles Limited, Portland Rose and Challenger.  It returned to service in 2005 after one of the most extensive steam locomotive overhauls in the United States since regular steam service ended. The work, which started in 2000, included overhauling the locomotive’s running gear, pumps, piping, valves and springs, along with replacement of its firebox and extensive boiler work.  The cab interior also was refurbished.

The engine has run hundreds of thousands of miles as Union Pacific’s ambassador of goodwill and has made appearances at Expo ’74 in Spokane, the 1981 opening of the California State Railroad Museum in Sacramento, the 1984 World’s Fair in New Orleans and the 50th Anniversary Celebration of Los Angeles Union Station in 1989. During the 1990s, No. 844 pulled numerous Denver Post Cheyenne Frontier Days specials and visited several Oklahoma cities during the Oklahoma Centennial in 2007.  In 2010, No. 844 traveled to Harlingen, Texas, and Milliken, Colo., to be a part of those communities’ heritage celebrations.  Earlier this year the locomotive traveled 2,500-miles pulling the Little Rock Express Tour special as well as being on public display during the College World Series in Omaha, Neb., and pulling the Denver Post Cheyenne Frontier Days train.

One of the rail cars that travels with No. 844 has a Global Positioning Satellite (GPS) transmitter. The GPS system is integrated with a map on UP’s website. Enter the word “Steam” in the search box on the homepage for a shortcut to the map.

Website visitors will be able to access route maps with varying amounts of detail. The GPS system will update the map every five minutes showing No. 844′s location. GPS updates are also available at the Union Pacific twitter page.

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 About Union Pacific
Union Pacific Corporation owns one of America’s leading transportation companies Its principal operating company, Union Pacific Railroad, links 23 states in the western two-thirds of the country. Union Pacific serves many of the fastest-growing U.S. population centers and provides Americans with a fuel-efficient, environmentally friendly and safe mode of freight transportation. Union Pacific’s diversified business mix includes Agricultural Products, Automotive, Chemicals, Energy, Industrial Products and Intermodal. The railroad emphasizes excellent customer service and offers competitive routes from all major West Coast and Gulf Coast ports to eastern gateways. Union Pacific connects with Canada’s rail systems and is the only railroad serving all six major gateways to Mexico.

About the New Mexico Centennial 1912-2012
New Mexico became the 47^th state on January 6, 1912, after 62 years of debate.  With participation in 33 counties statewide, the New Mexico Centennial encompasses a wide range of events, projects and initiatives, including statehood history timelines for schools, libraries and parks; the Centennial Authors program featuring five distinguished New Mexico writers; the New Mexico Creates/Centennial Commemorative Art project; and workshops for teachers to enhance the teaching of New Mexico history.  Visit the NM Centennial website for further information, or call 505-984-2012.

Note: Photographs and video clips of the steam locomotive are available on Union Pacific Railroad’s website.

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