Tracking West
Articulation
Donner Pass is no stranger to articulated steam, with SP's AC class being one of the main choices of power on the mountain. After the end of steam, it would be awhile before another articulated steam locomotive would run over Donner. In 1981, UP 3985 double headed with 844 (at the time still numbered 8444) to go to Railfair 1981. Since then, steam had been few and far between, and 844 would be the only one to run over Donner.
For years the UP Steam Program kept trying to get a 4014 run in Northern California, but every time it would fail. After a few attempts, in 2024 articulated steam made a return to Donner when 4014 ran over the Sierras on both WP and SP. With plenty of sharp curves it made it very easy to see the articulation, even when looking at the locomotive head on.
Seen here in this image, 4014 is seen rolling around the horseshoe deep in the Coldstream Canyon. Shortly before taking this photo the train had made an emergency stop due to burning brakes on one of the coaches.
Articulation
Donner Pass is no stranger to articulated steam, with SP's AC class being one of the main choices of power on the mountain. After the end of steam, it would be awhile before another articulated steam locomotive would run over Donner. In 1981, UP 3985 double headed with 844 (at the time still numbered 8444) to go to Railfair 1981. Since then, steam had been few and far between, and 844 would be the only one to run over Donner.
For years the UP Steam Program kept trying to get a 4014 run in Northern California, but every time it would fail. After a few attempts, in 2024 articulated steam made a return to Donner when 4014 ran over the Sierras on both WP and SP. With plenty of sharp curves it made it very easy to see the articulation, even when looking at the locomotive head on.
Seen here in this image, 4014 is seen rolling around the horseshoe deep in the Coldstream Canyon. Shortly before taking this photo the train had made an emergency stop due to burning brakes on one of the coaches.