Union Pacific #844 Locomotive BUild

[Jerry Barnes]

After amassing lots of old Aristo Pacific parts and some plans of 844 I finally got to my building of UP's 844 steam locomotive.

I had to splice the axle housing to hold the 4th axle.

The Boxpox castings were turned down, just a bit larger than the Pacific wheels, you see one still on the housing.

I enlarged the Pacific cab and put the doors on the back that 844 has. The trailing truck is by Robert's Lines.

The boiler pieces were sanded down and covered with thin plastic. Metal foil embossed with rivet/panel lines will be added.

I made the front out of plastic, the upper part is covered with embossed aluminum printer plate metal. Lower part will be painted.
I had decided not to use the black metal front in this picture

 

[Jerry Barnes]

Hmm, guess I did not insert the pictures properly, they are at the bottom.


Hi Jerry, Fixed the photo insertion for you. That is going to be some loco when finished!

Peter Bunce - moderator

 

[Tony]

Well Jerry after the Challenger this one will be a Walk..... in.... the.... park,
Just wish i had your level of bravery............. And your Garden !!!!!!!!!
I watch with interest
Tony
Re the pictures, Try pasting the direct link not the hmtl code its all changed since the upgrade of the site

 

[PaulRhB]

This is like seeing a sculptor carving a statue out if a solid block, you wonder how they visualise the end product, and watch it slowly emerge. Nice job Jerry

 

[Gizzy]

Look forward to seeing this loco completed and running....

 

[peterbunce]

Hi,

For thoase that are not aware what Jerry's loco will look like here is a photo (link) of the preserved one

http://www.nscale.org/photos/data/510/medium/844_196.JPG

This is the oldest operational steam loco iin the USA I think. Built by the UP in 1944 and has not been out of their service since then.

Its also one of my favourite (standard gauge) locomotives! The wheelbase of 844 is 98 ft 5 inches so the overall length will be in excess of 100 foot.

Are you fitting it with 'elephant ears' Jerry? (UK - smoke deflectors! for their huge size they had a very low pressure chimmney velocity, so for a time they were fitted with huge smoke deflectors, though for some time they also ran without them.

 

[nico]

wow:-

 

[Jerry Barnes]

Thanks guys. Photos seem to be showing up okay now, thanks to Peter! I do plan on the 'ears'. Weather may allow a test run of the chassis this weekend, without the rods though. I need to countersink the holes for the screws that hold the wheels on, always something! Working on the smokebox and exhaust stacks right now.
Here's a picture I took of 844 in Grand Island a year or two ago.

Photo inserted by Peter Bunce.

Have a look on YouTube re #844 there are plenty of videos with the loco's superb deep 'steamboat' whistle being well used - memories of the Caledonian/LMS whistles!

 

[Richie]

That looks fantastic Jerry what paint scheme are you going with black/silver or two tone grey ?

 

[MR SPOCK]

Gobsmacking, what a job there,​

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I want one,​

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where did you get those boxpok wheels?​

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no wonder you been quiet then haha
​

 

[Jerry Barnes]

Black/silver paint scheme, so it will go with the centipede tender I made for my Challenger a couple of years ago. I rebuilt the tender last year.
Boxpox wheel castings can be obtained from Bob Thon(Robert's Lines). I also got the trailing truck from him. He also sells a Challenger kit. He has a anti-spam thing you have to fill out, but will get back to you in a day or two: roblines-earthlink.net

 

[Jerry Barnes]

I made the smokestacks for 844. I cut a Pacific stack base in half and joined them with plastic. The 'stacks' are 1/2" copper end pieces. I wrapped it with some thin metal, superglued on.

 

[Jerry Barnes]

I did a test run of the chassis, with rods. Ran fine, still need to run a rod to the front axle. Been working on the smokebox front also. Used the Pacific front, cut out the center and glued in the round piece, which is the end of a plastic banister rail I found at the lumber yard. I turned it a bit on my lathe to round it off some more and make and edge for the Ozark smokebox dogs to grab. Ozark bolts are around the edge.

 

[Jerry Barnes]

Bit more progress on 844. I have covered the boiler with embossed metal foil and made the domes on top out of balsa, which I then covered with foil. I modified the Pacific valve gear to look more like the one on 844. Working on the 'ears' right now.

pics enlarged by mod.

 

[Phil]

Wow!
Very neat and tidy job there Jerry.

 

[Woderwick]

Fascinating as usual Gerry.

 

[Jerry Barnes]

Warmed up so I could spray the locomotive. But put a scratch in it. Making the 'ears' out of embossed printer plate metal. Trial fit here with tape. I will attach a 1/4" piece of angle to the bottom and 4 wires going over to the boiler on top, as is on the full size one.

 

[trammayo]

Nice job! Well thought out. She'll need some gentle curves no doubt.

Mick

 

[royale]

Brilliant, Jerry - that is a mightily impressive loco - look great with your UP passenger cars.

 

[Richie]

Looking very nice Jerry