In May and June, 2011, Union Pacific ran its “Great Excursion Adventure” featuring famed 4-8-4 #844.
U.P. encouraged the public to vote online to determine the train’s route, and the winner took the train through Kansas City and St. Louis en route to Little Rock, Arkansas. Union Pacific dubbed the run “The Little Rock Express.”
Two camera crews covered the excursion as #844 put on a great show for the throngs of people who came out to see the well publicized train.
We see the train running between Kansas City and Jefferson City, Missouri, and then on to St. Louis. We then follow the train down the Chester Subdivision through southern Illinois, and from Cape Girardeau, Missouri, to Bald Knob, Arkansas. We then pick up the train from Coffeyville to Kansas City and on to Council Bluffs.
High speed running made for a challenging chase, with the fast running partially offset by stops in many towns for the public to come out and view the train.
Featuring video by Kurt I. Jensen and Mary R. McPherson and narrated by radio personality Kevin Payne, this is likely to be the most extensive coverage of this well run excursion.
If you are a fan of the Union Pacific steam program or steam locomotives in general, you need a copy of this new DVD from Diverging Clear Productions!
