DENVER, Colo. — Union Pacific steam engine No. 844 will not run on today’s scheduled Denver-to-Cheyenne Union Pacific Museum special after the 4-8-4 was involved in a pedestrian fatality during Saturday’s Denver Post Cheyenne Frontier Days Special.
In response to a question, the UP Steam Twitter account reported that the “Spirit of the Union Pacific” diesel, No. 1943, will lead today’s excursion. No. 844 “will be staying put for now,” according to the Twitter account. The train will still leave Denver at 1 p.m. (MT) as scheduled, according to an update on the UP Steam website.
Saturday’s accident occurred at about 7:45 p.m., near the intersection of U.S. Route 85 and East 124th Avenue in Henderson, Colo., according to the Denver Post. The accident location is about 15 miles northeast of downtown Denver. Passengers on the special returned to Denver by bus while Union Pacific police and the Adams County Sheriff’s Department investigated.
Follow Trains News Wire for more information as it becomes available.
I was on last year’s train and I can tell you exactly what happened to the Frontier Days event. On the one side you have today’s Denver Post, owned by a hedge fund that has squeezed every drop of juice (money) from the business, leaving a shell. The shell contributed nothing to the event bearing its name. On the other side you have a railroad that had to put up with stuff like this –
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AT9j2oK2Utg
And on the way back someone did not get out of the way and was butchered. So if you are the railroad and on the one hand your partner is not partnering and on the other you have fools risking their lives at every turn, why go through this again? I would not.
Fred Frailey
It may be worthwhile to consider redo of OVERLAND paint scheme for #844 for purpose of setting apart future appearances from that of the accident day. This would be original & authentic regalia and in keeping with FEF passenger assignments 1944-1955. Cost of new colors should be added to usual passenger ticketing price.
Matt Stahl below is right, unfortunately. Third-party liability insurance rates seriously choked-off excursions ages ago. Also, remember what happened to the NS steam program after the accident with 611 in Virginia’s Great Dismal Swamp?
Hitting a trespasser -whether on foot or in a car- has to be the worst nightmare of any railroad crew member. But, in this case, likely a loving grandmother trying to get a memory for her grandkids makes this far worse for all. My prayers go out not just to the family of the deceased, and the engine crew, but also railfans around her who likely got to see it first-hand.
Also, we railfans need to clean up our act. A number of years ago, the late Jim Boyd (then editor of Railfan & Railroad) was interviewed by Charles Osgood on CBS Radio about a mainstream media article on the “foamers” among us. While his enthusiasm would’ve been understood by railfans, it was not the best possible presentation in the media. And, did us no favors with the railroad industry.
Something to think about regarding how railroad professionals see railfans: When my daughter was a youngster, we were stopped in traffic on old Route 66 in Winslow, AZ. As we waited, a BNSF train was stopped on the old AT&SF bridge over the road. At my daughter’s request, I let her out of the car to take some pictures of the train. I got out with her. While taking our photos, I noticed that a member of the engine crew, also had a camera out taking pictures -of us! He not only took photos of us, but of our car, as well. (I am an amateur radio operator and until recently, have had HF (shortwave) and VHF radio equipment in my cars with the necessary antennas on the roof.) I told Rebecca to get back in the car and when traffic cleared, we went on our way. I realized that in this post 9/11 era, that railroad personnel have a legitimate right to be suspicious of anyone photographing -or even observing- their facilities. Another reason to be circumspect.
BTW, I bought a new car this past November. As of today, it is the first one I’ve had since 1977 without an “additional” radio or a rooftop antenna. And, I presently have no plans to equip it with one. Getting pulled over out west by a state police officer and having to ask questions about my radio equipment taught me another valuable lesson. There are hobbies best kept to the privacy of one’s home. Among those are apparently railfanning and ham radio.
I was very sorry to hear this and did see the YT video before it was removed. Could not believe how close she was standing to the tracks, totally clueless as to what would happen. Tragic for her family and the crew too.
And again, a pedestrian who does not stop, look or listen, is killed by a train. The moral of the story? Watch for trains, don’t walk on the tracks – and if you do, no headphones!
Hi from the UK (or not so United anymore). I have always loved steam locomotives and one of my earliest memories as a child is of a small loco passing under the road bridge that my mother and I were stood on. (circa 1963) I was too small to see over the parapet but my mum shouted and then exhaust went up one side of the bridge and then the other. And so it goes. Now I have recently discovered that you folk in the US of A are still running some awesome (state of the art) steam locomotives like UP844 (and hopefully Big Boy 4014) and I love watching them on YouTube. So much so I had started to plan how I could get over there to see UP844 in real life and get to be a passenger when she is doing what shes loves doing..
Whilst I have a lot of sympathy for the person who was struck by UP844 (and everyone who witnessed it) I can only hope that this incident does not stop UP844 thundering down the iron road in the future. I would really like to experience that.
Situational Awareness. It is very easy to get mesmerized by a train and forget about what is really going on. I have to constantly be on guard against that myself. The dynamics of a train make it very unforgiving of mistakes.
Surprised more of this does n t happen.The steamers draw people like white on rice.
A tragic accident but I hope this is only temporary on running the steam locomotive. maybe UP is deciding on extra safety measures.
Fred Frailey was on board. Read his account of it in his blog.
I was riding the Frontier Days Train yesterday. I think the Union Pacific Steam Crew did an excellent job of handling the situation during and after this incident. I felt the train buckle slightly as the brakes were set, but the stop was smooth and not violent. Police and Firetrucks started arriving immediately. Passengers on board were kept informed by the Denver Post Car Host and Hostess. This tragic situation was handled by UNION PACIFIC RR, and the DENVER POST and best it could be. And I “Thank” then for that.
My condolences to the UP 844 crew and Mr. Dickens. Poor judgement caused the accident. Locomotives have bells, whistles and air horns, and ditchlights to warn people that a train is approaching. Think of it as a “watch out” instead of a friendly “hello”. People don’t realise that trains have overhangs up to several feet on each side of the locomotive and cars, and misjudge the clearance, sometimes causing these accidents. I’m sorry that this tragic event happened, but we need to be more careful around these beautiful pieces of metal and steel.
very sorry to hear this and will be praying for family of the victim and also the crew. What a horrible thing to happen, even if there is nothing you can do. Trauma leaves a mark.
I’ve seen the drone video and there is nothing to indicate this was a suicide. The person was standing with their left foot on the crosstie (just outside the gauge) and right foot in the ballast, filming the train with a smartphone while facing the oncoming train. By the way they were holding the phone, that is what was being used as the viewpoint for the train, rather than actual eyesight. Looks purely like a case of bad judgment of how far outside the rails the footprint of a locomotive actually is by an inexperienced observer from what I saw. The person was set up and in place to get the video, and did not come rushing up at the last second.
My condolences to Ed Dickens and the UP Steam Crew. I am sure they are suffering in sadness today even though there was nothing they could do. My thoughts and prayers are with them.
Apparently it was a suicide. Not much you can do to stop that. I highly doubt this will put a brake on the steam program
Mean O steam engine. Must have left the tracks for a brief time and went after that person, for the kill. Lets investigate. Lets not mention how many people were hit and killed by cars last year.
Pay attention. If there aren’t any mainline steam locomotives running in the United States in a few years, you’ll know why.
Oh, it’s possible… I’ve cringed more than once watching idiot foamers in the gauge as an oncoming train is thundering ever-closer, trying to click-off one more “money-shot.” Sometime “objects may be closer than they appear” is true beyond your passenger side mirror…
Really. How is that possible!