When it rains it pours: Union Pacific steam service boxcar damaged NEWSWIRE

GEORGETOWN, Texas — As if the mechanical problems Union Pacific 4-8-4 No. 844 suffered last week weren’t enough, the railroad’s steam program was further embarrassed Friday when a boxcar that carries supplies for steam locomotives was damaged in an accident on the Georgetown Railroad. The boxcar collided with a gondola, punching in the end of the boxcar and lifting it off the tracks.

No. 844 and its support cars are in Georgetown so the steam locomotive’s driving wheels can be removed for shopping. Georgetown has a drop table that is big enough to handle the 4-8-4, which was damaged last week while on a tour of Texas and Louisiana for the railroad’s 150th anniversary. No. 844 has flat spots on its eight drivers. Because of their size (80 inches), they require special handling to repair.

The damaged car is UP 9336, which is used to carry materials for the steam program and steps for visitors to access the locomotive’s cabs for tours. The 60-foot car was built in August 1964 by St. Louis Car Co. to handle storage mail in passenger trains. The cars were fitted with steam and signal lines and high-speed trucks, and were lower than most boxcars to match the height of passenger cars. UP has six other boxcars from this series assigned to the steam program.