Uploaded May 2024 | Updated September 2026, 3 weeks ago
The Union Pacific Steam program made its first appearance in California with its two excursion locomotives to the grand opening of the California State Railroad Museum for Railfair '81. To reach CSRM, the train operated under Southern Pacific run-through agreements from Ogden, UT into Sacramento.
Union Pacific 4-8-4 8444 was already a recognizable steam locomotive in the west. This trip marked the first public appearance for the 3985, the 4-6-6-4 Challenger, since its restoration in March of 1981. The 3985 was the then largest operable steam locomotive in the world.
This video follows the 8444 and 3985 over Donner Pass between Sparks, NV and Roseville, CA in both directions. You will see the train at many famous locations on this historic railroad line. After the trip west, we get a brief look at the two UP steam engines at Railfair, an event that won over many more fans of the Union Pacific steam program with this first major outing. At the conclusion of Railfair, the two engines are again chased east up the western slope of Donner Pass as far as Soda Springs.
These Super 8mm films were taken by John Filson and Robert Pecotich, and come from the collection of the Western Railway Museum and the private collection of Hunter Lohse. Slides were provided by Gary Perazzo.
Enjoy this look at Union Pacific Steam's first visit to Northern California!
The Union Pacific Steam program made its first appearance in California with its two excursion locomotives to the grand opening of the California State Railroad Museum for Railfair '81. To reach CSRM, the train operated under Southern Pacific run-through agreements from Ogden, UT into Sacramento.
Union Pacific 4-8-4 8444 was already a recognizable steam locomotive in the west. This trip marked the first public appearance for the 3985, the 4-6-6-4 Challenger, since its restoration in March of 1981. The 3985 was the then largest operable steam locomotive in the world.
This video follows the 8444 and 3985 over Donner Pass between Sparks, NV and Roseville, CA in both directions. You will see the train at many famous locations on this historic railroad line. After the trip west, we get a brief look at the two UP steam engines at Railfair, an event that won over many more fans of the Union Pacific steam program with this first major outing. At the conclusion of Railfair, the two engines are again chased east up the western slope of Donner Pass as far as Soda Springs.
These Super 8mm films were taken by John Filson and Robert Pecotich, and come from the collection of the Western Railway Museum and the private collection of Hunter Lohse. Slides were provided by Gary Perazzo.
Enjoy this look at Union Pacific Steam's first visit to Northern California!
![[4K] Cumbres & Toltec Scenic Railroad Steam Train](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/Tgt4A673-lU/mqdefault.jpg "[4K] Cumbres & Toltec Scenic Railroad Steam Train
The Cumbres & Toltec Scenic Railroad operates on 64 miles between Chama, New Mexico and Antonito, Colorado. Once an important portion of the vast Denver & Rio Grande Western narrow gauge trackage, today the C&TS operates over the largely unchanged mountainous gorges and vast desert terrain of Colorado and New Mexico.
Operating on these tracks is a number of former D&RGW K-36 2-8-2 Mikado steam locomotives, working just as much as they did when built in 1925. As a celebration of the K-36 centennial in 2025, a number of events operated to showcase the locomotives as they once ran in revenue service as late as 1968. With grades of up to 4%, helpers were often needed to Cumbres Pass. Its close to original steam freight action one can find.
0:00 Opening
4:13 Tripleheader runby
6:01 Regular train from Chama to Osier
21:03 Freights with 488 lead and 484 helper trains Chama over Cumbres Pass
39:21 484 solo freight to Antonito
48:29 Freight with 488 lead and 484 helper from Antonito to Cumbres Pass
1:01:58 Regular train return to Chama")
![[4K] The Valley Railroad - Essex Steam Train](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/V-STXNbmZo0/mqdefault.jpg "[4K] The Valley Railroad - Essex Steam Train
The Valley Railroad, aka the Essex Steam Train, operates on several miles of former New Haven trackage out of Essex, Connecticut. Since 1971, this scenic line operates north along the Connecticut River to Deep River and Chester. With regular steam operations and finely restored heavyweight passenger cars, its a great line to relive the steam era.
Featured in this video is 2-8-0 97. This 1923-built Alco was originally built to run in Cuba, but ended up as Birmingham & Southeastern 200 in Alabama shortline service from 1926 to 1958. After a brief mainline career in Connecticut and renumbering to 97, it became part of the Valley Railroad roster in 1970. The 97 was the main power at Essex from 1973 to 2010, operating alongside 2-8-2 40. After a few years displayed, the 97 returned to service in 2018. This video shows 97 on several days of regular tourist trains and a Dak Dillon photographer’s special in October 2024.
0:00 Opening
1:08 Departing Essex Station
2:54 Old Deep River Road
5:19 Essex Street
6:11 Deep River Station
7:08 Chester
8:27 Dock Road
9:24 Ferry Road
10:11 Return trip
14:30 Photo Special runbys
20:02 Closer and Credits")
![[4K] Woodstown Central Steam Train](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/V8L-xgLy1LY/mqdefault.jpg "[4K] Woodstown Central Steam Train
Woodstown Central Railroad debuts 0-6-0 9 on Santa Claus Specials between South Woodstown Station and Swedsboro, NJ in late 2024.
This 1942-built Alco switcher operated for the US Army out of Fort Dix, NJ and Fort Eustis, VA until 1958. It was sold to the Virginia Blue Ridge Railway of Piney River, VA and operated as 9 until 1963. It was sold to the New Hope & Ivyland Railroad and operated tourist trains sporadically in the 1960s and 1970s, operating as late as 1981. After years of sitting in New Hope, it was sold in 2009 to switching operation SMS Rail Lines of Bridgeport, NJ to begin a thorough rebuild, ultimately spanning 14 years.
The November 30-December 1 weekend in 2024 would mark the first public runs for engine (engine) #9 at Woodstown, and the engines first public trips in decades. SMS Rail Lines has been operating on the Woodstown Central Railroad since 2022, on a few miles of former Pennsylvania-Reading Seashore Lines between Salem and Swedsboro. As the debut weekend had the operators learning how the 9 would perform on the line, former PRSL GP38-3 2003 led trips north into Swedsboro, with the 9 putting on an impressive show back south.
0:00 Opening
0:32 South Woodstown Station
1:50 GP38-3 2003 northbound
3:24 Departing Swedsboro
4:31 Kings Highway & Ogden Road
5:25 Oldmans Creek Road
6:08 Russell Mill Road
6:49 Swedsboro Road
7:52 Point Airy Road
8:44 Entering Woodstown
9:17 Memorial Lake
9:53 South Woodstown Station
11:14 Northbound
12:20 Oldmans Creek Bridge")
![[4K] Georgetown Loop Steam Train](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/VCu0npgIDI8/mqdefault.jpg "[4K] Georgetown Loop Steam Train
The Georgetown Loop Railroad operates over a remarkable feat of engineering. The railroad runs between the towns of Georgetown and Silver Plume, CO, a geographic distance of only two miles. To ascend about 600 feet in elevation, the railroad climbs a series of curves, bridges and fills over 4.5 miles of track. The iconic Devils Gate Bridge stands tall as the centerpiece, as it completes the loop over Georgetown.
The locomotive in this video is 2-8-0 111, a 1926-built Baldwin Consolidation originally operated on the International Railway of Central America in El Salvador. It has operated on the Georgetown Loop Railroad since 2016.
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![[4K] Nevada Northern Steam Train](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/VSikIW9i05A/mqdefault.jpg "[4K] Nevada Northern Steam Train
Nevada Northern 2-8-0 93 operates on passenger and freight trains out of Ely, NV.")
![[4K] East Broad Top Steam Returns](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/VxCeaJ3a3TY/mqdefault.jpg "[4K] East Broad Top Steam Returns
Steam returns to the East Broad Top after a decade of silence with an engine silent for 60+ years.
The East Broad Top Railroad of Orbisonia, PA is a narrow gauge icon. The once prosperous narrow gauge railroad of Pennsylvania coal country was kept virtually intact when the line closed in 1956. The new owners kept the railroad as is, with steam returning in tourist service in 1960. Regular operation would continue for decades with several of the railroads steam engines continuing to operate until 2011. Continued expense would shut EBT down for what seemed an indefinite amount of time.
In 2019, a new effort would be confirmed to restart operations on the East Broad Top, now as an all volunteer based operation. The line and various pieces of equipment would be brought back to service, and the steam engine chosen to be rebuilt first was 16, one of two engines to never run in tourist service. A thorough rebuild would be completed in early 2023, with 16 debuting for the Winter Spectacular for Presidents Day weekend 2023. Operating on both freight and a new fleet of passenger cars, the 16 put on a great show.")
![[4K] Torch Lake - 150 Year Old Steam Train](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/WZe87Sx207g/mqdefault.jpg "[4K] Torch Lake - 150 Year Old Steam Train
Calumet & Hecla Mining 0-6-4T 3 Torch Lake operating at the Greenfield Village at the Henry Ford in Detroit, MI.
Built in 1873, this Mason Bogie locomotive is one of the oldest continuously operating steam locomotives in the United States. As a Mason Machines Works design, the 3 has a pivot design on the driving wheels, which give it a slight amount of articulation to sharp curves.
The Torch Lake has been a part of the Henry Ford collection since 1969, and has long been in operation on the parks three-mile loop of track. The Torch Lake continues to put on an excellent show as it continues operating at 150 years old.")
