UP Great Excursion Adventure/the Little Rock Express

[BigTbird1974]

BREAKING NEWS: the planned 'display day' of UP #844 in NLR tomorrow has been cancelled, due to threat of potential Missouri River flooding between Arkansas and Cheyenne which might disrupt the return voyage of the train. Instead, #844 is now scheduled to depart North Little Rock at 8AM tomorrow (Thursday) morning.

[d*mmit...now I've gotta get up ungodly early *two* days in a row, so I can get back over there for more pics/etc before it's gone... ]

Today's experience of the ride on the train exceeded EVERY expectation I could have ever imagined -- I've added a new album to my PhotoBucket page with 120-something pics (and a few brief vids) here:

http://s1185.photobucket.com/albums/z34 ... le%20Rock/

I'll be filling in titles/captions as soon as I can to 'splain what it all is -- but for now the pics are there at least. (any questions about anything particular -- just ask!) There will be more pics/vids added, as I get them and can do that too -- hope y'all enjoy in the meantime!

--Tim in Little Rock
(just hearing a 'usual freight' crawling thru town in the distance, by the sound of its horns...a comfortable sound indeed as I hit the <send> button and go to bed...)

[BigTbird1974]

Photo album update: I've got all my pics uploaded to PhotoBucket along with a few video clips. Wednesday's album of the train ride is here (with captions now added):

http://s1185.photobucket.com/albums/z34 ... le%20Rock/

Later Wednesday afternoon, our local KTHV Channel 11 ran this nice long story (in entirety) on their 6PM News. Reporter Pam Baccam had been onboard with us, interviewing people all along the way (young "Mason" was in the seat behind me for his interview!) and she put together a great segment. (and for anyone curious, at ~1:36 in, the blue-shirt dude buying souvenirs at the counter just happens to be yours truly )

http://www.todaysthv.com/news/article/1 ... ine-in-NLR

By 9PM or so Wednesday came the official announcement from UP that the planned all-day-long Thursday display of #844 had been cancelled, due to concerns of impending Missouri River flooding which could potentially threaten the safety of #844 and the UP Steam Team on their return trip to Cheyenne. Steam trains and flooded tracks DO NOT GO TOGETHER -- everybody can understand that -- so regrettably we all realize why the decision had to be made. Instead of the display day, #844 would now pull away from Little Rock at 8AM Thursday morning.

Despite the late announcement of this major schedule change, lots of Little Rock railfans (including myself, of course!) came back out to bid farewell to #844 and the Heritage Train. My pics from Thursday morning are mostly assorted detail shots of #844 (and the assembled crowd) but I also got more video clips of #844 'performing' (showing off?) and departing. (twice, even!) Of particular note is the final whistle blast we were treated to, as the train backed through the yards off towards the big wye and its turn north -- Engineer Dickens (I presume) played us a veritable CONCERT on that whistle while passing the crowd of onlookers the final time! Thursday's pics/vids here (photo captions coming soon will help explain a few things):

http://s1185.photobucket.com/albums/z34 ... le%20Rock/

SO, if anyone is curious and has an hour or two to kill -- go have a look! Hope y'all enjoy the pics -- questions/comments welcomed!

Tim in Little Rock
(who will take a day of rail-fanning instead of a day at work, ANY DAY!! )

[AndyWS]

Aw come on!

A steamer would do a lot better in the flood waters than a diesel-electric would. No traction motors to worry about shorting out!

[legsbluetrain]

Aw come on!

A steamer would do a lot better in the flood waters than a diesel-electric would. No traction motors to worry about shorting out!

Like that one in another topic I posted.

[legsbluetrain]

At Arkansas Traveler Hobbies,I know the owner in the video and I'm a longtime customer.

[bnsflover]

BNSF is a sorry excuse for a railroad

BNSF Rulez! UP uses their rat-in-a-microphone WCH E-bells, and their stupid UP/WCH 12x24" lights.

[TrainmanKight]

BNSF is a sorry excuse for a railroad

BNSF Rulez! UP uses their rat-in-a-microphone WCH E-bells, and their stupid UP/WCH 12x24" lights.

BNSF sucks get over it
also wch e-bells are more expensive than gs
UP hauls more freight than bnsf
Has more Equipment
has bigger yards
and makes more money
GET OVER IT

[bnsflover]

BNSF Rulez! UP uses their rat-in-a-microphone WCH E-bells, and their stupid UP/WCH 12x24" lights.

I am getting very tired of you starting problems involving UP and BNSF on this forum. I don't want to have to close this topic due to fighting. I know you may not like what TRAINMANKIGHT says, but he is an admin and you need to respect him.

I apologize for making you think that this is a fight. A "friendly rivalry" is all. I am not trying to start off all out problems. I do respect the fact that he is admin, and I take that into consideration before I post. I will not go any further due to problems in the past on other boards that involved me going further. Now lets get back on topic.