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Union Pacific No. 814 is A FEF-1 Class Steam Locomotive built In 1937 by the American Locomotive Company (ALCO) in Schenectady, New York. It was part of the first class of FEF locomotives built for the Union Pacific Railroad. FEF stands for "four-eight-four,“ and represents the wheel arrangement (4 leading; 8 “drivers,” and 4 trailing wheels). The leading and trailing wheels are mounted on 2-axle trucks.
The locomotive was ordered as a result of issues with the previous 4-8-2 "Mountain" locomotives. For most of its service life, the 814 pulled various named passenger trains, such as the Overland Limited, Los Angeles Limited, Portland Rose and Challenger. Once Diesel engines took over all passenger operations, the 814 was reassigned to freight service until it was retired in the late 1950s.
After retirement, Union Pacific 814 remained in the Roundhouse in Cheyenne until it was donated to RailsWest Railroad Museum. This is the only FEF-1 locomotive to have survived into preservation.
The Union Pacific FEF Series consists of forty-five 4-8-4 "Northern" steam locomotive types built by ALCO between 1937 and 1944 and operated by the Union Pacific Railroad until 1959. Since the 4-8-4 was first used by the Northern Pacific Railway, the type was named "Northern." Most North American railroads used this name, but some adopted different names.
The 45 locomotives were the last steam locomotives built for the Union Pacific. They represented the apex of dual-service steam locomotive development; funds and research were being concentrated into the development of diesel-electric locomotives.
Designed to burn coal, they were converted to run on oil in 1946. Many FEF Series locomotives were later reassigned to freight service during the last few years of their careers.
[https://locomotive.fandom.com/wiki/Union Pacific FEF Series]
The 814 locomotive has a 77-inch wheelbase and weighs about 465,000 pounds. Loaded tender weight was about 385,000 pounds.
# 814 on display, Dodge Park, Council Bluffs.
(Photo by John Thorson, about 1967)
Postcard of #814 in Dodge Park, published by Council Bluffs Chamber of Commerce.
(Date and photographer unknown)
#814 on display in Dodge Park, Council Bluffs, Iowa. The CB&Q locomotive #815 and tender and CB&Q "Omaha CLub" observation/lounge car are to the left of #814 in this photograph. (Photo by Barb Warner, about 1979)
Four FEF Series locomotives survive today, including our No. 814; and No. 844, which remains in operational condition and now runs in excursion service. Today, the 844 is one of the Union Pacific's oldest serving locomotives and the only steam locomotive never retired by a North American Class I railroad.
The Union Pacific Railroad bought 45 4-8-4s in three orders from the American Locomotive Company. The first order of 20 locomotives (road numbers 800 through 819) was delivered in 1937. These were designated Class FEF-1 and were designed by UP's Motive Power Group to have 77-inch drivers, 24.5 x 32 cylinders, a boiler pressure of 300 psi, and a weight of 465,000 lbs resulting in a tractive effort of 63,611 pounds (63,800 nominal). UP #814 is the only surviving example of the original 20 of these locomotives built by ALCO.
[https://locomotive.fandom.com/wiki/Union_Pacific_FEF_Series]
Two examples of water towers. Above, a wooden version commonly seen in the 1800s through early 1900s. Below, a modern steel tower.
One pound of coal could turn six pounds of water (0.7 gallons) to steam. Therefore, tender capacity ratios were normally close to 7 tons (14,000 lb) of coal per 10,000 gallons of water. Until around 1850 in the United States, the vast majority of locomotives burned wood until most of the eastern forests were cleared. Subsequently, coal burning became more widespread, and wood burners were restricted to rural and logging districts.
The water supply in a tender was replenished at water stops and locomotive depots from a dedicated water tower connected to water cranes or gantries. Refilling the tender is the job of the fireman, who is responsible for maintaining the locomotive's fire, steam pressure, and supply of fuel and water.
Water carried in the tender must be forced into the boiler, to replace that which is consumed during operation. Early engines used pumps driven by the motion of the pistons. Later, steam injectors replaced the pump.
[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tender_(rail)]
Smoke deflectors, sometimes called "blinkers" in the UK because of their strong resemblance to the blinkers used on horses, and "elephant ears" in US railway slang, are vertical plates attached to each side of the smokebox at the front of a steam locomotive. They are designed to lift smoke away from the locomotive at speed so that the driver has better visibility.
[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Smo ke_deflectors]
Union Pacific No. 814, CB&Q No. 915, and CB&Q “Omaha Club” are Relocated
Council Bluffs’ Dodge Park, very near I-480, was undergoing major changes in the late 1990s. Because of these changes, the City made the decision to relocate the locomotives 814, 915, and the Omaha Club to the RailsWest property.
The move was funded by the City of Council Bluffs and private donations. The following images chronicle the arduous process to moving the 814. Scrib's House Moving Inc., of David City, NE was tasked with the project in the fall of 1999. Because of traffic issues, movement through city streets happened at nighttime, and early morning hours.
(Web page created by HSPC member Mark Chavez)
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