No railroad has so thrilled the American national psyche as has the first transcontinental line, the Union Pacific, which literally linked the original union of states with the Pacific Ocean in 1869. Known for its colossal locomotives late in the steam era, the U.P. was the vital factor in ending the frontier and developing the United States into the premier world power. Two of its most modern steamers, 4-8-4 No. 844 (temporarily renumbered 8444) and 4-6-6-4 No. 3985, both built during World War II, still see excursion service. Both are double-heading a passenger train on April 23, 1981, at Point Of Rocks, Wyoming.
