Old Trains
Union Pacific engine # 844 stopping in Phoenix to help celebrate Arizona's 100th Centennial. This is now the second largest operating steam engine in the world after California stopped allowing the 4884 Big Boy to run. The Challenger is now the largest operating steam engine. The drive wheels dwarf the visitors.
Union Pacific engine # 844, currently the second largest operating steam engine in the world, stops in Phoenix to help celebrate Arizona's 100th birthday. The huge engine has 80 inch driving wheels to power high speed passenger trains, and runs on recycled cooking oil. The large metal "elephant ear" smoke deflectors were added to create air currents that helped lift the smoke out of the engineers' vision.
Georgetown Loop Railroad engine # 12. From here the engine will climb sharply clockwise and will go over the bridge showing above the engine here, hence the name Georgetown Loop Railroad. This narrow gauge railroad was build in the 1880s to move gold and siver from the area. All that remains of the route today is a 4.5 mile stretch between Silver Plume, and Georgetown, Colorado. The 95 foot high bridge is part of the set up that allows the train to climb 640 feet over the 4.5 miles.