Union Pacific steam engine to make return trip to Southeast Missouri

DEXTER, Mo. -- A Union Pacific steam engine that made stops in Southeast Missouri last year as part of a special tour with return this spring.

Union Pacific's steam locomotive No. 844 is traveling from Cheyenne, Wyo., to Marion, Ark., this month, pulling a special 150th anniversary Civil War troop train with nearly 300 Civil War historians from the Midwest on their journey to participate in the 150th anniversary Battle of Shiloh re-enactment.

The steam engine visited Cape Girardeau and Dexter last June after the route through those cities won the most votes in an online competition.

This journey is referred to by Union Pacific as "The Shiloh Limited," leaving Cheyenne on Thursday and scheduled to arrive in Marion on March 28. The train will make several stops along the way, including a maintenance stop at 9:45 a.m. March 28 at Scott City and one at 11 a.m. that day near Dexter. In Scott City, the train will stop at the Oak Street crossing.

A GPS transmitter was installed on one of the rail cars that travel with No. 844, according to Union Pacific spokesman Mark Davis. The GPS system has been integrated with a map on Union Pacific's website, www.up.com. Enter "steam" in the search box on the homepage for a shortcut to the map. Website visitors will be able to access route maps with varying amounts of detail that are updated every five minutes showing No. 844's location.

"The stop provides a rare opportunity to witness the last steam engine built for Union Pacific in operation as it travels from Cheyenne, Wyo., to Marion, Ark.," Davis said. "The railroads of America during the Civil War conflict were very essential in developing the rebirth of America. Union Pacific Railroad would like to recognize that fact on this 150th anniversary of that event. Union Pacific Railroad's long history helped lay the foundation for America's current and future freight transportation needs."

Pertinent address:

Oak Street, Scott City, MO

Dexter, MO