mook Wrote:
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> Not sure I understood. Perhaps the only UP
> operation might be on the shortest safe route
> between East Portland and BNSF? If so, that would
> imply not turning it on a local wye if it's under
> UP's control. Would it have to be moved dead, so
> there's no possibility of operating a non-UP
> steamer on UP tracks?

No, it would not have to be dead. It and 4449 have made
this move many times in the past. But why could it not
be turned on the wye at the east end of the Steel Bridge
or at North Portland Jct.?

>
> As for curvature, how does that compare to the
> curve on the new access to Old Sacramento and the
> State Railroad Museum trackage? Several years ago,
> shortly after the new connection opened, 844
> almost made it through backing in - the locomotive
> did OK, but the tender derailed an axle. UP had to
> jack up and secure it to get around the curve.
> Everything got out OK several days later, so I
> presume a little adjustment of the curve happened
> while other affairs were going on at Old Sac.

That was a complete screw-up on the part of the
"leader" of the UP steam program, who insisted that
the curve be laid that sharp and refused to consider
'carrying' the rear tender axle.