Daylight Fan Wrote:
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> UP 844.. then 8444 ran through those curves back
> in 1989 when they ran the trip to Bend, OR and
> return to Portland and left out of Portland Union
> Station. This was before the curves were
> re-worked later making them abit sharper...with
> 4-8-4's not in mind operating through there but
> modern railroad diesel operations. The 3985 is an
> articulated locomotive so the engine itself went
> through those curves ok however there was some
> concern about the centipede tender when they
> arrived in Portland on the Northwest tour back in
> 2005. The steam crew said the nose of the engine
> stuck way out while rounding them upon their
> arrival at Albina yard.

No. The 844 trip to Bend originated alongside the Albina
freighthouse and terminated there the next day. All
turning was done at Penn Jct. Just outside the tunnel.

UP 800's were never allowed on those curves, even in
"steam days". See Timetable Special Instructions for
any of the steam years for proof. Enough attempts were
made (and failed) in the 1940s.

That is why only 3700s, oil-fired 3,900s and 4-6-2s
were allowed into and out of the station from the
Steel Bridge end. In fact, 800s rarely ran west of
Huntington.

Neither 844 nor 4449 (or 700) will ever move via the
Steel Bridge from Albina.