I was there in Las Vegas when 8444 went on the ties. The entire locomotive was on the ground except for the front trailer truck axle and the rear pony truck axle. Tender was still on the rails.

I sat on the side of a UP pickup truck for hours watching the proceedings. I don't remember the brace of SD40's but I do remember assistance from GP30 #844. While sitting there observing (it was getting close to midnight) I got into a conversation with a younger guy in a suit sitting next to me. He pulled open his coat to look at something and I noticed he had a badge and a pistol tucked into a shoulder holster. Turns out he was a UP cinder dick... Just sitting there watching like the rest of us. Imagine that today.

I gave up shortly after midnight. They had 8444 back up the next morning when we got back to the yard.