Steep grades in the Snake River Canyon

844 would have no problem with those grades. Info I got was there is a bridge in Jerome they are concerned about weight. 844 will be cut off, cross the bridge, then the diesel will push/pull the auxiliary tender across and the rest of the train, then all recoupled again.

Weight restriction would make more sense than a small grade. With that worry, UP should be making some structural upgrades before something collapses and shuts down the railroad!

2 Reasons one everyone on the OSL knows that Reverse is a 2.5% grade and two in the most obvious reason is the Malad Bridge where Clover Creek, the Wood River, and the Little Wood River meet is out. Spring flooding has damaged the bridge and also the spillways at the Gooding Dam to make sure that 844 can get across the bridge they'll break the train in half and 844 will have to go across light, pull into Fuller, and then reconnect once the diesel pushes the cars across the bridge and they have to do this twice. Currently Union Pacific is repairing the bridge and there is a temporarily 1 mile per hour speed restrictions cross that bridge the Restriction does not apply to diesels which are lighter than steam locomotives it only applies to 844 844 weights 450 tons and the water tender and 844's tender weigh 28,000 tons do the math 844 can not get across that bridge pulling a heavy train. So they have to send 844 across first then water tender, then the locomotive, and finally the cars I know because I took part in this operation twice.

I agree. According to Ed Dickens, Senior Manager Heritage Operations for the UP who has operated both the 844 and diesel locomotives, stated that the 844 develops +4500 HP which is the same as the modern long distance diesels. Steam engines are quite powerful. What lead to their downfall was the operating expense and maintenance costs. Diesels are simply quite a bit less expensive to operate.

well the Diesel is to be safe, plus if you had a steam train would you risk it to something?

more for dynamic braking, so they don't need to change the brake pads as often

that too

they need it Reverse is the steepest grade on the OSL and they have a bridge out near Gooding.