Ace Jackalope of The Lope blog has informed me that an old Union Pacific steam locomotive is going to make a couple stops in Route 66 towns during its tour this spring.
On May 7, locomotive #844 will be in Tucumcari, N.M., at the old train depot at 100 Railroad Ave. from 9 to 9:30 a.m. It's also scheduled to be in Santa Rosa, N.M., from 10 to 10:30 a.m. the same day at Fourth Street and Route 66. (I have my doubts that it will arrive in Santa Rosa that quickly. Santa Rosa is at least a 45-minute drive from Tucumcari driving 75 mph on the interstate.)
The other Route 66 stop will be in Claremore, Okla., at 3 p.m. May 27 at Blue Star and Industrial avenues. It will depart at 8 a.m. the next morning.
No. 844 (pictured above) was the last steam locomotive delivered to UP in 1944 and is regularly used for goodwill tours.
This is part of Union Pacific's South Express History Tour. The train's schedule can be viewed here and will change as circumstances warrant.