Scores of trainspotters young and old watched Union Pacific’s Steam Locomotive no. 844 bring all 23,000 pounds of its steel frame to a squealing halt in tiny Durand, just east of Yates Center on Thursday. Hailed as the “Living Legend,” the engine — once a high-speed passenger train — is now famous for its many popular excursion runs, which draw thousands of American families in forgotten railroad towns outdoors for a glimpse of the industrial past. The 844’s “Trek to Tennessee” will overnight in Marysville this evening. In the meantime, follow the “Living Legend” on Twitter @UP_Steam.
