By Railfan & Railroad Staff

EVANSTON, Wyo. — A Union Pacific 0-6-0 locomotive has been moved from a city park in Evanston, Wyo., to a restored roundhouse that will become its new home. UP 4420 was moved across town on Dec. 4, by truck and is presently sitting outside the roundhouse. Plans call for the locomotive to eventually be put inside away from the elements. 

The locomotive was built by Lima in 1914 and has been on display since 1958. Since the 1990s, the community has been working on turning the UP roundhouse and shop complex in Evanston into a community center and event space. The facility includes a roundhouse built in 1913, a turntable and some support structures. The 4420 was assigned to the Evanston Yard, according to the Uinta County Herald, and will be right at home in the roundhouse. The locomotive was moved with the assistance of Wasatch Railroad Contractors. 

Once the locomotive is inside the roundhouse, volunteers will start to assess how much it will take to cosmetically restore it. They are also considering an operational restoration. 

“The move of the steam engine and tender to the Roundhouse is just the beginning of the journey,” said Jim Davis, chair of the Historic Preservation Commission. “We want to eventually have that engine running. Once it is inside the Roundhouse, we can begin the restoration work. This is just the beginning.”