Ol’ No. 844 steaming towards Kingsville Just ahead of the Train Days of Kingsville Celebration, a steam-driven locomotive will stop here between 10 a m. and 10:30 a m. on April 14.

The stop in Kingsville is part of the Valley Eagle Heritage Tour and was brought about while working with Union Pacific for the Kingsville Train Days Celebration May 7 to 9.

The Valley Eagle was the name of the Missouri Pacific Railroad passenger train that ran from Houston to Brownsville between 1948 and 1962.

Just like other famous passenger trains, the trains of Kingsville had names.

The Union Pacific Heritage Steam Locomotive No. 844 stop in Kingsville is a service stop for the Valley Eagle. Because, this is a steam locomotive, it will most likely be taking on water.

The old steam locomotives required a lot of constant maintenance to keep running, and residents here will get to see just a bit of the attention that goes into keeping a piece of history in running condition.

The Union Pacific web page indicates that the stop here will right next to the 1904 Kingsville Train Depot Museum.

The purpose of this trip by the Valley Eagle is to attend the 100th anniversary of Harlingen on April 15.

The history of all the communities between Brownsville and Robstown is tied to the old steam locomotives that opened this region of Texas to agriculture, commerce, and community.

If anyone needs a second chance, No 844 will return through Kingsville on April 16, stopping again at 10:30 a.m.

For more information, contact the Kingsville Convention & Visitors Bureau at 361-592-8516 or follow the progress of No. 844 during its entire trip by GPS on the Union Pacific website.