More than 80 Team Vance members took a historic ride on the Union Pacific "Oklahoma Centennial Sooner Rocket" Tuesday with other military and family members from Tinker AFB and Ft. Sill in celebration of the Oklahoma Centennial and in remembrance of Sept. 11, 2001. The train made scheduled stops in Hennessey, Kingfisher and El Reno, where town officials and community members turned out to welcome the train and its special passengers. Steam Engine 844 was the last of the steam locomotives built for the Union Pacific Railroad in 1944 and weighs more than 1,000,000 pounds. It was the first time in more than 50 years that a steam engine operated on the Rock Island railroad tracks. (US Air Force photo/Bob Farrell)
Col. Richard Klumpp, Jr., 71st Flying Training Wing commander discusses the Vance Air Force Base mission at a scheduled stop in Hennessey, Okla. Tuesday during a ride on the Union Pacific "Oklahoma Centennial Sooner Rocket." More than 80 Team Vance members took the historic trip with other military and family members from Tinker AFB and Ft. Sill in celebration of the Oklahoma Centennial and in remembrance of Sept. 11, 2001. The train also made scheduled stops in Kingfisher and El Reno, where town officials and community members turned out to welcome the train and its special passengers. Steam Engine 844 was the last of the steam locomotives built for the Union Pacific Railroad in 1944 and weighs more than 1,000,000 pounds. It was the first time in more than 50 years that a steam engine operated on the Rock Island railroad tracks. (US Air Force photo/Bob Farrell)
CDR Roger Curry, 8th Flying Training Squadron director of operations, with son Robert and wife Heather, enjoy the view from the Union Pacific "Oklahoma Centennial Sooner Rocket" during Tuesday's trip in celebration of the Oklahoma Centennial and in remembrance of Sept. 11, 2001. More than 80 Team Vance members joined other military and family members from Tinker AFB and Ft. Sill for the historic ride with scheduled stops in Kingfisher and El Reno, where town officials and community members turned out to welcome the train and its special passengers. Steam Engine 844 was the last of the steam locomotives built for the Union Pacific Railroad in 1944 and weighs more than 1,000,000 pounds. It was the first time in more than 50 years that a steam engine operated on the Rock Island railroad tracks. (US Air Force photo/Bob Farrell)
Some of El Reno, Okla.'s youngest residents turned out Tuesday to welcome more than 80 Team Vance members who joined other military and family members from Tinker AFB and Ft. Sill for a historic trip on the Union Pacific "Oklahoma Centennial Sooner Rocket" in celebration of the Oklahoma Centennial and in remembrance of Sept. 11, 2001. Other scheduled stops included Hennessey and Kingfisher, where town officials and community members turned out to welcome the train and its special passengers. Steam Engine 844 was the last of the steam locomotives built for the Union Pacific Railroad in 1944 and weighs more than 1,000,000 pounds. It was the first time in more than 50 years that a steam engine operated on the Rock Island railroad tracks. (US Air Force photo/Nancy Farrell)