It was 6:55 Saturday morning as Bryce Allen glanced at a gold pocket watch. He cupped one hand around his mouth, took a deep breath, and bellowed, "All aboard!"

"The train's running from Denver out to Cheyenne, Wyo., this morning," cried Allen, the Union Pacific conductor for the 22nd annual Denver Post Cheyenne Frontier Days Train, as the last pink of sunrise gave way to morning in the busy train yard south of the Denver Coliseum.

More than 750 passengers , dressed in cowboy hats, checkered shirts, some with denim vests and spurs, heard Allen's call and shuffled toward the yellow train in which they would spend three hours riding north through Greeley, up to Cheyenne for the big rodeo.

"This is our 19th year ," said William Robertson, who came with his wife and son. "I'm a big steam engine fan. I first rode this train in 1972 with the Rocky Mountain Railroad Club."

The $315 round-trip tickets , which were distributed through a lottery system due to the high demand, gave passengers access to the fairgrounds where they could explore the Old Frontier Town, watch parade, and get seats to the famous "Daddy of 'em all" rodeo, Robertson said.

Robertson, who drove nearly five hours from his home in Kansas, said simply watching the steam-powered Union Pacific Northern Class steam locomotive No. 844 is the highlight of the trip. No. 844 has been in service since 1944.

With wheels as tall as grown men, the black engine is the third-largest steam engine and the second largest engine still in operation, Union Pacific machinist Charles Cross said.

"It was designed to go 110 mph, but today, and because of federal laws, the max it can go is 79 mph," said Cross, who estimated the train would travel about 60 mph for Saturday's trip.

Passengers Tammy Hertz and Doug Johnson were impressed by the engine, but it was music not mechanics that drew them to the tracks for their first ride about eight years ago .

"Our favorite band plays in the band car," Johnson said, speaking about country band, Halden Wofford & the Hi-Beams .

Hertz said the Western music played throughout the ride adds an authentic feel to the Wild West-themed day.

"It's a real Western experience in a lot of ways," Hertz said, who explained she also likes the band car for its large open windows. "You can feel the wind in your face. You can even see antelope, sometimes buffalo, during the ride."

As it got closer to 7 a.m., Hertz and Johnson joined others in the band car, and the last few stragglers boarded down by the caboose.

Allen flipped out his pocket watch a couple more times and at 7:02 a.m., made his second and final call to board.

At the front of the more than 2,000-foot-long train , engine No. 844 let out a sharp whistle. Steam flooded the sky and the train lurched forward, toward Cheyenne .

Kiki Turner: 303-954-1221,,