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General Forums => The O' Club => Topic started by: Tesla9 on August 20, 2013, 06:55:42 PM

Title: Union Pacific to Restore one of their "Big Boys"
Post by: Tesla9 on August 20, 2013, 06:55:42 PM
http://www.up.com/aboutup/special_trains/steam/locomotives/4014.shtml

I always dreamed of going to see one of these beasts at a museum :old: To see one of these run was always a dream of mine, and now it may actually happen!  :rock
Now if we could throw some AAA on it and give it a perk or two....
(http://www.mendorailhistory.org/blog/wp-content/uploads/2013/07/Union-Pacific-4-884-under-steam.jpg)
Title: Re: Union Pacific to Restore one of their "Big Boys"
Post by: rpm on August 20, 2013, 07:12:40 PM
Very cool, a 4-8-8-4 articulated! I love old steam engines and watch that stuff on RFD-TV all the time. There was one that went down the tracks behind my place a couple years ago. I didn't know anything about it and just happened to be out in the field when it went by. I thought I was having an aneurism. :x
Title: Re: Union Pacific to Restore one of their "Big Boys"
Post by: Nath[BDP] on August 20, 2013, 07:36:59 PM
1,000,000 Aspergers just jizzed their pants
Title: Re: Union Pacific to Restore one of their "Big Boys"
Post by: uptown on August 20, 2013, 07:46:37 PM
They're nice to look at but I'm glad they don't make em like that anymore.  :lol Them there are a locomotive mechanic's nightmare!  :bolt:
Title: Re: Union Pacific to Restore one of their "Big Boys"
Post by: Meatwad on August 20, 2013, 09:05:02 PM
600 ton locomotive  :O

Hope they dont run it on a siding with 100lb rail
Title: Re: Union Pacific to Restore one of their "Big Boys"
Post by: John Galt on August 20, 2013, 09:10:00 PM
I got to see one of them sitting in a park in Cheyenne WY. After standing next to one I would have to say Big Boy is a bit of an understatment. It was also nice showing my GF's Dad photos of it, since he used to watch them run out of the AZ copper mines when he was a boy.
Title: Re: Union Pacific to Restore one of their "Big Boys"
Post by: flight17 on August 20, 2013, 10:53:33 PM
It's about time!
Title: Re: Union Pacific to Restore one of their "Big Boys"
Post by: Slash27 on August 21, 2013, 12:48:31 AM
Very cool, a 4-8-8-4 articulated! I love old steam engines and watch that stuff on RFD-TV all the time. There was one that went down the tracks behind my place a couple years ago. I didn't know anything about it and just happened to be out in the field when it went by. I thought I was having an aneurism. :x
I caught one of UP's big steam locos in Denton last October. I forget the name of it but it was a monster and way to cool to put in to words.
Title: Re: Union Pacific to Restore one of their "Big Boys"
Post by: RngFndr on August 21, 2013, 07:38:04 AM
One of my other hobbies is model railroad.. Wife and I have built a fairly nice HO layout
in the Attic, (she likes it too).. As we get older, I think that is going to take up more of our time..

I have a Riverossi HO scale 4-8-8-4 Bigboy.. Union Pacific, #4015.. Wife gave it to me for
Christmas some yrs ago.. Even tho it is articulated, still requires very wide radius turns, so
it only runs on the mainline and sidings laid out special for it.. Same problem it had in reality..
I've had 100+ cars on it, pulls em easy.. Even 3 diesels don't have the same tractive power..
(It's the weight on the rails that gives it the edge)

I have a bunch of Locos, and the Bigboy is Awesome without a doubt, but my Favorite
is 4-8-4 Northern.. Not as much pure pulling power, but a lot faster and far more versatile..

Great vids on Youtube of the Steam Giants.. Magnificent machines!
Bout time they restored the Biggest baddest one of all!

Cool, thanks for posting..
Title: Re: Union Pacific to Restore one of their "Big Boys"
Post by: Zoney on August 21, 2013, 10:56:02 AM
One of my other hobbies is model railroad.. Wife and I have built a fairly nice HO layout
in the Attic, (she likes it too).. As we get older, I think that is going to take up more of our time..

I have a Riverossi HO scale 4-8-8-4 Bigboy.. Union Pacific, #4015.. Wife gave it to me for
Christmas some yrs ago.. Even tho it is articulated, still requires very wide radius turns, so
it only runs on the mainline and sidings laid out special for it.. Same problem it had in reality..
I've had 100+ cars on it, pulls em easy.. Even 3 diesels don't have the same tractive power..
(It's the weight on the rails that gives it the edge)

I have a bunch of Locos, and the Bigboy is Awesome without a doubt, but my Favorite
is 4-8-4 Northern.. Not as much pure pulling power, but a lot faster and far more versatile..

Great vids on Youtube of the Steam Giants.. Magnificent machines!
Bout time they restored the Biggest baddest one of all!

Cool, thanks for posting..

How about a picture?
Title: Re: Union Pacific to Restore one of their "Big Boys"
Post by: MiloMorai on August 21, 2013, 10:59:02 AM
Designed and built without using computers.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S1txJ6u2b3c (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S1txJ6u2b3c)
Title: Re: Union Pacific to Restore one of their "Big Boys"
Post by: MrRiplEy[H] on August 21, 2013, 11:56:46 AM
Crazy amount of thick black smoke  :O
Title: Re: Union Pacific to Restore one of their "Big Boys"
Post by: MiloMorai on August 21, 2013, 01:07:05 PM
The Mole - 1940's Train Sabotage Experiments by US Military

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9cipyPJJdnM

WW1 Narrow gauge train lines in France - World War One

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F3s01i3aa7w
Title: Re: Union Pacific to Restore one of their "Big Boys"
Post by: RngFndr on August 22, 2013, 07:55:51 AM
How about a picture?
Heck just a couple yrs ago, I would have splattered the BB with pics..
But I don't do pic hosting sites, not worth the effort anymore..
LOL, I have some pics that have made it to places where I never put them..
So for me, that was the end of that..

Dumped my Scroogletube vids too..
Title: Re: Union Pacific to Restore one of their "Big Boys"
Post by: Hajo on August 22, 2013, 04:12:52 PM
During the 50s' Rail Roads were still using some steam locomotives......used in steel plants also.  They were an incredible cacophony of sight and sound.

One could hear them coming miles away.....and saw the smoke long before you saw the locomotive.  It wasn't unheard of for some passenger steam locomotives

to travel at over 100 mph.
Title: Re: Union Pacific to Restore one of their "Big Boys"
Post by: John Galt on August 22, 2013, 09:14:11 PM
(http://)https://www.facebook.com/#!/photo.php?fbid=138212999525541&set=pb.100000105248988.-2207520000.1377223930.&type=3&theater
Title: Re: Union Pacific to Restore one of their "Big Boys"
Post by: Slash27 on August 23, 2013, 06:26:28 PM
Seems it's finished because it rolled through Irving,Tx today.
Title: Re: Union Pacific to Restore one of their "Big Boys"
Post by: SIK1 on August 23, 2013, 06:47:09 PM
It appears that it is a different Big Boy (4018) that is being towed to Frisco for display.
http://www.dallasnews.com/news/metro/20130818-big-boy-steam-locomotive-leaves-fair-park-for-new-home.ece

The one in the OP is 4014 that will moved from Pomona CA to Cheyenne WY where it will be refurbished to running condition, and converted to burn oil.
http://www.up.com/aboutup/special_trains/steam/locomotives/4014.shtml

Either way it's a big deal to get to see such an icon of steam powered locomotives on the rails.

I've been fortunate enough to see SP's 4449 which is a 4-8-4 and only about a quarter the weight of a Big Boy but impressive none the less. I hope I'm lucky enough to see a Big Boy under it's own power in my life.
Title: Re: Union Pacific to Restore one of their "Big Boys"
Post by: icepac on August 23, 2013, 08:00:12 PM
I remember seeing a picture of a huge locomotive at a worlds fair long ago that was run on a "dyno bed" of sorts so it could demonstrate it's power.

I'd love to find a clip of it.
Title: Re: Union Pacific to Restore one of their "Big Boys"
Post by: Widewing on August 23, 2013, 09:42:53 PM
(http://fc07.deviantart.net/fs70/f/2013/096/9/a/union_pacific_big_boy_4014_in_pomona_by_rlkitterman-d4pf5bp.jpg)
Title: Re: Union Pacific to Restore one of their "Big Boys"
Post by: Slash27 on August 24, 2013, 11:10:35 AM
It appears that it is a different Big Boy (4018) that is being towed to Frisco for display.
http://www.dallasnews.com/news/metro/20130818-big-boy-steam-locomotive-leaves-fair-park-for-new-home.ece

The one in the OP is 4014 that will moved from Pomona CA to Cheyenne WY where it will be refurbished to running condition, and converted to burn oil.
http://www.up.com/aboutup/special_trains/steam/locomotives/4014.shtml

Either way it's a big deal to get to see such an icon of steam powered locomotives on the rails.

I've been fortunate enough to see SP's 4449 which is a 4-8-4 and only about a quarter the weight of a Big Boy but impressive none the less. I hope I'm lucky enough to see a Big Boy under it's own power in my life.
I see. The 5 second news blurb left me the immpression it was under it's own power and not being towed. The upside is it's close to home now.
Title: Re: Union Pacific to Restore one of their "Big Boys"
Post by: SIK1 on August 24, 2013, 11:28:06 AM
I see. The 5 second news blurb left me the immpression it was under it's own power and not being towed. The upside is it's close to home now.

Yes, very cool that it is close to you. The thing is a behemoth. If you look at the pic Widewing posted you'll notice a pick-up in the background, and the Big Boy dwarfs it.
Title: Re: Union Pacific to Restore one of their "Big Boys"
Post by: rpm on August 27, 2013, 03:13:51 AM
After looking at some pics I'm sure the engine I saw was a 4-6-6-4 Challenger under power pulling about a dozen cars. I know there was some news about the train, but I can't find anything on it now.
(http://www.railwayage.com/media/k2/items/cache/e68a68119990aede6aa8f2606f2062db_XL.jpg)
Title: Re: Union Pacific to Restore one of their "Big Boys"
Post by: Meatwad on August 27, 2013, 08:52:27 AM
Not too far south of here used to be the last steam locomotive in active freight service until the 80's

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Crab_Orchard_and_Egyptian_Railway

The Crab Orchard and Egyptian Railway (reporting mark COER) (formerly American Rail Heritage, Ltd. d/b/a Crab Orchard and Egyptian Railroad Company) is a Class III common carrier shortline railroad that operates between the cities of Marion and Herrin in the Southern Illinois region.[1] It is most historically recognized by the FRA for being the last U.S. railroad of any kind to use steam locomotives exclusively in regular revenue freight service up until 1986.[2][3][4]
Title: Re: Union Pacific to Restore one of their "Big Boys"
Post by: VonMessa on August 27, 2013, 09:55:23 AM
We have one of the Big Boys on display, up in Scranton.

New Hope/Ivyland R/R still runs steam trains, as do a few others around here.

Nothing quite like a steam powered locomotive  :aok
Title: Re: Union Pacific to Restore one of their "Big Boys"
Post by: Nath[BDP] on August 27, 2013, 10:19:59 AM
Steamtown no longer has steam trains.   :frown:
Title: Re: Union Pacific to Restore one of their "Big Boys"
Post by: VonMessa on August 27, 2013, 11:32:41 AM
Steamtown no longer has steam trains.   :frown:

They have a mall now, though...   :rolleyes:

They are all down right now, but not forever!

In order to be fixed

1st (currently):  1929 Baldwin Locomotive Works #26, an 0-6-0 switcher

2nd: Boston and Maine #3713, a Lima-built 4-6-2 Pacific-type.  That sucker has an oversized firebox and superheaters that are able to pull and heat a 14-car passenger train at track speed.   Woot!!

3rd: 1923 Canadian Pacific #2317, a 4-6-2 Pacific-type heavy passenger locomotive, which they will use as their mainline passenger locomotive.
Title: Re: Union Pacific to Restore one of their "Big Boys"
Post by: Slash27 on August 27, 2013, 05:31:15 PM
After looking at some pics I'm sure the engine I saw was a 4-6-6-4 Challenger under power pulling about a dozen cars. I know there was some news about the train, but I can't find anything on it now.
(http://www.railwayage.com/media/k2/items/cache/e68a68119990aede6aa8f2606f2062db_XL.jpg)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QrZ9eqF1WGw

This is the one I caught in Denton last year. I must have been standing right behind the guy filming because I was tallking to that cop right before it headed out.
Title: Re: Union Pacific to Restore one of their "Big Boys"
Post by: Nath[BDP] on August 27, 2013, 05:42:54 PM
best steam footage ive seen

http://youtu.be/K9uOswsUgfU
Title: Re: Union Pacific to Restore one of their "Big Boys"
Post by: rpm on August 27, 2013, 05:52:49 PM
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QrZ9eqF1WGw

This is the one I caught in Denton last year. I must have been standing right behind the guy filming because I was tallking to that cop right before it headed out.
That's the same train! Obviously I was wrong about it being a 4-6-6-4. I found a pic somebody took of it in Bowie (about 10 miles away).
(https://sphotos-a-iad.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ash2/229971_483273908360595_988794405_n.jpg)
Title: Re: Union Pacific to Restore one of their "Big Boys"
Post by: Slash27 on August 27, 2013, 06:02:43 PM
best steam footage ive seen

http://youtu.be/K9uOswsUgfU
Kind of sounds like you. :D
Title: Re: Union Pacific to Restore one of their "Big Boys"
Post by: Nath[BDP] on September 05, 2013, 09:48:13 PM
http://youtu.be/cuvfccRzkPo
Title: Re: Union Pacific to Restore one of their "Big Boys"
Post by: Scherf on September 05, 2013, 11:00:03 PM
Hell, I'm old enough to remember steam engines running past our back garden.

Mate of mine, older even than myself, remembers the days of his youth in the UK when he could get to London faster via steam than he can now with the privatised railways.

Was on a platform in a small town when a special events steam charter came through one time. Had to cover my ears.
Title: Re: Union Pacific to Restore one of their "Big Boys"
Post by: ridley1 on September 06, 2013, 01:27:22 PM
I don't know if it still runs....but they have a steam train (using bunker oil) that goes from North Vancouver, BC up to Squamish/Whistler and back.

It's really cool.....until you realize that you made a mistake sitting in the open car when you go through a tunnel