The comparisons with 611 are totally invalid. 611 wasn’t restored by NS and is being allowed to run on the NS but isn’t put of any steam program by Norfolk Southern. That’s why you can buy tickets to ride their trips.
The UP program, as Hot Water correctly points out, is a PR tool of the UP and usually only shippers, investors and friends of the UP ‘suits’ get to ride behind it. The only public excursion I’ve ever seen from the UP is a double-header run they once made with 4449 to the Puget Sound (WA) area several years ago. I chased it but couldn’t afford to ride as the tickets were not cheap. Bill Gates chartered a run from Tacoma to Everett on the first day of those trips. As I understand, the train was almost completely empty that day (I watched Gates and a few strap hangers of his getting on board, with my own eyes).
As for nay-sayers, many of them piped down once 844 finally took to the rails because many of their “no UP steam will ever run again with Evil Ed in charge” diatribes were invalidated the moment 844 returned from its first post-restoration trip without flat spots on the tires or a sagging (or failed) crown sheet.
The remaining UP conspiracy theorists declare that now it’s 4014 that will never run. That remains to be seen, but even those people will have to run and hide if indeed 4014 starts running.
I will agree that there is a substantial question from some of them that doesn’t seem to have been answered in regard to where 4014 is going to be able to travel on the UP. Ogden in 2019 is a certainty for a running 4014. I know there’s been some talk with the ROW folks as to where 4014 can run. I’ve read some stuff that suggest that due to broader curves on the system because of longer cars and diesels in recent years, a Big Boy can go places it couldn’t have in the Steve Lee era (you know, the guy who said there’d NEVER be a 4000 running again and to quit asking). Living in the Pacific NW, I wouldn’t bet my life on 4014 ever coming up here, but 3985 did a few times (once since I’ve lived here) so I can’t help but ask why it couldn’t get up here?
Like many train fans, I’ve always dreamed of seeing a 4000 in steam. I only live a few miles away from UP territory (via trackage rights on the BNSF) so maybe I won’t have to travel all the way to Cheyenne to see her under steam once the restoration is done…
