UP 4014 Latest UP info added 1-31-14

Matt,

Thanks for posting the great videos! I wish I could have been one of those guys riding on the tender.

Was there a reason for the two engines and string of hoppers being included as part of the move of 4014?

Thanks,

Richard Gonzales

Richard the hoppers provide braking. The engines are the power needed to move a million pounds of dead wieght, in some videos they are the lead engines

I do wonder if they hoppers had any ballast in them or if they were heavy enough on their own

I thought they were "covered hoppers", thus the sure shouldn't have ballast in them. Besides, empties would provide better breaking assistance.

Thanks Chris.

I suspected that, but since there were engines on either side of the 4014 I thought they would have been sufficient for power and breaking

Richard

Nice videos, thanks for sharing.  The sparks out the top look cool too.

I like the sounds of the SD40s.  I have a Railsounds 2.5 board set with SP SD40 sounds, I need to build 1 to use that board.  Nice sounds.

the trains mag person was pretty sure the hoppers had a load in them.

They had a load of grain.  Also the 4014 tender had 6,000 gal of water in it.

Here is the latest write up from UP in their Community Ties section.

Is there a video showing how they spliced into the main line and moving the engine from the temp track to the main.??????

found these on a web site that I did not keep the address.

This is long but there is some decent footage of the 4014 coming out from the Fairplex.

That's one of the better videos I've watch.  Thanks Chris

Its amazing how much UP is throwing at this project. I bet the cost for just getting 4014 back to Cheyenne is close to 2 million before they even start restoring it. I've read they are prepared to spend 7 million on the entire project.

Well regardless of who is writing the checks you can sure bet they are large checks.  The 4014 is not an econo-box.   I'm sure it will sit in Colton until March or more likely April allowing for the arrival of spring plus giving them time to perform more checks and maintenance.  But yeah, there are a bunch of $$$ flying around.

It is amazing.  I was thinking last night about how much it must cost just to move it. No small task in itself, at all.  A lot of people have worked very hard just to get to this point.  I thank them for their dedication.

I am so thankful that I am going to see a real Big Boy run in my life time.

I was telling my dad, approaching 80 yrs old, about this.  He remembers Big Boys as a kid and couldn't believe what I was telling him.  He was smiling like a small boy! Hopefully I can surprise him with a trip to go see its 'new' maiden run.  That would be awesome.

Thanks to all of you posting video and pictures.  I almost felt like I was a part of this historic moment.

I wish my Dad had lived to see it. He would have been thrilled.

In just my opinion I  believe the 4014 will be moved with a regular run of freight that moves in that direction.    what is another 500 tons to a 8000 ton train..

Probably not, believe UPRR has a speed restriction on the move, 25 mph? Hot Water can probably clarify.

There's no way that it will be in a freight, they'll have the tool car/crew support ect.  Plus with the stops for display they are planning to make.

It will likely run in a special train similar to the one that took it from Pomona to Colton. There's too much at stake to have it running with a regular freight.

This is also a deal that the PR value would not be maximized hiding it in a freight train. Lots of stops on the way. I think it will be like when they run the other steam engines. Lots of Photo opportunity along the way..

Please remember that the 4014 has no functional or FRA tested/inspected brakes on the engine, thus the FRA would consider it a "No-No" to just add the thing into a regular eastbound freight train. Besides, the steam crew will likely be lubricating the siderod bearings every 50 to 100 miles, and the UP sure wouldn't want a main line freight train stopping for THAT.

As a side note, according to published information, plus information from the "old shop men", the main driver brake cylinders can not be removed and/or rebuilt without out dropping the adjacent driver!

Matt, thanks for the good videos.  I saw another picture somewhere of you and I standing near each other at the Citrus Ave. crossing shooting photos of the departing train.

Ray

I'll speculate that they won't pull it much faster than they think it will be safe to do, but it appears that all the side rods are in place, just no pistons moving, so it should be in balance to move at a pace greater than 25mph...

IMHO, I would speculate that they will start out at 15- 25 mph - stop every couple miles & inspect - and if all goes well, pick up the pace a bit - see how it goes, stop & inspect, repeat.  Unless of course Omaha HQ puts out an absolute speed limit - no matter what.

Now, can 4014 take the curve to the west at Spring Junction, TX?  That is a sharp curve both 844 and 3985 can take!

The 844 has a longer rigid wheelbase so if the 844 can make it so can the 4014 as long as there aren't any boiler swing/clearance issues. 

I would postulate, that during its hiatus in Colton they will take advantage of the shop and drop the rods deal with brake issues and pass brake inspection, theyneed too eventually, and economically its prudent. The shop and need is there so get it done and run it balls to the wall in the spring to Cheyenne for boiler tender firebox and other  love     Really want to see this run and the others maintained        Are You fur me or agin me          1

I don't think they'll run through Spring, TX. My best guess is they'll take the run through Cajon and Nevada along the Salt Lake Route. My recollection is that Spring Texas is part of the old SP network.

Colton is a post-steam era shop, so I doubt they'll be able to do a whole lot that would require wheel removal, but they may be able to pull the rods and bearings there to get it ready for the trip. But who really knows for sure?

Well, since you put it THAT way,,,,I'm "agin you"!

They surely will NOT go through the effort to drop the rods AGAIN, as it was already done while still at the museum. Also, they will NOT be able to completely rebuild all the air brake cylinders, since at least one drive axle must be dropped in order to remove the brake cylinders. Thus, why start dropping drive wheels IN A DIESL SHOP, when they will have to do it all over again once they are back in Cheyenne. The wheel sets will have to be sent out for either turning or complete new tires.

We got Lucky my son's Soccer league schedule playoffs in San Bernardino, so we swung by Colton on the way home Saturday. Lots of people there. Really glad we made the effort to stop.

I saw the post. All I can say is where there's smoke there is fire. The current manager of the steam program has earned criticism. That FB page is informative sure. But there homers. I think at one point UP threatened the operators and they removed Union Pacifics logos and such. I also think UP watches them. They tow the company line.

So for all intensive purposes another "social internet site" says don't believe what you read elsewhere...... now THATS funny. Especially facebook where most folks go to tell everyone how wonderful there life is......because its really not

From what I've read on here, those folks who would be "closest to the UP steam program", have not speculated anything. Only stated a few facts that they are aware of as related to the steam program. 

 The vast majority of speculation comes from "us rank and file forum members" who in many cases have no clue when it comes to restoring/operating a steam locomotive.

Blahh, blahh, blahh, if its on the internet it must be true.

It is best to sit back and watch what happens.  It will take whatever route, at whatever time, at whatever speed in whatever type of train the UP puts together.  And will be displayed wherever and whenever the UP decides and posts a schedule......let me catch my breath....

It was posted somewhere, that UP has visitor dates for 3 different days where it currently sits.

I'm planning on a trip in March, if it is still there, will I be able to get up to it?  Or will I get a visit from the UP Police?

this is the only posted schedule as of today

up 4014

Dang, If I show up in March, the UP Police might get me.

I would just keep checking the UP Steam website for the schedule.