Eddie Marra posted:jethat posted:Pingman posted:R. Hales posted:FORMER OGR CEO - RETIRED posted:Kelly Anderson posted:Then my suggestion is for those people to stay home, so there is more room for the rest of us who appreciate seeing an engineering landmark that we never dreamed would return, rolling past under her own power.No problem, Kelly. You can have my spot.
If/when this thing ever runs, I’ll be somewhere else doing something interesting.
I won't be going either but not because this planned event is not interesting. You imply the restoration and likely operation of one of the biggest, most powerful, and successful steam locomotives in U.S history is not interesting? Really?
I remember when I use to think you were a "train guy."
Exactly.
The Big boy was not the biggest nor was it the most powerful or the most successful. I think its cool they restore one. I dont like the fact that the restoration comes at the expense of other equipment in the historic UP steam shop. including 3985 witch IS actually the most successful (based on number built) Articulated design of the steam age.
I thought the Big Boy was the largest ever built?
There doesn't seem to be any disagreement that the Big Boy was the heaviest reciprocating locomotive ever built, based on total weight of engine and tender.
There have been claims made in books that a certain C&O locomotive was heavier (locomotive-only weight), but those claims are based on the 1941 weighing of one incomplete locomotive, combined with weight estimates for the missing parts. Four years later, when that same locomotive and one other were weighed (complete and in full working order), neither one was heavier than the 1944 order of UP 4-8-8-4's.
Suffice it to be said that the official specification table published by the C&O railroad lists the locomotive weight of this type at 771,300 lbs. The equivalent official specification published by the UP lists the locomotive weight for the 1944 series 4884-2 at 772,250 lbs.
Scott Griggs
Louisville, KY
