Hot Water posted:jethat posted:I saw 4014 come through Salt Lake and looked it over. Some say that it was "shopped" recently before it was donated and I have a hard time believing that. It was beat up. Looked like it had some front impact damage to me.Drivers tires worn out and the front truck was badly out of alignment. They had rigged up an oiling system to oil the outside tire on the truck. Didn't look like a sweet heart to me. Pretty hammered. They have work cut out for them.
The engine truck overheating issue was probably most likely caused by being towed dead by a modern diesel with rigid alignment controlled draft gear, thus forcing the engine truck to one side or the other on curves. Steam locomotives THAT large were NOT designed to be towed dead for that long distance, by a diesel unit with a rigid coupler/graft gear arrangement.
Your explanation makes perfect sense. Having been up close and personal with that locomotive while it was "sleeping" at the museum, I can tell you that it was in very good shape when it left Los Angeles. That was one of the reasons UP went after 4014. From my discussions with UP personnel at the Fairgrounds, they mentioned that there had been quite a bit of analysis of the route from Los Angeles to Cheyenne because of grades, bridges, curvatures and clearances.
