Big Boy #4014 moves under power for the first time in over 50 years • The UP is bringing out the 4014, see schedule 🚂

Yawn...

A direct link to the video

https://youtu.be/Plt6UgVo9x4

Wow!  UP corporation is providing funds to rebuild one of the largest locomotives ever to ride the American rails. Wow! UP will be allowing the UP 4014 to ride their 32000 miles of rail in 23 states to celibrate the 150th anniversary of the joining of the US transcontinental railroad. Wow! Progress is being made on the restoration of Bigboy UP 4014 to celebrate this historic event!! Wow! Sorry but this is a pretty big deal! Thanks for posting Gary!

FORMER OGR CEO - RETIRED posted:

Yawn...

Rich, I'm reminded of a retired CEO of a fortune 100 company telling me that "There is nothing so former as a former CEO."

As for your comment, 

I will be in Ogden in May, any other forum members going to the Historical society meeting? 

I’ll be chasing it somewhere. 

FORMER OGR CEO - RETIRED posted:

Yawn...

LMAO.

question for Hot Water, you stated in an interview maybe on Notch six that when 3985 was converted to  oil, it took six months to figure how to properly draft the fire on the challenger.  If correct, I’m wondering how the UP steam crew can do the same with May right around the corner.  How difficult was it on 3895?

now keep it  sane people, and respectful. 

Thanks, Gary for posting it. It is impressive work. We're told that Laramie will be one of the first runs. 

superwarp1 posted:

FORMER OGR CEO - RETIRED posted:

Yawn...

LMAO.

question for Hot Water, you stated in an interview maybe on Notch six that when 3985 was converted to  oil, it took six months to figure how to properly draft the fire on the challenger.

Actually it took a lot longer than six months (I don't remember staying that anyway). It took some years to sort out the proper drafting in order to improve the ease in firing 3985.

 If correct, I’m wondering how the UP steam crew can do the same with May right around the corner.

I don't care to speculate.

 How difficult was it on 3895?

She was EXTREMELY difficult to fire, plus she made LOTS of smoke, no mate what you did!

now keep it  sane people, and respectful. 

LaramieJoe posted:

Thanks, Gary for posting it. It is impressive work. We're told that Laramie will be one of the first runs. 

I'm pretty sure that Cheyenne to Laramie will NOT be one of the "first runs" for 4014. Historically, break-in runs for the steam locomotives out of Cheyenne, run south towards Denver, where there is a good sized wye for turning the whole consist (about halfway to Denver, but can't remember the name of the town, maybe Greely?).

Close, I think you are thinking of LaSalle.

Tranz4mr posted:

Wow!  UP corporation is providing funds to rebuild one of the largest locomotives ever to ride the American rails. Wow! UP will be allowing the UP 4014 to ride their 32000 miles of rail in 23 states to celibrate the 150th anniversary of the joining of the US transcontinental railroad.

WOW! I can't wait! The UP main line runs a mile from my house. We haven't had a big articulated steamer near Chicago since the early nineties......WOW!

Que the "Ed Dickens is the Devil Incarnate" comments!

Great news to hear from them there at the UP Steam Shop. She'll be quite a sight to see! Probably the most impressive feature so far from that video is all the various parts and precise machining that goes into getting everything to fit precisely together and function properly. Impressive! 

LaramieJoe posted:

Thanks, Gary for posting it. It is impressive work. We're told that Laramie will be one of the first runs. 

Hi Dr. Russo: Your welcome, yes it is very impressive and historic. We are seeing railroad history as it happens. Jim Wrinn: Editor of “Trains Magazine” has been reporting on the Union Pacific Steam Shop for the past several years. Jim and his reporters will be out west to cover this story and the “Transcontinental Railroad Sesquicentennial”.

I post my e-mail address in my OGR Forum Home Page, please forward me any information you have from Laramie as related to the UP Steam Shop and the Sesquicentennial.

Thanks: Rail-fan & take care.

What a gigantic undertaking!  If they can do that, is 4294 a possibility?

bob2 posted:

What a gigantic undertaking!  If they can do that, is 4294 a possibility?

No. SP cab froward is beautifully stuffed & mounted within the California State RR Museum, and is the only SP cab forward remaining in the world. There were 8 UP 4000 class locomotives saved.

Hot Water posted:

superwarp1 posted:

 How difficult was it on 3895?

She was EXTREMELY difficult to fire, plus she made LOTS of smoke, no mate what you did!

 

 

Jack,

How much of that was due to the relatively light trains and therefore lesser draft on the fire?  The overwhelming comment I've been told by the majority of those that had the chance on the NS side of things was that 611 was far easier to fire than 1218 because the J was actually working as opposed to the A being so overpowered it would drift more often than not.  The one differing comment was one who preferred the 1218 since it was far easier to catch up if you got behind--no surprise.

Kevin

kgdjpubs posted:

Hot Water posted:

superwarp1 posted:

 How difficult was it on 3895?

She was EXTREMELY difficult to fire, plus she made LOTS of smoke, no mate what you did!

 

 

Jack,

How much of that was due to the relatively light trains and therefore lesser draft on the fire? 

Not really, as no matter how hard my Engineer worked her, 3985 was simply a bear to maintain 280psi steam pressure AND a proper level of water in the glass, without large volumes of black smoke. She was converted from coal burning to oil burning in 1989/1990 in preparation for the 10th anniversary celebration of the California State RR Museum. Every time I fired her, it was a bi&%$, until about 200 or 2001 when additional firebrick was added (for more/better heat retention) and the air intake tubes were corrected. After those improvements, made by the PE from the Hawaiian Boiler Company that was there in Cheyenne putting the complete new firebox in 844, I no longer had difficulty maintaining proper boiler pressure AND water in the gauge glass, with very little smoke.  

The overwhelming comment I've been told by the majority of those that had the chance on the NS side of things was that 611 was far easier to fire than 1218 because the J was actually working as opposed to the A being so overpowered it would drift more often than not.  The one differing comment was one who preferred the 1218 since it was far easier to catch up if you got behind--no surprise.

Kevin

What I've been wondering lately is why we never see any of the Heritage Diesels go out on the road??