"I hear that train a'comin', it's rollin' round the bend...

[rrrr]

My brother sent me this video of "Big Boy" UP 4014 and UP 844, taken outside Denver on Tuesday.

The Big Boys were built to haul mile long coal trains out of Wyoming.

 

[rrrr]

i am a bit of a train geek.. i watched them move the 4014 from pomona fairgrounds and i followed it ro rialto yard. i wen tto utah in 2019 to see it operational at the 150th anniversary of the golden spike. was awesome to see that beast operational sincei remeber as a kid clibming all over it a thte la fair back in the day.

Didn't you post up photos of the move?

 

[OC Mike]

Complete, mechanical awesomeness!!!!!!!!!!

 

[rrrr]

The Big Boys are so long they have articulated frames to get around curves. They're 132' long including the tender, and weigh 1,189,500 lb all up.

 

[mash on it]

that one sitting in the park in kingman, az. is the biggest locomotive I've ever seen, but then I'm not a train geek so...

..

This is the sister of the one in Kingman

Dan'l

 

[azsunfun]

visiting my daughter in sacramento went to train museum in old town, damn cool worth the visit, they stopped using this in sierras for snow pack caused carbon monoxide poisoning, its a monster!

 

[bowtiejunkie]

I tried to catch it in Pilot Point, TX, but it was 2 hours late, so I bailed before it arrived. I saw the one on static display at a park near UP’s yard in Cheyenne. UP deemed that one in worse shape than 4014, so restored 4014

been waiting 40 years to see a Big Boy on the rails. I guess I have to wait a little longer.

awesome machine!

 

[rrrr]

I tried to catch it in Pilot Point, TX, but it was 2 hours late, so I bailed before it arrived. I saw the one on static display at a park near UP’s yard in Cheyenne. UP deemed that one in worse shape than 4014, so restored 4014

been waiting 40 years to see a Big Boy on the rails. I guess I have to wait a little longer.

awesome machine!

There's one at the Age of Steam museum in Frisco, just up the road from me. They've been working on a cosmetic restoration for eight years, it's looking pretty good.

 

[rrrr]

This is the sister of the one in Kingman

Dan'l

It's amazing that some steam engines could run well over 100 MPH. You'd think the weight of the reciprocating parts would make it self destruct. Those big link bars had to weigh a couple thousand pounds.

 

[Sleek-Jet]

Saw it a couple years ago when the UP brought it through the Midwest. The funny thing is the Big Boys never ran on these tracks.

I took the girls down the the UP offices in West Chicago to see the train. What a monster.

 

[monkeyswrench]

i am a bit of a train geek.. i watched them move the 4014 from pomona fairgrounds and i followed it ro rialto yard. i wen tto utah in 2019 to see it operational at the 150th anniversary of the golden spike. was awesome to see that beast operational sincei remeber as a kid clibming all over it a thte la fair back in the day.

I was one of those kids too! When it was in by the model train area, and then when I had kids, got pics of them when it was moved to the west a bit. I had moved out here by the time they put the spur in to put it back on the rails to Rialto. Massive piece of American mechanical art and power.

 

[OC Mike]

visiting my daughter in sacramento went to train museum in old town, damn cool worth the visit, they stopped using this in sierras for snow pack caused carbon monoxide poisoning, its a monster! View attachment 1047729

Went with my daughters 8 grade field trip to Sac.
Coolest part of the trip. I got so involved the group left me there.....
I caught up....

If you are around Old Sac, go there. It's worth it....

 

[rrrr]

Watch the video again and listen to that big steam whistle moan. That sound filled the air across America and the rest of the world for over 100 years.

I told my brother he was fortunate to hear that bit of bygone history.

 

[spectra3279]

Why is there a desiel locomotive behind them?

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[monkeyswrench]

Why is there a desiel locomotive behind them?

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My ass has had to push a 70yo car...pretty smart in my opinion

I don't know if she's still coal fired, or converted to diesel. The coal may limit range. or the fuel tanks may be too small if diesel?

 

[mash on it]

Racing up Cajon pass, 1989

Dan'l

 

[Kachina26]

 

[Sleek-Jet]

Why is there a desiel locomotive behind them?

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The diesel locomotive is there to provide electric power for the coaches.

I asked the same question. The diesel is not providing any traction, it is just along for the ride.

 

[Clank123]

The diesel locomotive is there to provide electric power for the coaches.

I asked the same question. The diesel is not providing any traction, it is just along for the ride.

Yes and.extra braking when needed.

 

[squirtnmyload]

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[robert1050]

My ass has had to push a 70yo car...pretty smart in my opinion

I don't know if she's still coal fired, or converted to diesel. The coal may limit range. or the fuel tanks may be too small if diesel?

4014 Originally ran on coal and during it's restoration, was converted to oil.

 

[SHOCKtheMONKEY]

I saw it just by chance on my way to work.

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" title="YouTube video player" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen></iframe>

 

[spectra3279]

My ass has had to push a 70yo car...pretty smart in my opinion [emoji23]

I don't know if she's still coal fired, or converted to diesel. The coal may limit range. or the fuel tanks may be too small if diesel?

I heard they were converted to oil. Seems the coal car could be converted to a tanker to hold fuel

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[Kachina26]

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This kid is nuts for trains.

 

[Racer56]

Racing up Cajon pass, 1989

Dan'l

Great video, thanks for posting. They had both of these engine's on display at Union station in DTLA and my parents took me and all of my friends to go see them. As a huge steam enthusiast, it was a day I will never forget.

 

[rrrr]

I heard they were converted to oil. Seems the coal car could be converted to a tanker to hold fuel

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That's what has been done.

 

[Racer56]

Another big steam railroading geek here. My wife bought me a cab ride for birthday a few years ago at the Fillmore and Western. It was an awesome experience and I can't wait to do another one on a different railroad.

 

[rrrr]

Saw it a couple years ago when the UP brought it through the Midwest. The funny thing is the Big Boys never ran on these tracks.

I took the girls down the the UP offices in West Chicago to see the train. What a monster. View attachment 1047750 View attachment 1047751 View attachment 1047752

The 8' ladder standing next to the locomotive looks like a kiddie toy.