...as UP's Cheyenne steam shop prepares ta do another big restoration!
Big Boy locomotive begins California farewell tour
January 26, 2014 | Updated: January 26, 2014 2:10pm
Photo By Ringo H.W. Chiu/AP
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Miguel Angel Warner, right, 4, of Los Angeles, asks Ed Dickens, left, senior manager of Heritage Operations about the historic locomotive, Union Pacific Big Boy No. 4014 at Metrolink Station, Sunday, Jan. 26, 2014, in Covina, Calif. The locomotive will head for Colton over the next several weeks before No. 4014 departs for Union Pacific's Heritage Fleet Operations headquarters in Cheyenne, Wyo
POMONA, Calif. (AP) An enormous steam locomotive that has been entertaining train enthusiasts at a California museum for years began a trek of more than 1,200 miles on Sunday with the ultimate goal of putting the engine back on the nation's rails.
The 600-ton Big Boy locomotive left the Pomona fairgrounds on its way to a Union Pacific rail yard in Colton, about 60 miles away, where it will be available for two weekends of public viewing before moving on to Cheyenne, Wyo., for restoration work. The goal is to eventually get Engine 4014 back on the rails, said Union Pacific spokesman Aaron Hunt.
The engine, which weighs 1.2 million pounds when its fuel car, or tender, is included, was one of 25 massive steam engines that began riding the transcontinental rails in 1941.
It pulled heavy freight trains over the Wasatch Mountains between Ogden, Utah and Green River, Wyo., and retired after a 17-year career.
Since November, the locomotive has been slowly moved across the grounds at the Pomona fairplex on 4,500 feet of temporary track.
On Sunday, Union Pacific pushed the locomotive onto the main tracks, where it will be towed by modern diesel freight locomotives 56 miles to Colton a last stop before heading to Wyoming. The repairs there could take several years, Union Pacific has said.
In exchange for getting No. 4014 back, Union Pacific plans to deliver diesel locomotive No. 3105, a caboose and a box car to the RailGiants museum, company officials said.
-- Edited by Uke on Sunday 26th of January 2014 01:42:26 PM
Calvin said
3:10 PM, 01/26/14
Them thar bearings have had no oil or grease in years. Outside in the rain.
Gonna be a long sslllllllooooooowwww trip.
I'm surprised they didn't drop the side rods.
Uke said
6:19 PM, 01/26/14
That they didn't drop the drive rods is what surprised me tu Cal. As far as lubrication on bearings, and other 'rolling' parts... They've prepped all of 'em. In fact they've known about the move for at least the past three, four years. UP's had their steam guys working on 4014 already. She's probably one of the most complete of the series that ALCO built for UP.
She's not nearly ready for steam yet though. Another million bucks, and three years? Maybe... Doubtful she'll tour very much outside her original territory as well! Then again, ya never know. Union Pacific's been very busy putting lotsa dollars into track, and roadbed ta handle large tonnage trains...
Snippy said
6:24 PM, 01/26/14
Yeah, it's not like the 3985 hasn't moved! Looks good! Hope Steve Lee can help on they're new Chalkenger!
Snippy said
6:26 PM, 01/26/14
Uke wrote:
That they didn't drop the drive rods is what surprised me tu Cal. As far as lubrication on bearings, and other 'rolling' parts... They've prepped all of 'em. In fact they've known about the move for at least the past three, four years. UP's had their steam guys working on 4014 already. She's probably one of the most complete of the series that ALCO built for UP.
She's not nearly ready for steam yet though. Another million bucks, and three years? Maybe... Doubtful she'll tour very much outside her original territory as well! Then again, ya never know. Union Pacific's been very busy putting lotsa dollars into track, and roadbed ta handle large tonnage trains...
Yeah! Glad they dropped the side rods for the move!
They removed the main rods, don't need those crossheads, valves, and pistons moving. The side rods should stay on cuz of the counterweights on the drive wheels.
The Krink said
2:57 AM, 01/27/14
The UP has so many relics of the past that they can restore but
getting a Big Boy running again has to be a dream by a person
or corporation thats going to top all other possibilities on the
table right now.
Cy Valley said
7:33 AM, 01/27/14
BlackDog wrote:
They removed the main rods, don't need those crossheads, valves, and pistons moving. The side rods should stay on cuz of the counterweights on the drive wheels.
I dimly recall a old NKP story once related to me about moving a steam engine dead-in-tow. The side rod fell off, no one saw it, and when that counterweight came down, it broke the rail. They broke rails for miles before being discovered.
The Krink said
2:39 AM, 01/29/14
I just missed the the steam era on purpose to concentrate on the
the diesel era which turns out to last a long time.
Snippy said
7:17 AM, 01/29/14
Glad that they got the Big Boy up and running again!!!
Does have anything scheduled for the Eastern Coastal Mountains? Mabye a Amtrak ride up the NEC from WAS to NYP?????
Cy Valley said
9:27 AM, 01/29/14
Snippy wrote:
Glad that they got the Big Boy up and running again!!!
Does have anything scheduled for the Eastern Coastal Mountains? Mabye a Amtrak ride up the NEC from WAS to NYP?????
Snippy, obviously, is hoping to reconnect with his best bud.
...as UP's Cheyenne steam shop prepares ta do another big restoration!
Big Boy locomotive begins California farewell tour
January 26, 2014 | Updated: January 26, 2014 2:10pm
The 600-ton Big Boy locomotive left the Pomona fairgrounds on its way to a Union Pacific rail yard in Colton, about 60 miles away, where it will be available for two weekends of public viewing before moving on to Cheyenne, Wyo., for restoration work. The goal is to eventually get Engine 4014 back on the rails, said Union Pacific spokesman Aaron Hunt.
The engine, which weighs 1.2 million pounds when its fuel car, or tender, is included, was one of 25 massive steam engines that began riding the transcontinental rails in 1941.
It pulled heavy freight trains over the Wasatch Mountains between Ogden, Utah and Green River, Wyo., and retired after a 17-year career.
In 1962, the behemoth was donated to the RailGiants Train Museum in Pomona.
Since November, the locomotive has been slowly moved across the grounds at the Pomona fairplex on 4,500 feet of temporary track.
On Sunday, Union Pacific pushed the locomotive onto the main tracks, where it will be towed by modern diesel freight locomotives 56 miles to Colton a last stop before heading to Wyoming. The repairs there could take several years, Union Pacific has said.
In exchange for getting No. 4014 back, Union Pacific plans to deliver diesel locomotive No. 3105, a caboose and a box car to the RailGiants museum, company officials said.
-- Edited by Uke on Sunday 26th of January 2014 01:42:26 PM
Them thar bearings have had no oil or grease in years. Outside in the rain.
Gonna be a long sslllllllooooooowwww trip.
I'm surprised they didn't drop the side rods.
She's not nearly ready for steam yet though. Another million bucks, and three years? Maybe... Doubtful she'll tour very much outside her original territory as well! Then again, ya never know. Union Pacific's been very busy putting lotsa dollars into track, and roadbed ta handle large tonnage trains...
Yeah! Glad they dropped the side rods for the move!
Interresting read>>>> http://autos.yahoo.com/news/tragedy-not-accident-great-train-wreck-1898-160031378.html
What could go wrong....?
Wrong? Not a damn thing!
getting a Big Boy running again has to be a dream by a person
or corporation thats going to top all other possibilities on the
table right now.
I dimly recall a old NKP story once related to me about moving a steam engine dead-in-tow. The side rod fell off, no one saw it, and when that counterweight came down, it broke the rail. They broke rails for miles before being discovered.
the diesel era which turns out to last a long time.
Does have anything scheduled for the Eastern Coastal Mountains? Mabye a Amtrak ride up the NEC from WAS to NYP?????
Snippy, obviously, is hoping to reconnect with his best bud.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/uptrain/5156062168/
Gonna be a baby back Bitch cutting that desktop control stand in there.