Big Boy 4014 First Test Run

[legion]

Originally Posted by LWJ

Camera operator jumps when it blow the horn. Sweet.

I'd be lucky if all I did was jump. I get the impression that those steam whistles fill the air with noise that would make Spinal Tapp at 11 jealous.

[daepp]

From yesterday - don't worry, the video gets better real fast:

[herr_oberst]

Originally Posted by GO DAWG GO

Thanks Oberst...


Watch this great video!...This has some great footage. lengthy but high quality!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RR7Q27cIEvo

That is soooooo cool. Hats off to anyone and everyone involved in getting this behemoth taken apart, rebuilt, polished and ready for the big do.

BigBoy is Howlin'Wolf personified.
'The number's goin' out now friend is Smokestack Lightnin'

[daepp]

I took my (then) little boy to see her in Pomona maybe 12-14 years ago:







They also had the largest diesel electric there at that time, but I can't find the pics.

[Jolly Amaranto]

This one?

RailGiants Train Museum | Union Pacific Centennial #6915

[daepp]

I just remember it was freaking looooonnnngggg.

[Sooner or later]

Thanks for the vids.

Why didn't 844 make the trip on its own?

I just watched a vid of 844 cranking along at 75 mph. It was chugging away!

[Jolly Amaranto]

Originally Posted by Sooner or later

Why didn't 844 make the trip on its own?

Various reasons.
1. "Double Heading" steam locomotives is always impressive.
2. Union Pacific wants to display both of their steam locomotives that are currently in operation. The 3985 is down for an overhaul but should be back running in a few years.
3. Running both engines in the same train is less complicated and does not impact their freight operations as much by taking up track that could be used to haul freight. After all the UP is still in the business to make a profit.
4. Having all the passenger cars in one train is a bigger party for those on board.

[Sooner or later]

Thanks

Good explanation

[tcar]

Originally Posted by Sooner or later

I just watched a vid of 844 cranking along at 75 mph. It was chugging away!

844 pulled the train from Denver to Cheyenne for "Cheyenne Frontier Days" since it's been restored.... went down to watch; it's beautiful.

Even then there's a diesel 'helper' with it, like there is with Big Boy... just in case, maybe?

BTW, 844 is a fast passenger engine, 4014 is a high torque freight up steep grades engine; designed to haul long freight consists up the Sierra Nevadas

844 large diameter drivers = high gearing
4014 small diameter drivers = low gearing.

Driver size is the 'gear ratio' with steam engines.

[daepp]

A friend suggested that, while the UP is pretty cool for doing this, if there was mechanical trouble they’d never want to block their rails. So perhaps it’s there just for braking and in case of breakage?

[Sooner or later]

Bump

This shouldn't be on the second page.


Go, Big Boy, go! Blowing some steam!

https://jalopnik-com.cdn.ampproject.org/v/s/jalopnik.com/heres-the-biggest-steam-locomotive-in-the-world-flying-1834641096/amp?amp_js_v=a2&amp_gsa=1#amp_tf=From%20%251%24s&ampshare=https%3A%2F%2Fjalopnik.com%2Fheres-the-biggest-steam-locomotive-in-the-world-flying-1834641096

[wdfifteen]

I love steam engines. They are the most basic of carbon powered machines.
My experience is mostly from ag engines (powering threshing machines) but I've sat in on some heated discussions on what are the best steam valves (it's a big deal. Baker wins - hands down) and what are the best engine formats (mostly tandem compound vs cross compound).
I got to interview a man who ran a Case 110 in the 1920s. They didn't have stokers then, all the coal was shoveled in. He talked about how a good engineer would open the firebox and throw a shovel full of coal in and catch a glimpse of a "cold" spot and know that's where he would throw the next shovel full. Steam engineers were gods in their day.

[widebody911]

[herr_oberst]

This was probably already posted here on this thread, so at the risk of repeating what someone else already posted, this is a rundown of the cars that are being pulled by 4014 and 844:

https://trn.trains.com/news/news-wire/2019/04/25-big-boy-no-4014s-first-passenger-train-will-be-nine-cars-long

I did a search for the "standard Flag car" mentioned in the article, but found very little that pertained to the car I'm seeing; does anyone know what the purpose of the "standard Flag car" is?

[Sooner or later]

Nope. New stuff, thanks

[Jolly Amaranto]

Originally Posted by herr_oberst

I did a search for the "standard Flag car" mentioned in the article, but found very little that pertained to the car I'm seeing; does anyone know what the purpose of the "standard Flag car" is?

I think that should be "a standard UP flag unit" referring to a diesel. In railroad jargon a unit is a diesel and in this case they wanted one with a flag on the side (not all diesels have flags on the side).
Here is one.

[herr_oberst]

^^

Thank you.
I amaze myself at my lousy reading comprehension sometimes!

[Sooner or later]

Originally Posted by GO DAWG GO

Glad you liked it Jeff!

I'm leaving Wednesday to Ogden to see it and go to the 150th anniversary of the Golden Spike ceremony at Promontory Summit. Big Boy and 844 will double head to Ogden for the ceremony!

Bob

Did you make the show?

[GO DAWG GO]

Yes! still in Ogden and ready to get some better pictures without the crowd! 4014 leaves tomorrow back to Cheyenne. I met most of the crew and Ed Dickens is a class act.