What a cool video. Trains in general and that beast in particular are so friggin' awesome. Everywhere you look is a cool invention. The timing of the drivetrain linkage, and the interaction of the steam valve and the piston is genius and so fascinating to watch.

I think if I heard right that the BB pulls the equivalent of 4 modern diesel-electrics?

Picture taken many years ago while still on static display in Pomona, California.http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1735665648.jpg

There is a train museum downtown. $25 gets a kid membership in the Caboose Club. Kid and one adult get annnual admission to museum and got to ride the train they run up and down along the river. I bet I have ridden that train 50 times. Sacramento was this end of the Pony Express and the railroad when they finished it.

If you want to go down the rabbit hole, look up "tractive effort" comparisons between steam and diesel locomotives.

My grandfather was fireman's mate on steam ships and then ran steam-driven logging skidders and locomotives. I remember getting a couple of lessons as a kid while standing in front of various locomotives at different parks. There's a lot to a steam locomotive if you look closely...

Bigger Big Boy?

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Big Boy is going to help celebrate 250 year birthday of American independence.
Wyoming to California. 4-10/11 in Roseville CA. north of Sacramento by Lake Folsom

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bl5Pol6HE3Q

so cool!

Fron what I've heard the plan is coast to coast