UP Big Boys and Extras

[barraclou.com]

I might be wrong, but after reading the UP Big Boys article in the current edition, I noticed most locomotives in the picture set (if not, all of them) have a X numberboards. So, I understand that they were running as extras. Did the extras were that frequent at that time or it was just a coincidence? Also, did they really switched the numberboards (X Number / No X Number) all the time? If I compare what I see today, there's almost no extras around here (except for the grain season and the detours, if required).

[cnwfan51]

   The Union Pacific unlike most railroads did not have many schudualed freight trains, the exception being on branch lines where mixed trains and freights were timetabled.   On the main line they didnt hanve many scheduled freight, so when they called a train it was carded as an extra.  This is why you see an X ahead of the engine number.    This practice was phased out in the 60s and 70s. I remember  seeing the Xs into the early 60s  hope this helps   Larry

[Deggesty]

The SP also followed this practice for freight trains. And, both SP and UP passenger trains had the train numbers in the illuminated slots that, on other roads, had the engine numbers. If a passenger train was operated in sections, the section number was also in the slot.

Johnny

[Great Western]

 Looking at the front of a Big Boy loco I notice a fitting that I can't recall seeing on a loco before.

 Above the coupler and below a headlight is what appears to be a rectangular box, with two louvered panels in it, which is almost the total width of the loco and possibly three or four feet in height. The depth could be 6" or maybe slightly more.  If you stand on the large staging in front of, and facing, the smoke box door then this fitting would be behind you.

As I have never seen a Big Boy (see my location) I can only guess dimensions.

I wonder what the "box" contains?  

 

[marthastrainyard]

UP must have discontinued this use of the number boards sometime between March 1963 (when the train number was displayed) and March 1964 (when the engine number was displayed). I just bought Robert Olmsted's book "Power For The Streamliners" (great pictures, by the way)  and the pictures clearly shows the different use between these two years.

Per

 

Deggesty

The SP also followed this practice for freight trains. And, both SP and UP passenger trains had the train numbers in the illuminated slots that, on other roads, had the engine numbers. If a passenger train was operated in sections, the section number was also in the slot.

Johnny

 

[cnwfan51]

    if you are refering to the box on the pilot on the front of the locomotive I think that is where the air pumps are located   Larry

[Great Western]

Thanks Larry, 

That seems a good answer.

 

The item I refer to is the flat object with the louvers (light colored on the photo)  over the pilot and immediately shown above the coupler.

[cnwfan51]

fter watching the video Last of the Giants    That is indeed the air pumps , the Challengers had the same arrangment   Larry

[BigJim]

If the train movement is governed by CTC, everything runs as an extra. On my part of the N&W, we used to run as many as four #88's a day, but, each one was an extra. If train orders are in effect things are very different and "Extra" actually means something.

[Great Western]

 Thanks again Larry for the info.  I talk every day to a friend who is near Milwaukee WI and he was unable to provide an answer.  I shall be able to share this with him tomorrow morning (Monday). 

I can't say why I was puzzled by the feature but as it is so prominent on the loco it drew my attention.

The Big Boy is a magnificent loco, gratefully there are I understand, quite a few left for everyone to see.

Many garden/large scale model railroaders have one however it would be a rather large model for my small backyard railroad.