Howdy ....
Here is a sequence of pictures I took west on Morgan, UT on May 12. ... Notice the traffic backed up on the Interstate highway because of the special train with 4014.
GARRY
HEARTLAND DIVISION, CB&Q RR
EVERYWHERE LOST; WE HUSTLE OUR CABOOSE FOR YOU
Derailed in Rawlings a few days ago.
https://trn.trains.com/news/news-wire/2019/05/16-big-boy-stubs-its-toe-with-derailment
The coolest thing about events like this is the people you meet. Yesterday we met a 95 year old gentlemen who was a retired engineer for the UP. To the best of the family's knowledge, he's one of, if not the oldest living steam engineer for them. They had a photo of him driving the 4014 back in 1957. He's driven many of UP's steam locomotives including 844.My son has a vest with a collection of hat/lapel pins that he has collected to remind his/us of all the things we seen and places we've visited. The other day in Ogden, he bought a 4014 shield pin to add to his collection. For yesterday's event he took a few of his pins off his vest and put them on his shirt. When we met Mr. Transtrum, he saw the 4014 pin on our little guys shirt, he perked up and asked where we found it. When we told him, he said "I wish I had one of those, to go with the others on his hat. In a proud parent moment, our little guy told him he could have his. It was great listening to his stories. It's living history. This is exactly the reason why many of us here are attracted to this hobby. It's preserving history in our own little way.
They left Utah yesterday on their way back to Cheyenne.
A few videos from the event.
The cost to rebuild and operate 4014 is "chump change" in the grand scheme of things for the UP. The revenue geneated by the good will and PR of this whole project will far exceed its costs to the UP. As to the rod bearing noise, when working with this type of bearing, a little loose is better than a little tight. As if it was tight, it would only get tighter at track speed when bearing temps increase. As to the sound like its coasting, thats because towing two tool cars and the back up diesel is "chump change" to the Big Boy's power. Tack on a hundred or so PFE Reefers with friction bearing trucks like she used to move over the mountain, and she will bark. It was amazing to see such a great machine moving under steam again. My hat is off to the UP and their steam team for bringing 4014 back to life including the successful conversion to oil firing. Now to get her tender converted and back with her so that 3985 can come back to life and join 4014 on the road in another year or two. Just wait till UP puts the 4014 on the head end of a hot stack train like they would do with 3985. That will be a sight to behold! Mike the Aspie
Silly NT's, I have Asperger's Syndrome
Lonnie UtahThe best part of the day? My son getting a set of Engineer's orders from a very nice UP employee who had an extra set.
.
That sounds like quite a thrill.
I hope you get them laminated for safekeeping.
-Kevin
Living the dream.
I love the horn sound haven't anything that for like forever. Plus the neat caboose.
mbinsewi Lonnie Utah I told him, he from now on, he had to work up orders for all of his runs on the layout. He just gave me a look. lol. I would too! That's too much work, I just run trains. Train orders? switch list? work orders? track warrents? WAAAAYYYYY too much work. Mike.
Lonnie Utah I told him, he from now on, he had to work up orders for all of his runs on the layout. He just gave me a look. lol.
I would too! That's too much work, I just run trains. Train orders? switch list? work orders? track warrents? WAAAAYYYYY too much work.
Mike.
Lonnie UtahI told him, he from now on, he had to work up orders for all of his runs on the layout. He just gave me a look. lol.
My You Tube
We saw the beast yesterday and he's an impressive site to behold. The best part of the day? My son getting a set of Engineer's orders from a very nice UP employee who had an extra set.
I told him, he from now on, he had to work up orders for all of his runs on the layout. He just gave me a look. lol.
When I read the thread title, It reminds me of my youth in 1950s Chicago..............
ENJOY !
Mobilman44
Living in southeast Texas, formerly modeling the "postwar" Santa Fe and Illinois Central
Can you stick your head out the window?
Dave
Just be glad you don't have to press "2" for English.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zQ_ALEdDUB8
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6hqFS1GZL4s
http://s73.photobucket.com/user/steemtrayn/media/MovingcoalontheDCM.mp4.html?sort=3&o=27
rrinker It's a 77 mile drive, about an hour. Track seems to mostly follow the highway. So we're talking what, a 3 hour train ride?
It's a 77 mile drive, about an hour. Track seems to mostly follow the highway. So we're talking what, a 3 hour train ride?
So, with some quick mental calculations that’s about $1000 an hour. Umm, that’s seeming more and more steep by the minueut. I would rather get to run the smaller 4-6-0 at Nevada Northern railway!
Regards, Isaac
I model my railroad and you model yours! I model my way and you model yours!
-Randy
Modeling the Reading Railroad in the 1950's
Visit my web site at www.readingeastpenn.com for construction updates, DCC Info, and more.
For that money you should get to ride in the cab.
Russ
Modeling the early '50s Erie in Paterson, NJ. Here's the link to my railroad postcard collection: https://railroadpostcards.blogspot.com/
Lonnie Utah We looked into it. Tickets to ride on the return trip from Ogden to Evanston, Wy, were $3K a pop... (There are still some left if anyone's interested....)
We looked into it. Tickets to ride on the return trip from Ogden to Evanston, Wy, were $3K a pop...
(There are still some left if anyone's interested....)
$3,000! Wow, that’s quite a price. Bet it’s worth it though, it’s not often you get to ride behind the worlds largest steam engine!
BigDaddyJust because there were passenger cars in the consist, doesn't mean you or I had a snowball's chance of buying a seat. There were probably filled with company directors and big wigs and there was no shortage of food and liquor for the open bar.
steemtrayn stokesda My biggest question is, why couldn't they flip that yellow aux tender around so the flag isn't flying backwards? Is it correct on the other side?
stokesda My biggest question is, why couldn't they flip that yellow aux tender around so the flag isn't flying backwards?
My biggest question is, why couldn't they flip that yellow aux tender around so the flag isn't flying backwards?
Is it correct on the other side?
From the photos/footage I've seen, it's "backwards" on both sides, i.e. both flags are "blowing" towards the front of the train). If it was just an "ordinary" excursion train outing, it wouldn't be such a big deal, but surely somebody had to think about that before putting together that historic consist. I enjoy watching the trackside videos, but that's been bugging the crap out of me since day 1
Dan Stokes
My other car is a tunnel motor
AttuvianIt would be interesting to know just how much UP is shelling out -mostly to themselves
Makes it sound like the project is free.
I haven't found a number for the cost, but $1 mil for a regular old run of the mill steam loco restoration.
Let's go with $2 mil. just because it is easy.
The cost of plant and equipment: tools, lathes, castings, machinings and wear and tear of all the machinery used for restoration is a charge, born by UP and you can look that as paid to UP
Salaries, include benefits, future pension, health care, social security, none of that is paid to UP.
Parts, no one has said they found a warehouse of old Big Boy parts. They had to build buy or manufacture parts. That's a cost for steel, pipe, bearings things that they couldn't make in house, or at least had to buy raw steel to make things in house.
Oil, water that's not anything UP gets for free
Throw in the diesel engine to tag along. That is no longer in revenue service. All the maintenance people that will also go along to make sure they don't have a mechanical catastrophe.
Just because there were passenger cars in the consist, doesn't mean you or I had a snowball's chance of buying a seat. There were probably filled with company directors and big wigs and there was no shortage of food and liquor for the open bar.
On the income side is $20 tickets to tour the steam shop and the PR value. That is an intangible. I didn't see anything on TV about it. If I did and decided I should give them some business for their good deed, well I don't have a business that needs rail. If I did, I don't live in UP territory.
CSX paid Hunter Harrison $151 mil for 9 months work, so I'd say UP's money was well spent.
Henry
COB Potomac & Northern
Shenandoah Valley
rrinker There's no conundrum. 4014 is owned by the UP, and running on their railroad. They can run anywhere on their railroad, any time they feel like it. And they are using all their own equipment - tool car, passenger cars, etc. 4449 is owned by a provtae organization, who must get permission from the various railroads, along with insanely expensive insurance. And get cars from someone. I understand various railroads not wanting to risk 60+ year old steam locos breaking down and stopping all revenue traffic, but almost all such excursions tow along a diesel to move the train in case something happens. The business has become a pure numbers game these days, the concept of attracting attention and generating goodwill has largely gone away - how many people riding on an excursion train own a business, let alone one that is rail served and might be swayed to use the host railroad as a carrier? --Randy
There's no conundrum. 4014 is owned by the UP, and running on their railroad. They can run anywhere on their railroad, any time they feel like it. And they are using all their own equipment - tool car, passenger cars, etc. 4449 is owned by a provtae organization, who must get permission from the various railroads, along with insanely expensive insurance. And get cars from someone.
I understand various railroads not wanting to risk 60+ year old steam locos breaking down and stopping all revenue traffic, but almost all such excursions tow along a diesel to move the train in case something happens. The business has become a pure numbers game these days, the concept of attracting attention and generating goodwill has largely gone away - how many people riding on an excursion train own a business, let alone one that is rail served and might be swayed to use the host railroad as a carrier?
--Randy
Thanks, Randy, for restoring my perspective. In the end, dreams are obliged to give way to good thinking and truth (otherwise known as cold, hard facts). I had forgotten that 844 was also making an appearance.
It would be interesting to know just how much UP is shelling out -mostly to themselves - for both the restoration and for the event.
Can't wait for the coverage, stories of railfanning pilgrimmages, and estimates of the crowds.
John
UP already announced that the two engines facing each other to represent the original event will be the Big Boy and #844, which is why they're traveling together. Seeing the #4449 or another SP steam engine would be great though.
_________________________________________________________________
Attuvian This seems to raise two questions. First, if 4014 is hauling more than just the basic supplementary equipment to Provo, why couldn't 4449 do the same? That may be a funding issue. Second, if the Big Boy is hauling paying passengers, why not 4449? Perhaps 4014's trip is classified as something other than a "charter" or "special".
I beleive the thing here is 4014 is owned by UP, who own the track they run on, so it’s easy to get a steam special. UP also has it’s own passenger cars and desires to provide backup power. 4449 is no owned by UP, so UP will be less willing to run 4449 on it’s tracks.
Also normally the 4449 would run with borrowed Amtrak cars and locomotives, but this Amtrak charter ban (let me guess, this is an Anderson special?) ends that. Real shame 4449 isn’t going to run soon, I mean what’s the point of a beautiful, restore steamer if it can’t run?
There;s no conundrum. 4014 is owned by the UP, and running on their railroad. They can run anywhere on their railroad, any time they feel like it. And they are using all their own equipment - tool car, passenger cars, etc. 4449 is owned by a provtae organization, who must get permission from the various railroads, along with insanely expensive insurance. And get cars from someone.
I understnad various railroads not want to risk 60+ year old steam locos breaking down and stopping all revenue traffic, but almost all such excursions tow alonmg a diesel to move the train in case something happens. The business has become a pure numbers game these days, the concept of attracting attention and generating goodwill has largely gone away - how many people riding on an excursion train own a business, let alone one that is rail served and might be swayed to use the host railroad as a carrier?
oldline1 Since this is a celebration of the driving of the Golden Spike is there any chance the SP will be represented by the 4449? oldline1
Since this is a celebration of the driving of the Golden Spike is there any chance the SP will be represented by the 4449?
oldline1
SP equipment would be good, I feel that we often forget that the UP was only half the transcontinental railroad. SP 4449 would be a good representation of the Central Pacific (SP leased and then bought CP in the early 1900s).
Unfortunately I doubt that is going to happen. SP 4449 isn’t owned by UP like UP 844 or 4014. It’s owned by an organization in Portland. That will make it difficult to get both together.
It would be pretty cool if someday they got all the preseved/restored steamers in one place, like a Streamliners at Spencer thing just for steamers. We could get all the UP stuff, SP 4449, SP&S 700, etc.
Here's the schedule. I joined the UP Steam Facebook site & love it.
https://www.up.com/heritage/steam/schedule/index.htm?fbclid=IwAR00uEE3TBHrBi-HNUVKmK7eclRVK2hn3Y_yEFKaRdhWxgFqp1f_LiEXEOw
Terry