Will the 4-8-8-4 Union Pacific Big Boy ever return to rails?

[Anonymous]

I went to http://www.unionpacific.com/ and some other websites on MSN...............and I saw a page that in the distant future...........The Worlds largest Steam Locomotive may return to the rails. In Cheyenne.........they do have some Operational Big boys in use.[:)][:D]Lets hope that she can return to rails

[Anonymous]

QUOTE: Originally posted by trainsrcool

I went to http://www.unionpacific.com/ and some other websites on MSN...............and I saw a page that in the distant future...........The Worlds largest Steam Locomotive may return to the rails. In Cheyenne.........they do have some Operational Big boys in use.[:)][:D]Lets hope that she can return to rails

The Union Pacific does not own any Big Boys and have not had one on their property since the 4023 was moved to headquarters and then off to the museum. It is awaiting a new home and will be moved again, so it probably will be on the real UP tracks again for a few miles. I would be interested in knowing where you read your information and what year you are referring to.

The last time this came up was when the BiG Boy at the Age of Steam in Dallas was used by a movie producer to get some publicity for himself. That was about two years ago and the rumors have never stopped. They actually moved the engine back and forth to check the main axle bearings and it was said they would rebuild the engine and use it in a movie. Sorry, that never happened.

The big story on the Union Pacific web page is the story about the 350 low emissions diesels just ordered, and not a word about one Big Boy that could make up for each and every low emissions diesel.

I really would like to know where you read the information that you gave.
Thank you for your reply.

[route_rock]

Grins and giggles heres the rub Big Boy wasnt the biggest the Ally was [}:)][}:)] Doyle wants to redo one of them after the PA project.I know its his wish list but hey more power to him.Plus I would like to know what websites you were at as well plus what the posters are smoking there.It sure isnt Bituminous grade#4 [:-^]

[Anonymous]

Sadly, the big boy will never be seen on the rails again. it can only run on a very small section of trackage (the curves it needs are only found in a small location) and that is far from where most people would be able to see it. it would not be feasable for any company to attempt to run an excursion with a locomotive restricted to a fraction of the rail line.

[railman]

QUOTE: Originally posted by SteamerFan

Sadly, the big boy will never be seen on the rails again. it can only run on a very small section of trackage (the curves it needs are only found in a small location) and that is far from where most people would be able to see it. it would not be feasable for any company to attempt to run an excursion with a locomotive restricted to a fraction of the rail line.

more "PROGRESS!"

[Anonymous]

Amen to the emissions, I think it is nothing but steam and a little smoke from the fire.

Even if they did run the big boy, there are hardly anyplace that can run it, The challenger was big enough for Arkansas. And the folks on the east coast probably will not lay eyes on one.

Hate to be the one to blowdown the boiler here but I think they will be so expensive and hard to run on today's rails.

We are working on the 819 Project and I am keeping an eye on that engine. I for one would like to see it under steam.

[ndbprr]

Technically Big Boys never left the rails since that is what supports them in the museums. Will they ever run again? About one year after peace in the Middle East breaks out and the major political parties in this country decide to work together. In a nutshell - NEVER AGAIN!

[railman]

By talking about the "track not taking it" what do we mean here? If they keep it on the mainlines they should be able to get away with it, no?

[dehusman]

The talk about various steam engines being unable to negoiate curves on the rail system or on the east coast is a bunch of hooey.

The Clinchfield, D&H, N&W and dozens of eastern roads ran engines as big or bigger than the 3985 (some were virtual twins of the 3985). As for the Big Boy being unable to run in the east, just recall where it was built. New York.

A 4-6-2 steam engine was traveling to a shortline to be filmed in the moxie "Biloxi Blues". It had to go around a wye and everybody was nervous about it negoiating the wye. They even went out and oiled the rail.
I did point out that an SD40-2 has a longer rigid wheelbase than the 4-6-2 and the railroad that owned the track ran 4-8-4's and 2-10-2's around the very same wye leg pulling trains. Its my opinion that steam engines are alot more forgiving than people give them credit for.

Dave H.

[railman]

I agree...paranoia. Most of these were built for steamers anyway.

[tpatrick]

I don't believe curves had much to do with where the BB ran. After all, the one now on display at Steamtown in Scranton must have negotiated plenty of curves to get to where it now is.

[Anonymous]

When the big-boy in Scranton was being moved to Bellows Falls, Vermont.
It passed trough Sayre , PA. It derailed on every crossover in the yard.

[Anonymous]

It would be nice and 'never say never', but the late Challengers and Big Boys are very similar and even share numerous parts. As an excursion engine, the Challenger is much more practical. For a movie, I'd guess it would be fairly easy to digitally morph the Challenger into a Big Boy.

Much as I like U.P. steam, I'd rather see the money and effort go towards something different. How about an S.P. Cab Forward or a complete 1930's 20th Century Limited including a 'Flash Gordon' Hudson(are there any around???). Maybe a CB&Q or C&NW Northern or Hudson, or fill_in_the blank.

[Anonymous]

QUOTE: Originally posted by up829

It would be nice and 'never say never', but the late Challengers and Big Boys are very similar and even share numerous parts. As an excursion engine, the Challenger is much more practical. For a movie, I'd guess it would be fairly easy to digitally morph the Challenger into a Big Boy.

Much as I like U.P. steam, I'd rather see the money and effort go towards something different. How about an S.P. Cab Forward or a complete 1930's 20th Century Limited including a 'Flash Gordon' Hudson(are there any around???). Maybe a CB&Q or C&NW Northern or Hudson, or fill_in_the blank.

UP829 Now that a name I can identify with. I have one of the FEF-2's numbered 829.

Just some updates on what is left out there to be rebuilt.

The Big Boy is coal fired and has much more weight on the drivers than the Challengers, so it would be a problem that the UP would not want. They actually tried to oil fire the 4005 back in 1949 when the coal strike was on, and the burner was not large enough to fire the locomotive without causing leaks in the firebox area because of uneven heating. Even the UP did not try to overcome this on the 4005 and converted it back to coal after a few trials. And I might add errors also to those trials.
Off course we can all dream, but the models we have is probably about as close to the real thing as we will see.

Your observation on the Cab Forward is a dream also, since the California Museum has the only one as their on of their main center pieces.

The CB&Q 5629 at the Golden Museum is you best choice, as it might be possible to get a museum to rebuild a 4 8 4. No C&NW Northern exist today, but two or three CB&Q Hudsons are still around. Union Illinois got the CB&Q Hudson a couple years ago and it really has promise if they can raise money for it.

Sad, but true, not one of the NYC 4 6 4’s was preserved for future generations. Two NYC 4-8-2's were preserved, one as a T&P replacement, but it came home a few years ago to the NYC museum in Indiana.

I for one would like to see one of the two Illinois Central 2500 class or maybe the 2542 rebuild, as they are both in parks. The steamboat whistle on those engine will make you love the IC just a little more. They sound much like the Frisco 1522.

Another good engine for fan trips would be the PRR M1b. The K4 that is being worked on at Steamtown will be ready next year they say to go back to Altoona. The 3751 was fired up last week and ran down to San Pedro for an exhibition. Several 4 8 4's still run like the daylight and the SP&S 700 in Portland. We are really grateful to have some of the engines running still today, because of much hard work from the crews that labor with them. Steam engines are not easy to work on, as I have helped with the NKP 765 on the road. You really don't want to know how hard it is to grease an engine, or work on a main bearing that is running hot.

[Anonymous]

Keep on dreaming!