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UP's 4000's were designed specificaly for the Wahsatch grade between Ogden, Utah and Green River, Wyoming. Their territory was later expanded east to Cheyenne. This was the only territory built to handle these engines, and they were restricted to these divisions for that reason. Unlike diesel operations today, steam locomotives were designed for specific territories and operated within their divisions, unlike diesels running through and remaining with the train for its entire route. It was not practical for a railroad to build its entire plant to handle it's largest power when it was only run on a specific division or divisions. Today, there simply aren't many places left to run a 4000 anymore. It would probably take several million dollars to restore one to operating condition. I doubt $200,000 would go much beyond an FRA inspection and boiler test. One other operating snag would be fueling. The 4000's have too large of a firebox to facilitate oil firing. UP tried it once with the 4005 and could not get it to work. So now you have the problem of getting enough coal to enough places to keep it running. Of course filling the tender is going to be a challenge in itself. Recall, also, the first trips the 3985 made fired with coal and all of the fires it started from the hot cinders. UP converted it to oil very quickly after that. <br />I do not mean to sound so negative, I'm just being realistic. I would love nothing more than to see a 4000 under steam, and I would eat my words with relish. It just isn't practical or economical to spend that much money to restore an engine and not be able to operate it anywhere.
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