Apparently the UPRR steam program is in turmoil after the report that the steam engines are to far gone for repair and it is being discontinued .Time will soon let us know from UP if this is true.
Hogwash
I find this hard to swallow. A determination of that kind would have been made long since, say as late as the end of June.
There's no information at all concerning such a happening on the Union Pacific Railroads' web site Steam Program news releases, so I'd give this story a -10 for being factual.
I have to agree with the others. If it didn't come from a press release by "Uncle Pete" it's probably not true.
The railfan rumor mill can be fun, but like any other rumor mill you have to take what you hear with a grain of salt, and a large one at that.
Too far gone to repair? Smaller groups with fewer resources, (money, shop space, tools and skilled labor) have returned to service locomotives in far worse condition.
I will wait to hear from UP themselves, before giving up on the 844 and 3985. The 4014 was extensively inspected before being selected for restoration. It is possible that something showed up that they missed, but it is hard to imagine that they missed something so serious that it would scrap the restoration, after so much Time, Money and Effort have been invested so far.
Could it be TRUE? YES, but I doubt it,
Doug
May your flanges always stay BETWEEN the rails
If it was once manufactured by man - it can be remanufactured (and repaired) by man.
The only question is how much do you want to spend to do it.
Never too old to have a happy childhood!
Grumpy Hogger Apparently the UPRR steam program is in turmoil after the report that the steam engines are to far gone for repair and it is being discontinued .Time will soon let us know from UP if this is true.
So where is the "report" that you refer to?
Euclid So where is the "report" that you refer to?
Harvey down at the local hobby shop heard it from Fred over at the XYZ hobby shop when he was shopping yesterday. Fred heard it from George's first cousin on his mother's side, who said he had heard it from Jethro, a volunteer at the Sagebrush & Cactus tourist railroad, when he was out train watching.
Can't get any more reliable than that!
Everyones funny sarcastic jokes are humourous, but all joking aside the UP Steam Program does seem to be making news, the bad way. Last year they had two bad incident IIRC, one where the drivers were flat spotted and another where the tool car ran away and derailed. Not to mention anyone who has seen pictures of the engines can tell something went terribly wrong with the water treatment. The engines are extremely corroded. Obviously its a rumour, but one based in truth.
Mechanical Department "No no that's fine shove that 20 pound set all around the yard... those shoes aren't hell and a half to change..."
The Missabe Road: Safety First
So why doesn't someone here e-mail the Trains staff - Editor Jim Wrinn seems pretty well-connected to the UP steam program - and have them make a formal inquiry on our behalf about "What's going on ?" Then we'll see if the response shows up here, on the NewsWire, a UP press release, etc.
- Paul North.
There is no "too far gone to repair" for 844, even if there is significant damage to the boiler shell and not just the tubes and sheets (we had a thread on this a few months ago; 838's boiler can be used; UP has the funds and the 'political will' to do whatever rebuilding may be necessary. Rather obviously work on 4014 has just gotten under way (so no unpredicted disasters there, burners or no burners) and 3985 is only in limbo until the prioritized Big Boy work is done.
What may be 'too far gone to repair' is Mr. Dickens' authority over the steam program, and the reported lack of experience and humility that has developed there recently. But that is another story, perhaps for another discussion.
The stories I've seen come from a guy who knows steam, and knows the UP steam program intimately from the days of Steve Lee, Bob Krieger, Lynn Nystrom, etc. Those guys are gone now, and the current director, according to this person, has done a great job of alienating everyone who used to be able to be counted on to keep things running. That may be a "political" observation, but the facts are that the 844 was damaged by questionable procedures, and will require extensive work to get it back into running condition. The 3985 has not run for years, and the 4014 will not run for years to come yet. This was the first year that UP has not been able to run any steam, and, realistically, it won't be the last.I'm sure there's more than a little bit of venom in this person's observations, but it's also evident that things are not exactly as rosy up in Cheyenne as official sources would lead you to believe. It's sad.
Carl
Railroader Emeritus (practiced railroading for 46 years--and in 2010 I finally got it right!)
CAACSCOCOM--I don't want to behave improperly, so I just won't behave at all. (SM)
Paul_D_North_Jr So why doesn't someone here e-mail the Trains staff - Editor Jim Wrinn seems pretty well-connected to the UP steam program - and have them make a formal inquiry on our behalf about "What's going on ?" Then we'll see if the response shows up here, on the NewsWire, a UP press release, etc. - Paul North.
Since I don't follow anyother "Fan" Forums... I think that PAUL NORTH is absolutely spot-on in his suggestion.
Jim Wrenn, and the TRAINS staff have done such a remarkable amount of covering the 4014 movement from So Cal back to Cheyenne. It would seem to be the perfectly natural thing to do; to have someone from TRAINS Staff go to their 'sources' within the UPR Steam Program, and find out what the heck is going on out there. The TRUTH of that situation would go a long way in creating more credibility for the magazine; while allowing the UP Steam Program to tell it's side of the story. For those of us who are concerned, and interested in the further success of the UP's Steam Program; it would be very meaningful to have access to the truths, and not have to rely on 'over the water cooler' speculation.
.
coborn35 [snipped - PDN] . . . the UP Steam Program does seem to be making news, the bad way. Last year they had two bad incident IIRC, one where the drivers were flat spotted and another where the tool car ran away and derailed. Not to mention anyone who has seen pictures of the engines can tell something went terribly wrong with the water treatment. The engines are extremely corroded. Obviously its a rumour, but one based in truth.
I would opine that the passion for steam evident in the folks Carl mentions has been replaced by "business." That isn't usually a good thing for something like this. Hopefully, somebody will see the error of that and correct it.
Larry Resident Microferroequinologist (at least at my house) Everyone goes home; Safety begins with you My Opinion. Standard Disclaimers Apply. No Expiration Date Come ride the rails with me! There's one thing about humility - the moment you think you've got it, you've lost it...
http://cs.trains.com/trn/b/staff/archive/2013/07/26/southern-4501-norfolk-amp-western-611-and-now-union-pacific-4014-can-it-get-any-better-than-this.aspx
About a year ago....
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