Who going to odgen utah to meet the 4014 and the 844? I know I got my tickets and reservations. It's going to be an historic weekend!!!
I'm going to try!
-Don (Random stuff, mostly about trains - what else? http://blerfblog.blogspot.com/)
oltmannd I'm going to try! It's going to be historic in the rsil fan world.
As somebody who is a Utah local... yes I will be there. Its not some great journey for me to drive the hour to Ogden and the hour and a half to Promontory Summit. However, let me be honest... I think a lot of us local railfans are scared of May 2019 now. While Utah is often treated as a holy grail of railfanning by outsiders, we know sort of a more secluded and local railfan style. People often talk about James Belmont for example as some railfan photography great, but to me he is just the guy I see trackside sometimes and watch as he shares silly memes between himself and Mark Hemphill on Facebook. I have railfanned side by side with a lot of the lcoal photographers, and have made good friends with them. That's sort of how our community is, small but tight nit.
We know that while Soldier Summit looks great, it sees very limited traffic these days. The Utah Railway which was once a mighty coal hauler is now a switching service basically on the whim of BNSF. Echo Canyon, while gorgeous is often over-rated. The old SP and WP lines are stunning in isolation, but have some danger to them due to the high desert sparesness. Break down in a car far away from the highway, without water or shade or cell service and quickly things can turn into a survival situation. We know that the desert line the former LASL traveled is a hidden scenic wonder, from the flat dry plain to the juniper pine crested hills. We also know the hidden wonder of watching an old SD or GP series unit crawling along jointed rail on the isolated Cache Valley and Malad Branches. And all in all, we are sick of UP yellow. Its everywhere, shows up in all our pictures, and makes us yearn for the day when Utah was a true 'Crossroads' were not only the UP, but the SP, DRGW and WP all joined together in a great patchwork across the state. About the only corner of the state truly foreign to us is the distant Desert Power Railway, something all of us have on our bucket lists to see but somehow keep forgetting to actually make plans to head out to see it. And when we explore these places, its as a small close knit group. We sometimes have our out of state visitors; sure, who have seemed to have become part of the local family. I have spent overnight trips with railfan friends, eating breakfasts in dinners in obscure towns such as Milford, or taking friends to eat at the local dives in my hometown. But the image of thousands of outsider railfans descending on our spots and our hallowed locations just feels a bit, violating to be honest. Its one thing to stand in a small photoline with a few friends and some locals who came out to see 844 or something... but to wade through a crowd of people from across the nation... no the world... coming to see Big Boy and the May 10th proceedings in Promontory? It scares us. Imagine Radiator Springs from the Cars films, and then imagine how the locals felt when hundreds of reports swarmed the town to find Lightning McQueen (strange analogy, I know...). My point is, we are somewhat afraid our secrets will 'go public,' that somehow the crowds will make it less special for us, that rather than being able to enjoy the festivities in our own state we will be forced to become hosts to a largely outsider crowd. Sure the state tourism boards are super happy to see the crowd coming. You know it means something when the politicians and the choirs and the buses all descend on the Summit to play up the crowd in town for the event. Heck, I am sure the local buisness will eat it all up to, some of those small towns are pretty isolated and might enjoy the quick revenue boost from such a giant railfan crowd (my recommendation? After visiting Promontory Summit swing up to Perry, Utah and try the Maddox Steakhouse. Or while in Salt Lake City stop by Red Iguana 2 and eat lunch on the patio, trust me...). But don't be surprised if you do see any of us locals at any of these events, we might look tired, flustered and frankly a bit overwhelmed. You might even hear whispers of us planning to sneak of to someplace such as Ely, Nevada or even down to Durango for our steam train fix while crowds swarm the Big Boy; or back up plans for us to visit Promontory Summit ourselves on say May 17 to avoid the May 10th crowd...
xboxtravis7992 As somebody who is a Utah local... yes I will be there. Its not some great journey for me to drive the hour to Ogden and the hour and a half to Promontory Summit. However, let me be honest... I think a lot of us local railfans are scared of May 2019 now. While Utah is often treated as a holy grail of railfanning by outsiders, we know sort of a more secluded and local railfan style. People often talk about James Belmont for example as some railfan photography great, but to me he is just the guy I see trackside sometimes and watch as he shares silly memes between himself and Mark Hemphill on Facebook. I have railfanned side by side with a lot of the lcoal photographers, and have made good friends with them. That's sort of how our community is, small but tight nit. We know that while Soldier Summit looks great, it sees very limited traffic these days. The Utah Railway which was once a mighty coal hauler is now a switching service basically on the whim of BNSF. Echo Canyon, while gorgeous is often over-rated. The old SP and WP lines are stunning in isolation, but have some danger to them due to the high desert sparesness. Break down in a car far away from the highway, without water or shade or cell service and quickly things can turn into a survival situation. We know that the desert line the former LASL traveled is a hidden scenic wonder, from the flat dry plain to the juniper pine crested hills. We also know the hidden wonder of watching an old SD or GP series unit crawling along jointed rail on the isolated Cache Valley and Malad Branches. And all in all, we are sick of UP yellow. Its everywhere, shows up in all our pictures, and makes us yearn for the day when Utah was a true 'Crossroads' were not only the UP, but the SP, DRGW and WP all joined together in a great patchwork across the state. About the only corner of the state truly foreign to us is the distant Desert Power Railway, something all of us have on our bucket lists to see but somehow keep forgetting to actually make plans to head out to see it. And when we explore these places, its as a small close knit group. We sometimes have our out of state visitors; sure, who have seemed to have become part of the local family. I have spent overnight trips with railfan friends, eating breakfasts in dinners in obscure towns such as Milford, or taking friends to eat at the local dives in my hometown. But the image of thousands of outsider railfans descending on our spots and our hallowed locations just feels a bit, violating to be honest. Its one thing to stand in a small photoline with a few friends and some locals who came out to see 844 or something... but to wade through a crowd of people from across the nation... no the world... coming to see Big Boy and the May 10th proceedings in Promontory? It scares us. Imagine Radiator Springs from the Cars films, and then imagine how the locals felt when hundreds of reports swarmed the town to find Lightning McQueen (strange analogy, I know...). My point is, we are somewhat afraid our secrets will 'go public,' that somehow the crowds will make it less special for us, that rather than being able to enjoy the festivities in our own state we will be forced to become hosts to a largely outsider crowd. Sure the state tourism boards are super happy to see the crowd coming. You know it means something when the politicians and the choirs and the buses all descend on the Summit to play up the crowd in town for the event. Heck, I am sure the local buisness will eat it all up to, some of those small towns are pretty isolated and might enjoy the quick revenue boost from such a giant railfan crowd (my recommendation? After visiting Promontory Summit swing up to Perry, Utah and try the Maddox Steakhouse. Or while in Salt Lake City stop by Red Iguana 2 and eat lunch on the patio, trust me...). But don't be surprised if you do see any of us locals at any of these events, we might look tired, flustered and frankly a bit overwhelmed. You might even hear whispers of us planning to sneak of to someplace such as Ely, Nevada or even down to Durango for our steam train fix while crowds swarm the Big Boy; or back up plans for us to visit Promontory Summit ourselves on say May 17 to avoid the May 10th crowd...
It's more than just the rebirth of the 4014, but the celebration of the joining of the two Railroads. It can only highlight how far railroading, our nation and the world has progressed in 150 years. It will truely show case Utah and the people of the region.
For me it's a dream come true that the union papific will help celebrate my birthday. And what a present, a big boy, and a Northern in such a historic and beautiful location.
I got my tickets. Maybe we can join forces and you can show me around.
Hmmm now if I could get an operational 2102 fir Christmas, 2019 may be perfect.
Are tickets required for actual event(s) for 4014? How and where can these be purchased.
Thank you.
What tickets are you talking about? Tickets for the National Park Service presentation at Promontory Summit?
No, I bought my west bound air line tickets, and booked east bound roomettes for the trip for Erie PA.
A friend and I hope to go, she is friends with Ed and UP steam crew, and she is composing a song that she would like UP to use at the festivities. So it all up in the air for us, no plans to drive that far and end up way back in the crowd and see nothing. Wait and see what happens.
Seeing the 4014 would be cool. But the thought of that many crazy steam fans in one place will keep me away.
The opinions expressed here represent my own and not those of my employer, any other railroad, company, or person.
The locomotives will be on display at the railroad museum at the union station in odgen.
Sounds good. I hope to chase the 4014 and the 844.
Lord willing, I'll be there!
I've already made hotel reservations and have pre-paid (with points) my sleeping car space.
I missed the centenary. I surely don't want to miss the sesquicentennial!
In 1969, I wasn't quite 12 years old so I didn't make the centenary either. In 2019, I will be 61.5 years old and the Good Lord willing I will be somewhere online. After several years of driving a truck through Utah, I am not going to say I know all the roads but I can read a map! We plan on driving out of Chicago following I-80 stopping along the way until we get west of Cheyenne. After that we will be looking for places to shoot and sleep. Surely we figure at this point that everything is going to have to be loose. I hope UP doesn't run into problems with the restoration of 4014 or anything else that could scrub the journey. You can bet that John Gruber, Jim Shaughnessy, Richard Steinheimer, and all the rest that have passed on will be sitting on high watching us still here chasing the parade. Surely, they would all like to be there but actually, they got the best photo spots!
Well said, well said. Like you I missed the centennial, but I'll be Damm if I missing this.
We need to compare notes on shoting locations.
By what has been released by the up, the 4014, itineray to odgen will be published in advance.
Are u still living near the nkp region?
God willing, wr will see you on the hunt.
Rob
This site is of interest to me. In May 1969 I was a railfan who had not met my wife. I have seen most states, but have not been everywhere. Now my wife and I are averaging close to 85, and we have lived in farmhouses, logging camps, small towns and citys, mostly in the state of Washington. The Trains Magazine tour would be the cats meow, but neither one of us can afford it. UP and SP historical societies are having a May 2019 joint convention, where we could fit in, even though my road is Northern Pacific. The facilities at Promintory are much better than in 1969, but I would rather arrive in a bus than try to find a parking lot. We may drive all the way to Council Bluffs to visit relatives, and try to find #4014 & #844 in Wyoming. Otherwise, we want to know if they will to steam to Portland, Sacramento or Los Angeles after May 10,2019.
ROBERT WILLISON Who going to odgen utah to meet the 4014 and the 844? I know I got my tickets and reservations. It's going to be an historic weekend!!!
ROBERT WILLISONp
Great news....hope to see you there!!!!
Does anybody have any idea what kind of schedule the 4014 might run on across WY? I realize this is all guesswork unless one is a UP insider. I’m would like to book some campgrounds across WY. Of course the 4014 will be in Ogden on May 10. Would it be reasonable to think the UP might plan for the Big Boy to arrive there a day or two earlier to allow for contingencies? I think I read the plan is to run during daylight only, so maybe three days from Cheyenne to Ogden? That would mean leaving Cheyenne on May 4? Do these sound like reasonable guesses? Again, just guessing, might the engine overnight at Rawlings, then Green River? Or maybe just a single overnight at Green River?
According to the Union Pacific press releases, they are going to provide a schedule of events including the move west in the near future. They plan to maximize exposure to the run by making many stops along the way.
I think it will be a pretty well documented move.
They say the 4014 will be arriving from the east on or near may 8, the 844 from the West on May 9.
Once the schedule is finalized, it's going to be an very historic day in the the world of rail fans, steam buffs and for the Union Pacific.
They say the 4014 will be arriving from the eadt on or near may 8, the 844 from the West on May 9.
Our community is FREE to join. To participate you must either login or register for an account.