Why Union Pacific decided not to run Big Boy 4014 to the West Coast tour this year. Was it change of plans or for whatever reason.
A friend who knows Ed Dickens very well said he has not talked about a trip to Pac NW as she wanted to go, she has heard nothing about it, but felt it was not going to happen .
It would sure be Nice if the UP remembered the PNW once in awhile, it has been ahella long time since either the 3985, or 844 have visited Portland
May your flanges always stay BETWEEN the rails
If memory serves correctly there had been plans for a loop trip over Donner, up the I-5 Corridor, then back to Wyoming along the Columbia River.
Similar to the Race Across The Southwest loop trip.
But COVID-19 and its aftermath put the kibosh on that trip.
I am still waiting for UP to give Big Boy the opportunity to wrest the title of "Heaviest Steam-Hauled Freight in The 21st Century" from the QJ doubleheader back in October 2008.
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=CzfjMuKIaKc&pp=ygUeUUogZnJlaWdodCB0cmFpbiBkb2libGUgaGVhZGVy
An animation of the Big Boy's operation
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Hszu80NJ438
Never too old to have a happy childhood!
kgbw49 I am still waiting for UP to give Big Boy the opportunity to wrest the title of "Heaviest Steam-Hauled Freight in The 21st Century" from the QJ doubleheader back in October 2008. https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=CzfjMuKIaKc&pp=ygUeUUogZnJlaWdodCB0cmFpbiBkb2libGUgaGVhZGVy
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Maybe someone should whisper in Andy Muller's ear. I know he broke 2102 in on a freight or two but I don't know what the tonnage was.
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Apparently, Mr. Vena and UPRR, HAVE HEARD YOU?
From a current poisting in the TRAINS Newswire:
FTA:"...OMAHA, Neb. — Union Pacific will send Big Boy No. 4014 on a “Four Corners” tour of its system in 2024, the railroad announced today, including stops in Oregon, California, Texas, and Illinois.
“As we move forward at Union Pacific, we remember where we came from; the Big Boy represents the history of Union Pacific and the United States,” Union Pacific CEO Jim Vena said in a message to UP’s “Steam Club,” which receives first notification of plans for the 4-8-8-4. “When No. 4014 comes to town, we will celebrate with the communities where we operate, our employees and their families. Together, we will marvel at how far technology has brought us.”
Anticipated stops include Chicago; Dallas-Fort Worth and Houston; Salt Lake City; Portland, Ore; Nampa, Idaho; and Roseville, Calif. A schedule and route information will be announced next year, and the railroad plans events for employees and their families in addition to public stops.
In an interview last month [see “The Trains Interview: Union Pacific CEO Jim Vena …,” Oct. 19, 2023], Vena had indicated he planned to use the Big Boy more..."
See linked @ https://www.trains.com/trn/news-reviews/news-wire/union-pacific-plans-major-big-boy-tour-in-2024/
The Biggest That Ever Was is going to get alot of attention! It will be interesting to see where the paths cross with the route of The Empress.
BaltACD, thank you for sharing that tremendous find of yours showing how a steam locomotive works using Big Boy!
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