Boy Scouts of America & UP RR Commemorative Unit 2010

[samfp1943]

Piece on the BSA Facebook page:  http://www.facebook.com/pages/Boy-Scouts-of-America/113441755297#!/pages/Boy-Scouts-of-America/113441755297?v=wall

Posted yesterday that the 2010 would be unveiled on March 31,2010 in Houston, Tx. at the AMTRAK Station.   Locomotive was painted at North Little Rock @ Jenks Shops.

From what I've read the Unit painted is(or was) #7469 at 2009 GEVO. So this is apparently, not as had been surmised, the Bush UNit 4141.     4141 is stored at Jenks for some time.

So I guess, this one will be for ED B. and his gang down in HOUSTON to check out, and either confirm or deny.  Hopefully, the Houstonians can get some pictures on this FORUM. 

SHO NUFF!!   See post below w/ED's pictures.

[ns3010]

I'm interested in this unit, not only because I am a scout, but also because of all I've heard about it. The fact that it's an ES44 (I hate GEs, I think they should have stayed with the SD70s, but whatever...), and I've heard that it will only have the seal applied, and not be repainted entirely.

I'd like to see what this will really come out to be...

[samfp1943]

Here is some additional info from the Boy Scouts Facebook page (NOTE: Linked herr in my first post):

additional information here from the Conroe,Tx;The Courrier of Montgomery County Newspaper:

http://www.hcnonline.com/articles/2010/03/31/conroe_courier/news/scouts033110.txt

IN this linked story is the tale of who, why, and howand where this Commemorative Locomotive will be debuted: (Houston Amtrak Statin at 11 Am 3/31/2010) 

This is the info from the BSA Facebook page 

Robert Smith An Union Pacific employee & Eagle Scout was mastermind of UP#2010. Story of why ceremony moved to Houston fron Dallas. http://bit.ly/dbEbom

 

[Awesome!]

From Railspot yahoo group

''ALL ABOARD!

UNION PACIFIC NO. 2010, BOY SCOUTS OF AMERICA COMMEMORATIVE LOCOMOTIVE, TO BE UNVEILED IN HOUSTON

Executive leadership of Union Pacific Railroad (UP) and the Boy Scouts of America (BSA) will unveil to the public the UP No. 2010, Boy Scouts of America Locomotive in Houston, Texas. A very rare honor, Union Pacific has created only 10 commemorative locomotives in its nearly 150-year history.

The UP No. 2010, Boy Scouts of America Locomotive was created in tribute to the BSA's Centennial and honors Scouting's 100-year impact on the nation.

The Honorable Ed Emmett, Harris County Judge

Bob Turner, Senior Vice President of Corporate Relations, Union Pacific

Bob Mazzuca, Chief Scout Executive, Boy Scouts of America

John Gottschalk, President, Boy Scouts of America

Tom Varnell, Scout Executive, Sam Houston Area Council, Boy Scouts of America

Wednesday, March 31, 2010
11 a.m. to noon
Houston Amtrak Depot
902 Washington Avenue
Houston, Texas 77002 ''

[samfp1943]

From the UP RR web site:

http://www.uprr.com/newsinfo/graphics/media_kit/boyscouts/up_2010_boyscout_web.jpg

THE 2010 BSA Coimmemorative Locomotive...Congratulations to the Boy Scouts for 100 years and UP RR

For commemorating employees service to the Scouts.

[edblysard]

Here ya go, fresh off the memory card, as requested.

This one had the UP Officers and a local Scout troop , one of which gave the dedication speech.

[samfp1943]

ED:

          YOU ARE THE MAN!    Thanks,

[tatans]

HEY ! !  They aren't actually going to let those kids operate that locomotive on their own are they ? ?

 Also, If I'm not mistaken BSA stands for Birmingham Small Arms, A British company that made classic motorcycles (if only I had one)  their logo is almost identical except the scouts added an extra wing.     am I dating myself ?

[ns3010]

Very nice- I like it. Although I kinda wish they did a full paint job. I'd like to see it tan...

Thanks for the photos Ed!

[ouengr]

 The paint job is a little bland.  I really expected more with all of the secrecy that UP had with this unit.  Maybe it is true that the unit will keep the special markings for only one year and that did not justify a full paint job.  As an Eagle Scout, I am please to see the Union Pacific Railroad honor the BSA in this way.

[wholeman]

 I'm also an Eagle Scout and an Assistant Scoutmaster.  I am going to pull some photos from the web and show the troop.  I think they will be interested.

[edblysard]

No,

In fact, although it was shut down, the locomotive was crewed through the entire presentation, just in case someone managed to get in the cab and play with something they shouldn't and both the front and rear cab doors were locked.

Plenty of special agents on hand to make sure no one climbed up on the steps or tried to enter the cab.

I knew a few of the guys there, and was offered an inside photo, but declined simply because from the spectators point of view, if I could climb up in there, they should be allowed to also.

Besides, if you have been in one GE cab, you pretty much seen all there is to see.

Sorry if this offends anyone, but from a railroaders point of view, locomotives are nothing but a tool we use to do our jobs.

I know that for most fans they are somewhat of an artifact and a thing to be admired and looked over, but for us, its just another AC44...although I do commend UP for honoring the Boy Scouts.

I too was a Scout, and a lot of the lessons I learned scouting have served me well all though life.

[garyla]

It's great to see UP doing something positive with the Boy Scouts.  Things have changed with Uncle Pete.

Just a few years ago (before J. Young became CEO), UP had the worst shoot-yourself-in-the-foot bad PR in the rail industry.  One incident was a lame, sudden eviction of the Scouts from using storage space at UP property in San Leandro, Calif.

[eolafan]

As someone who attained the rank of Life Scount and was honored to be initiated into the Order of The Arrow...way back in 1966, all I can say to U.P. is WAY COOL!

[wanswheel]

http://images.nypl.org/index.php?id=1665898&t=w

http://images.nypl.org/index.php?id=1665897&t=w

[samfp1943]

 

 

wanswheel

http://images.nypl.org/index.php?id=1665898&t=w

http://images.nypl.org/index.php?id=1665897&t=w

The PRR is one of my favorite Steam designs and was one of Raymond Loewy's streamlined designs.

 http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/PRR_S1     (linked here from the PRR S-1 piece on Wikipedia)

 [[edit] "Alleged speed records"

"...It was hoped that the locomotive could haul 1,000 tons at 100 miles per hour, but this goal was not reached. There are apocryphal stories of the S1 reaching or exceeding 140 miles per hour, but there is no documentation of this and it is considered unlikely by experts.^[7]

      Its high speed capability wa s such that some have claimed the S1 may have even exceeded the 126 mph (203 km/h) record steam locomotive speed set in 1938 by the LNER locomotive Mallard. The locomotive was also rumoured to have operated at speeds exceeding 156 MPH on the Fort Wayne-Chicago Railroad, as it was rumoured that the PRR received a fine posted by an interlocking tower on the division, proving the claim. However, it appears that no verifiable records are available to authenticate the claims.^[7].."

^{Thanks for sharing the info on the Boy Scouts at the 1939 Worlds Fair on Long Island and the note.}