The UP4023 Big Boy on the Move.

[Mookie]

This means BNSF train watching in Lincoln is not going to be good the rest of the day and possibly into tomorrow...Sigh...

I would take the Big Guy in a heartbeat and the Driver would then have me committed!

Steamerfan: Wonderful pictures! You just saved me a trip to Omaha.

Back next Monday to see the rest of the saga!

[Modelcar]

SteamerFan: Great, great photos, much appreciated. Really great detail...! And wow...! A real problem crossing that last set of tracks. It appears the buildup of the wood plank supports weren't built up high enough on each side and the boggie set in the center couldn't retract any further and took all the weight in the center and that crushed that boggie integrity. I notice these fellows on this rig did the same as the movers here in Muncie I mentioned earlier, and that is they fastened those steel beams together under the load with C-CLAMPS...! I am amazed that is adequate to do the job but obviously they must do the job....!
Boy, being stuck on the tracks and with a crushed boggie....that really must be one massive problem.
Again, thanks for the great photos for us to see....!

[Modelcar]

....It appears it will need a coat of paint when it arrives at it's destination so Jen, maybe you can get a job renewing it's look....and maybe a job for Driver too....

[Anonymous]

LOL, as with all things related to UP, it broke down on the tracks!

http://www.uphs.org/4023move.html

[Mookie]

And if I can get there in time, maybe I can confuse the workers and have it just go onto the interstate and right on down the road to my house!

Ain't technology grand!

[Modelcar]

....A few years ago at our local University had a large partly stone building moved and it was supported by a similar arrangement as is under the Big Boy. These rigs have a computer controlled leveling devise that transmits data to each boggie and each is adjusted hydraulically to maintain the steel frame holding the load in a level position as it travels over different grades, etc....So in this case most likely the Big Boy will be maintained in a level position as it moves.

[Mookie]

Only if the people from Wisconsin send lots of $....

[railman]

Oh, it's so close to those tracks...maybe we can wrangle the state of Nebraska to fund getting it running...sigh.

[Anonymous]

The paper said they were expecting lots of railfans out to see the big move. As an Omahan, I'll try to sneak a peak, but I see the engine on a regular basis as it is.

The Big Boy and the Centennial will be positioned on a hill right next to I-80 as you cross over the Missouri River into Nebraska from Iowa. They wanted to use the giant steamer and diesel as a welcome mat into the state of Nebraska. It's very fitting considering the history that the railroad industry has in Omaha and Nebraska.

[Mookie]

Everything in Omaha is uphill.....

[Anonymous]

QUOTE: Originally posted by Modelcar

I've taken another look at the platform and it appears the diesel / generator is right on the platform and remote controlled.

right, the above mentioned article of the local newspaer stated that it will crawl at 3 mph and needs to go up hills to get to where it has to go.

[dehusman]

It should be across the mains by now. It goes to the park on Saturday. They have been jacking it up on the carrier and working on prep for a couple months .

Dave H.

[Mookie]

Awesome!

[Modelcar]

I've taken another look at the platform and it appears the diesel / generator is right on the platform and remote controlled.

[Modelcar]

....So this supporting platform has hydraulic powered wheel sets to power it's self....and won't require trucks to pull it. Wonder where the power is generated to provide the hydraulic power, possibly in a trailing vehicle with a diesel operated generator and connected by cables or possibly the generator set is right on the platform rig....

[Anonymous]

I called the Omaha world herald yesterday and it's on the front page.
www.omaha.com
BNSFrailfan.

[Modelcar]

....And heavy..!

[Mookie]

Wonderful pictures - lot better than I would get!

The old boy doesn't look so intimidating from this angle, but standing right next to it, up close and personal - you could almost hear a heartbeat. And it is huge!

[Modelcar]

SteamerFan....Very excellent photos...very much appreciated. From the view of the engine on it's platform it looks like I'm seeing at least the rear trailing truck is still attached to the engine....
Seeing the platform and the supporting boggie sets and the relative flat and smooth surface it will travel on, I'd say it will not be much of a problem to move it forward. The kind of trucks they use to do pulling of such loads are equipped with gear ratios so slow it will move right out.....

[spbed]

Thanks for the pix. I saw her live & in person when I visited the UPRR HQs. [:)]

QUOTE: Originally posted by SteamerFan

Here ya go, a pic of the beast already: http://www.trainboard.com/cgi-bin/ultimatebb.cgi?ubb=get_topic;f=9;t=005438;p=0

[Modelcar]

...If you're relying on the media to provide some photos of moving a "railroad engine"....we're in big trouble...Not sure many of them would know what it is....Especially a steam engine...!

[Anonymous]

Here ya go, a pic of the beast already: http://www.trainboard.com/cgi-bin/ultimatebb.cgi?ubb=get_topic;f=9;t=005438;p=0

[Mookie]

QUOTE: Originally posted by kenneo

Mook-----

Ed is going to bring his Hemi. Should take just one - his.

Tell him to show you his Mafia Car pictures!

And for the rest of you, Dave lives in Omaha and probably has a decent camera. My camera is one that still uses flash powder and with even a twelve shot roll of film, it still takes me 2 years to get enough pictures to get it developed. Don't worry - someone will have those pictures all over the news, weather and sports and forum!

Mook

[Mookie]

QUOTE: Originally posted by dehusman

The Big Boy has had lead and trailing trucks removed and is loaded on a a structural steel frame that has dozens of dualie wheels under it. Its not even moving on the tracks. They spent Wednesday building a ramp across the UP and BNSF mains to drive it across the tracks to a parking lot next to the Amtrak station. From there it will be moved to a display location at the botanical gardens which is right at the west end, north side of the I-80 bridge across the Missouri.

Dave H.

Dave - any timetable as to when and how long this will take place? I would think it would take several days of set up and moving to get it to it's final resting place, but since they moved if from Kennefick, maybe they have it down to a science.

Mookie

[Anonymous]

Hmm..definatly need to see pics of this bad baby being pulled down a city street.

[kenneo]

Mook-----

Ed is going to bring his Hemi. Should take just one - his.

[railman]

Go pictures!

[monkeyman2]

I WANNA SEE PICTURES!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!Thats sounds REALLY Cool!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Modelcar]

....Sure hope someone can be present and catch photos and put some on here to see.
...Did you hear that Jen....

[Modelcar]

....That's a bunch of weight to move....Engine and tender loaded would be over 500 tons....So the engine alone minus some wheel trucks might weigh...300 tons or so. still very heavy for city streets but weight being dispersed by the dozens of supporting wheels it should be ok...They move large buildings that weigh that much and more...They can use several trucks to move it...just by adding as many as it takes to make it move.