rsj4trainsafter which they were towed to Cheyenne
That is really a very sad statement, and an astounding one too, when you think how much it cost to build them not that many years before.
Bruce
So shovel the coal, let this rattler roll.
"A Train is a Place Going Somewhere" CP Rail Public Timetable
"O. S. Irricana"
. . . __ . ______
Many years ago I was talking to Ron zeil who wrote the book "The twilight of steam locomotives".Ron was one of the few photographers who photographed steam locomotives getting scrapped.He did have one or two photos in his book of the big boys on the dead track awaiting scrapping and asked him about those photos.He told me that the Union pacific loved those locomotives so much it broke their heart to scrap them.He said they did the scrapping in the shops by Union pacific workers so nobody would witness or photograph the deed.He said he managed to get into one of the shops and quickly took one roll of film worth of pictures before he left.One of the scrappers asked him if he would like to cut one of the piston rods in half and he said "I just couldn't do that to something I love so much".The scrapper told him "I don't like it either".
According to the following reference:
"The Big Legacy of the Union Pacific Big Boy"
by
James J. Reisdorff and Michael M. Bartels
South Platte Press, April 2006
"The final season of service for the Big Boys was July 6 -21, 1959 when the 4011, 4014, 4015, 4017, 4019 and 4023 made 45 round trips between Cheyenne and Laramie. It ended with the 4015 arriving in Cheyenne at 7:55 p.m. on July 21."
"At the final phase-out of Union Pacific steam operations in 1959, there were still six Big Boys stored at the roundhouse in Green River, Wyo., while the roundhouse at Laramie still contained four. The remaining 15 engines of the 4000 class were stored at Cheyenne. The so-called Green River and Laramie Big Boys then remained at their respective terminals until they were officially retired by Union Pacific, after which they were towed to Cheyenne to join their brothers for final disposition."
In an ironic twist of fate, the last Big Boy to operate under steam (4015) was the first Big Boy to be scrapped in September, 1961. Fourteen of the Big Boys were scrapped in Cheyenne and three (4003, 4010 and 4020) were towed to a steel mill near Provo, Utah for scrapping. Eight of the Big Boys (4004, 4005, 4006, 4012, 4014, 4017, 4018 and 4023) were saved and are currently on display.
I was wondering if anyone knew the last time a Big Boy was under steam? I know the last revenue run was in 1959. I also have read that a few were kept in operational status until 1962. When they were retired were they pulled dead in tow or steamed under their own power to other locations for display or scrapping? A Google search turns up a lot of info but not much after their retirement. Thanks in advance!
John
Our community is FREE to join. To participate you must either login or register for an account.