Posted 9 years ago
fortapache
(3417 items)
I was going to post some caboose photos but I ran across these so we will go with the Big Boy.
The Big Boy series locomotives were arguably the largest locomotives ever built with a 4-8-8-4 wheel arrangement. Basically it was two giant locomotives put together to make a truly gigantic locomotive.
It was on static display at the Pomona Fairplex until recently when Union Pacific decided to restore it to operating condition. 4014 was in the best condition of all the remaining Big Boys as it was well cared for and in dry climate.
The first three photos were taken at the Union Pacific yard in Colton. The last photo is from Pomona.
Everything about this locomotive was huge from the lead wheel section to the centipede tender. Hamburger and hot dog buns were kept behind the cow catcher should an unfortunate cow wander on to the tracks.
These pictures remind me of when I was traveling with my sister and nephew in Virginia and we stopped in a town called Crewe and they have this little train museum and outside they have this old steam engine and some railcars and then the caboose at the end and I took pictures of my nephew pretending to run the train. He had a fascination with trains as a child. He has since grown up and gone off to college. I will always cherish that memory though.
Thank you itmidcent568. Glad I could bring back a memory.
nice pictures,,,,,,,,,,,
Freight or passenger services was the principal purpose?? I'm guessing freight, as a locomotive this big for hauling passengers would have been uneconomic.
M
Thank you kindly Roy Croft.
Thank you verretcheque. It was for freight service in WWII to carry freight over the Rockies. At about 60mph it was fast for freight but slow for passenger service.
Thanks for the info. This locomotive has an air of dragster about it, "it works well, but let's just stick another block in there, to be sure". Love it. It makes so-called "muscle" trains looking like 8 st and 6lbs weaklings and in serious need of help from Charles Atlas...
I love that train & am so sad that the cool train at the Geneva Steel Park in Privo Utah was sold and went out of State as was the Train in Liberty Park in Salt Lake. What were those guys thinking to let those awesome trains get away?
GIGANTIC!!! Does that mean it could pull double the amount of cars?
You are welcome verretcheque. It does indeed have that look.
Thank you very much Rattletrap. I am a bit bummed they are taking away our Big Boy but glad it will be operating again.
Thank you very much Trey. What it could do is carry a heavy train over mountains like the nearby Cajon Pass without a helper locomotive so I think that is a yes.
Thank you
racer4four
antiquerose
vetraio50
mikelv85
Manikan
pw-collector
sklo42
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verrecheque
Caperkid
Rattletrap
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Trey
RonM
blunderbuss2
Thank you
EJW-54
SEAN68
THANKS fort, for pointing out your own showing here of the same magnificently HUGE chunk of huffa-puffa iron that I just witnessed today for the first time?!!
<applause>
Impressive machine!
Lata, here's my own post/showing when BigBoy was here for a visit last summer. Don't miss the YouTube link at the bottom... ;-) ;-) :-) :-)
Thanks to you for bringing fort's post back to the top of the list this afternoon...what pleasant memories it unexpectedly brought to me, too... :-) :-) :-)
But aww crap, I suppose it'd help if I actually put the link to my post in here too...
<headdesk>
https://www.collectorsweekly.com/stories/274281-a-rather-distinguished-visitor-was-in-to
Thank you very much Lata.
Thank you very much AO. Hopefully I can see it next time it comes by and maybe even get a ride.
Here's another fun video (NOT mine, caught by a friend I doubt would mind I'm sharing it here without his advance permission) of Union Pacific #4014 AND #344 steam locos hitched up *together* with the 'heritage train' behind and otherwise on their way to the Cheyenne UP Steam Shops. IIRC, this was probably #4014's 'initial run' (or something pretty close to that) from its former 'static display' in CA, first time it'd done so since 1959 or so...or maybe it was its first 'road trip' test run after they restored it, I don't really remember that either.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qOlY2659TSk
I've been blessed on more than one occasion now (probably 3?) to have not only been able to view #344 in person 'on display' and 'in operation' here, but to have also experienced riding in a (different set of) vintage UP passenger coaches pulled by that one. Met (momentarily at least) our then Governor and LR Mayor during that ride...lots of fun then and lots more fun to rememberize now... ;-) :-) :-)
Aww D*mmit again -- of course I mean UP #*844* instead of 344... <headdesk>
AO great video. In the not so long ago when 4014 was a mere static display I was able to go in the cab and sit in the engineers seat. The firebox on that thing is huge.