Posted 5 years ago
AnythingOb…
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Violating my own rules just a little again, because this thing *obviously* isn't in my own personal property collections... <giggle> ...nonetheless a splendid way to spend a sunny afternoon "visiting" as it spent the day today here "on exhibit". <smile>
This is UNION PACIFIC STEAM locomotive #4014, ca. 1941, recently fully restored in the UP Steam Shops in Cheyenne, WY (2013-17 or so) and returned to active duty after spending many years on 'static display' in California after it was originally decommissioned. (1961) Now the singularly largest of the 3 current steam locos in the UP "Heritage Fleet" of various vintage RxR equipment, it is now commonly known as "BIG BOY", due to a first chalked such name written on its front by one of its original builders. (or so the story goes)
https://www.up.com/heritage/steam/4014/index.htm
https://www.up.com/heritage/steam/schedule/index.htm
As luck might further have it, I received a 'service call' request for tomorrow morning in Conway, AR -- the first town where the BigBoy is scheduled to pause briefly after it departs here in the morning. Just so happens the location of that call is literally *across the street* from a grade crossing that #4014 will no doubt pass thru after it otherwise blocks all the downtown Conway crossings for 15 mins or so -- my hope is to be able to catch a little phonecam video of the train 'in motion', hopefully with a good dose of *whistle*, too...?? <wink><smile> Nothing like actually getting paid to go 'trainspotting', huh...?? <LOL>
Oh, and the reason for its current journey is the 150th anniversary of the completion of the Trans-Continental Railroad...I also got a nice new t-shirt with a 'golden spike' logo on it this afternoon... <grin>
-------------UPDATE 15 Nov. 2019---------------
https://youtu.be/f19_WQKuJRk
I've posted that locomotive myself at least a couple times. I've sat in the engineer's seat and played with the controls. Back at Pomona it was hooked up to an air compressor and you could ring the bell and operate a few other features. They should have held out for more rail equipment before turning over the Big Boy.
A little known fact is that there are hamburger and hot dog buns behind the cow catcher as any cow it hits turns into that. When walking from the front to the rear of the locomotive takes 4 hours. It is a big locomotive. It is generally considered the largest in the world.
https://www.collectorsweekly.com/stories/170711-big-boy-4014-at-the-union-pacific-colton
First two photos are from Colton and the last 2 in Pomona.
It was just in Houston several days ago and we missed it due to rain. What a shame but we are glad that you did get to see it and post it. Thank you.
THANKS SO AWFULLY MUCH to Toyrebel, fortapache, bobby725, kwqd, TresureTex, Newfld, Brunswick, Vetraio50, Phonoboy, & iggy for stopping by and leaving your kind comments and <love it>s for my choo-choo pictures!!
Fort, I'm not sure about that 4hrs bit, but easily 4 mins...? (as one constantly wants to pause and look closer at something?) Tex, indeed a shame that you missed it...I woulda probably went and stood in the rain anyway... <LOL> and Thomas, OH YEAH -- an awful lot of way-cool history all wrapped up with everything involved... :-) :-) :-) :-) :-)
I just edited yesterday's post to add a YouTube link (which I desperately hope actually works?!) showing what I got to watch this morning, when I did really get my chance to watch the BIG BOY "underway" from a trackside vantage point, along with at least several dozen other railfans young and old.
CHOO CHOO, and hope y'all enjoy!!!!! :-) :-) :-) :-) :-)
MORE THANKS to racer4four, blunderbuss2, SEAN68, and kwqd for the further <love it>s!! :-) :-) :-) :-)