It would be awesome to see one running "live" again.

We won't have to wait too much longer. A few years at most.

I've been interested in these machines for quite a while and for a long time the UP website discussed their not having any interest in restoring one, despite many calls to do so. They have two other operating steam locs (The 3985 4-6-6-4 "Challenger" - currently undergoing overhaul and the #844 4-8-4 "FEF-3 class) and the Big Boy would be a fascinating addition.

restoration...

as a kid, and stare in awe at their Big Boy.

Later, I ran trains all my working life, until retirement.

Last year we visited Cheyenne, and my wife practically had to pull me away forcibly from the Big Boy 4004 in Holliday Park.

Damn, never grow up...........

yet was determined to be unsuitable for restoration.

They're having to move 4014 1100 miles because she was a better (or the best) candidate for this project.

I'm sure in large part due to the milder Southern CA. climate as well as the efforts of the local club who has preserved her all these years.

actually, have a mild interest in trains, they were all around when I was growing up, and now down here in Ala. there is a track close enough for me to hear "the lonesome whistle".
When I was a kid, living in small towns in the Cascade mountains, we would wave as the Rocky Mountain goat pictured train went by.
Northern Pacific???? is what I think it was.

and yes, the Northern Pacific probably would have been the railroad you saw operating back then.

The company eventually became the Burlington Northern which has since merged with the Sante Fe to become BNSF - Burlington Northern Santa Fe, one of only 4 major railroad companies left (Union Pacific, BNSF, CSX and Norfolk Southern).

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Northern_Pacific_Railway

Interestingly, all of these tiny rural towns were built along the railroad track over a 100 years ago,
the tracks are still here, even if there is no rail traffic on them, and now there is talk of using the tracks to move crude oil from the north down to Southern ports.
despite the several recent derailments and spills.

Sigh.

'nuf said

Last edited Mon Dec 2, 2013, 08:14 PM - Edit history (1)

I need to go to the technology museum. I think they have a static display of one of these.

The other 7 Big Boys are located;

The Class A4 Mallard;


Just shy of 126 MPH! That's hauling ass, considering all the moving parts.


http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/LNER_Class_A4_4468_Mallard

Found this interesting page;

http://www.rail.co.uk/locomotives-and-engines/steam-engines/

Last regular revenue freight for UP was in 1959.

There had been active, revenue miles run by steam locomotives in the US up until the 80's;

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Steam_locomotive#U.S._decline

Thanks for this. Cool stuff.

It won't be an entirely authentic experience without the smell and smoke of burning coal, but that's a good thing.

Love to see her run, but it's a bit out of my way!