Article on UP Big Boy 4014

Thanks for the post.I wasn't sure if this locomotive was ever going to run under its own power.Many so called steamer rebuilds is just the boiler running and being pushed by diesel power.

Quoted for "Huh?!"

As far as I know, the only "so called steamers" being pushed around by a diesel are Strasburg's non-powered Thomas copies.

Or are you referring to the fact that modern day excursions like the NS 21st century steam program require a diesel in the consist?  That's done as insurance (ok, sometimes because the train really is too much for a small engine like #630 to handle alone) but it's not some elaborate ruse where the steam engine isn't providing the power or truly functioning.  I'm sure that when the 4014 runs excursions there will be a diesel tucked behind the canteen just like was done with 3985 and is done with 844, but that doesn't mean it's not a real restoration.

OK, who is REALLY going to do an overhaul on the 4014?  Out side concern?  Steam Team?  Combo of both?  Also, is UP footing the bill for all of this, or is there a third party involved?  The game is a foot!

My, my. You really have no clue, do you?

ROTFL, well... theres this other video where its clear that  "so called steamer rebuild 765" isn't working at all

Wheres Rich at anyway? I can't WAIT to see what he says.

I predict that this 4014 restoration will generate more silliness per square inch than anything seen around here since ??????   Best one heard to date is:  how they gonna build a fire in that firebox without melting all the wiring ? !!!!!

RickO - thanks for the 765 video.  It is great hearing the NKP 700 whistle alternating with my PRR East Altoona Roundhouse whistle. 

for newbies, anytime you see a steamer that is live (all of them) the diesel is there for extra [pulling, aux power for the cars and to help in dynamic braking or like in 261 the amtrack diesel is to supply electricity for the cars and to use amtracks insurance and officially be able to list the train as amtrack train number #

261 is the Milwaukee 4-8-4 northern that has been fully restored for the second time and is maintained by the friends of the 261.  It is kept and maintained in Minneapolis.    Minneapolis is in Minnesota.  That should cover all basis .

AND

You are BOTH wrong. The diesel is there to stretch the coal on long trips. That's it.

Loading coal is a very time-consuming process....much more so than taking water. When we have a move that is over 250 miles, coal range becomes a concern. With a diesel in the consist we can throttle back the 765 a little and allow the diesel to furnish some of the horsepower. The 765 will still be working because we have to work enough throttle to provide a draft for the fire, but she won't be doing all the work.

Occasionally we will throttle the diesel back to idle and let the 765 do all the work. In that Horseshoe Curve video posted above I can tell you for sure that the diesel was idling and the 765 was doing all the work. I know...I was there.

It has nothing to do with insurance, nor it is required by Norfolk Southern. NKP 765 has run MANY times on Norfolk Southern without a diesel behind it when coal range was not a concern. It will do so again many more times this year.

Thank you for the facts, Rich.

Hey Big Boy fans, the original article was recently updated and a pretty cool video was posted at the bottom. Check it out here:

http://news.yahoo.com/huge-big...-life-073258235.html

Great to see this thing moving and can't wait for the restoration to be completed.

This should be the embedded video link from the article:

http://news.yahoo.com/video/big-boy-locomotive-headed-back-200021272.html?format=embed&player_autoplay=false