Going to Utah and Wyoming for the 150th anniversary and to see the Big Boy

You might want to look into hotel reservations immediately. Besides the big "150th Anniversary" event, both the Union Pacific Historical Society and the National Railway Historical Society have scheduled their annual conventions there in Ogden, at the same time. Camping in rural areas might be the only accommodations available.

Thanx, Jack.  Good thought.  Guess i'll have to start making definite plans, soon.

Paul F.

fisch330 posted:

Thanx, Jack.  Good thought.  Guess i'll have to start making definite plans, soon.

Paul F.

Since it is only about 9 months away, you may already be too late.

No, not too late to get a room in Ogden yet, except for the UPHS, SPHTS and R&LHS convention hotels. Hampton Inn next to Eccles Conference Center had rooms when I recently checked....  NRHS convention is not in Ogden but nearby in Salt Lake City. 

If you are going to drive, the view of the locomotives on the bluff to the north of I-80 crossing the bridge into Omaha is nothing short of spectacular.  John in Lansing, ILL

I will be there for sure.

rattler21 posted:

If you are going to drive, the view of the locomotives on the bluff to the north of I-80 crossing the bridge into Omaha is nothing short of spectacular.  John in Lansing, ILL

Must agree as we past that point this summer. Have no idea how they got the engines up on that bluff. There is also a big boy engine in a public park in Cheyenne Wyoming, the location not far from the Union Pacific shops where they are close to finishing restoration of  the big boy engine that will run for the event. If you have seen one of those engines up close they are absolutely massive. Tickets to ride UP steam train excursion trips are usually sold by lottery and are quite expensive.

Rooms are still available within Ogden at or about $125/night. They seem to be going fast. I used one of the online booking sites. This is a must see.

Evanston, WY, along the I80 corridor, relatively close-in choice. With all the national parks and other attractions related to Utah and Wyoming, it can be pricey.  I've flown to Salt Lake as an alternate to Jackson WY.  Heber, Utah has a steam train.  Both Evanston, and Heber up over the Wasatch on I 80 east from Salt Lake City.   A left at Evanston access Jackson Wy, and the two large national parks, Grand Teton, and Yellowstone.  

Mike CT posted:

Evanston, WY, along the I80 corridor, relatively close-in choice. With all the national parks and other attractions related to Utah and Wyoming, it can be pricey.  I've flown to Salt Lake as an alternate to Jackson WY.  Heber, Utah has a steam train. 

The Heber Valley Railroad steam locomotive has been out of service for a few years now, getting her FRA mandated 15 year inspection, plus conversion to oil burning. They operate only "historic" diesels now.

I also found lodging Fort Collins, Colorado, one of my trips west, 2015,  Seems Frontier Days, Cheyenne, Wy also has a very large following.  Utah/Wyoming summer vacation hot spots. IMO.   Fort Collins, Rocky Mountain National Park. Late July 2015 accommodations near Yellowstone, Sheffield Trailhead, US Forestry Service area, Dept of Agriculture. Note that there were two mornings with frost on the tent. 

Home for 8 days, We ate well, food was also provided by the US Forestry Service. Note the bear proof storage container. 

Late July at 8,000 + ft asl. 

fisch330 posted:

Just wondering how many of you were thinking of, or planning to go to Promontory Summit next year for the    150th anniversary of the completion of the railroad?  And of course, the opportunity to see the first Big Boy under steam ...

Paul Fischer

I'll be there …. making a family trip out of it with my wife, 3 grown sons, and our daughter-in-law. We're staying at the Marriott Courtyard. I'll be the guy with the "CNJ" baseball cap on. lol

I've read that UP is matching the $1 Million that the state legislature approved for the festivities. 

I wish that UP3985 could join 4014 and 844 there for the fun. Someday. 

Best of luck, UP steam shop, in getting 4014 squared away. 

we got our reservations.

Are there any indications/opinions on other mainline steamers that might join in this celebration? Perhaps Hot Water could comment on the possibility of 4449 joining in. In the event other steamers make it to Ogden, perhaps this could be the biggest steam event in America in a very long time. My wife and I plan to be there. We'll be at the Marriott Courtyard.

Eliot

I don't think the Sesquicentennial is in the cards for me. It's way too far of a drive from here in Georgia. I might do Cheyenne if I can convince my British railfan buddy to make the trip and share the driving. He's a bit of an odd duck though. He has a very narrowly focused interest in trains. He's what they refer to as a "basher". His practically sole interest is to amass as many miles behind each of Amtrak's P42s as possible. (I couldn't care less about Amtrak or any modern passenger locomotives at all. None of them can hold a candle to an E8 or a PA in the looks department.) He doesn't like steam or electrics. He calls them "teapots" and "wire-scrapers". He has even called my beloved GG1 "ugly".  If it weren't for our mutual fanaticism over Monty Python, I'd probably have nothing to do with him. 

Scrapiron Scher posted:

Are there any indications/opinions on other mainline steamers that might join in this celebration?

No. It is totally a "Union Pacific Event".

Perhaps Hot Water could comment on the possibility of 4449 joining in.

Not happening.

In the event other steamers make it to Ogden, perhaps this could be the biggest steam event in America in a very long time.

The UP management doesn't want any part of such an "event" as that. It will totally be their show, and rightly so.

My wife and I plan to be there. We'll be at the Marriott Courtyard.

Eliot

I can see how UP would want to keep it a UP event.  We are lucky that UP is willing to support these events.  Most railroads aren't into this kind of PR.  Thank you UP.   

I think that it would be really cool to see the 4449 and the Big Boy to come together cow catcher to cow catcher to represent the original railroads that joined at Promontory.  They could event paint "Central Pacific" on the 4449's tender but leave the daylight colors.  It is just a thought.

NH Joe

Just checking….

Gary: Rail-fan

Sorry too far from the east coast.

Dave

david1 posted:

Sorry too far from the east coast.

Dave

Well, they do now have aircraft that fly to Salt Lake City/Ogden on a regular basis, with paying passengers.

4449 might have been possible if SP was not bought by UP in 1996!

It is the UP show.  Considering how things are now, UP only want their equipment for the program.  Hopefully it will be ready!

I'm always having to fly to get to York, next May I can stay home.   It's a 25 min drive to Ogden Union Station, 40 min drive to the Salt Lake events.  

Look forward to having a OGR crew in town.

Jim

I'll be there.  A "cannot miss" event.

While I want nothing to do with the crowds and craziness that will be at Ogden, I am planning on intercepting it along the way in the remote parts in the middle section of it's path.  I am now shooting dry plates (1880 technology) and am learning wet plate photography (1850-1880 technology).  I would love to be able to be at Promontory to photo up close with period correct camera gear and glass plates, but there's no way that could happen.  Would also love to photo it rolling at night, but that won't happen either.

Kent in SD

Two23 posted:

While I want nothing to do with the crowds and craziness that will be at Ogden, I am planning on intercepting it along the way in the remote parts in the middle section of it's path.  I am now shooting dry plates (1880 technology) and am learning wet plate photography (1850-1880 technology).  I would love to be able to be at Promontory to photo up close with period correct camera gear and glass plates, but there's no way that could happen.  Would also love to photo it rolling at night, but that won't happen either.

Kent in SD

Kent,

The railroad no longer goes to Promontory (site of the original driving of the gold spike & silver spike). The National Park Service has replica operating locomotives of both the SP and UP steam locomotives that came together for the famous photo on May 10, 1869.

This maybe off the main topic; but I was wondering if there would be a chance to see it run earlier in a test run.  John

John Mills posted:

This maybe off the main topic; but I was wondering if there would be a chance to see it run earlier in a test run.  John

Probably, if you time it right. But, of course you will have to travel to Cheyenne, if and when an "announcement" is released concerning a "test run". In fact, there may be more than one "test run", as the first might just be hauling a few diesels in dynamic brake within the Cheyenne Terminal, then possibly a later "test run" down to Colorado and back.

I wonder if the Union Pacific will make that public information.  John

John Mills posted:

I wonder if the Union Pacific will make that public information.  John

I would certainly think so, probably even the first test fire-up.

Still checking……

Click here for more information.

Gary: Rail-fan

Still checking…..

If they have one…..

To make it more valuable, try to get it postmarked somewhere around Ogden, Utah.

Gary: Rail-fan

Nomex on.

What happens if The 4014 is not ready?  What is the backup plan?  844?

Nomex off.

Dominic Mazoch posted:

Nomex on.

What happens if The 4014 is not ready?  What is the backup plan?  844?

Nomex off.

Reportedly, 844 is going anyway.

Are there any updates on the re-assembly of 4014?

R. Hales posted:

Are there any updates on the re-assembly of 4014?

Hi R. Hales - Yes there is a summer update.

Click here to watch a video update.

On August 14, 2018 - Ed Dickens, senior manager of heritage operations, explains where the work is now and what is coming up at the Union Pacific Steam Shop.

Note: Trains Magazine has asked their readers to share this story. No copyright infringement.

Gary: Rail-fan