Did you see Big Boy 4014 Today? New tour schedule just released

Ken in Nebraska posted:

balidas posted:

Got it.

Just got this off the Waupaca Wisconsin cam chat..."Big Boy will be on the Kearney cam in a couple weeks as it returns to Cheyenne. At Kearney Aug 5th about 10:30 am where it will stop in front of the camera for 15 minutes.

That's were I am planning to be on August 5th.  I only live about 3 miles from its planned stop in Kearney.  Actually it is my old stopping grounds while growing up.

Nice! I'll be on cam watching. I was on cam when Big Boy came through the first time. Rewound it a few times after so I could see it again.

Well, I bailed off of this chase near Clyman Junction today. Tri-State Tollway punished me for that decision - parking lot southbound at 2:30p. Sheesh. At least I wasn't on I-55 northbound. What a mess.

Anyway, here's a couple from today. First is Grand Marsh.

Next is from Highway 26, before Clyman.

Have fun in the Chicago area, everyone.

David

Mill City posted:

I should get a digital camera, but I'm not sure I would be happy with something that doesn't behave like an SLR. With a Blad, there is no such ting as volume, as only 12-frames where available, unless one owned an A24 back, which suck. An A70 is a nightmare in the darkroom. BTW, Hasselblad is the camera that went to the moon. My natural tendencies would be compose first rather than burn filmstock. I had Nikons and Nikkormats for that. I started with a Bolex Rex 4. Video killed that. I was into stop-frame animation, video cameras were not very accommodating to that end. I regret selling off some of the cameras I had, but cherish the ones I still own, especially the Leicas (range finders) and a ever bulky Sinar…

I need to move on though. I'm not in the market for a digital Hasselblad, as I don't need a $32K camera. But wold love something like a digital Nikkormat. Can your son set me up with something like that? I'm a complete novice with anything digital. I'm so engraved in the weight of analog, much like the steam era...

I used to shoot weddings with a Hassleblad 501CM and four lenses.  I now have a couple of Leicas, a Rolleiflex, and several large format cameras.  The only film Nikon I now own is a pristine F3T with AiS lenses 28/50/105mm.  I know cameras much more than I know trains.  There is a camera especially for you and it's nowhere near $32,000.  A few years ago Nikon made a "full frame" retro style camera called the Nikon DF.  "DF" seems to mean "digital F."  You will love this camera!  You can buy one used on ebay for $900 to $1,000.  If you wait until September used cameras usually get a little cheaper after summer vacations are over.  Here's more info:

http://www.dslrbodies.com/came...nikon-df-review.html

You can use your existing lenses on it or get the ulimate Nikon foamer lens, the Nikon 24-120mm f4 VR  ($350-400 used.)  There is also an excellent Sigma 24-105mm f4 OS that would be great too ($300-400 used.)

If the DF is too much money, I'd suggest a Nikon D600  ($400-500 used.)  The camera got a bad reputation for oil on the sensor, but Nikon fixed that and offers a lifetime guarantee.  That makes it cheap.  The other choice would be a Nikon D610, the follow up body ($500 used.)  Shoot jpegs (.jpg) to make your life easier.  Half of photography now is using software, and for that I suggest Photoshop Elements.  The jpegs from any of the cameras I've mentioned will look OK though, unless you're pretty demanding.

Kent in SD

JDFonz posted:

I saw Big Boy in Altoona on Tuesday. Lots of folks turned out. Kinda neat for a small town. Then went to Adams and caught it yesterday. Sure was exciting.

OMG!!!  Was gonna drive to see it until I saw this!

Thanks for the tips, Kent. I purchased my Blad in the mid '70, which makes it a model 500CM. Had an EL for a short time, what a turd. I haven't touched it in years, yet I still have a boat-load of film stock in the fridge. 

I didn't have much trouble going from film to digital in 2005.  However, in 2010 I got interested in historical cameras (mostly 1900 - 1940) and began buying and using those for fun.  Now my earliest are from the 1840s and 1850s.🙂  Recently I've been shooting 4x5 glass plates and now am learning wet plate.  What I've learned is you can make interesting photos with any camera gear--photos are created in the mind not the camera.  Digital is not hard to learn.  A good way to start if unsure is to join a local camera club.

Kent in SD 

Hey guys, all this discussion about photography is really interesting, and is kind of related to this topic. But before Allan decides to come in here and clean things up, we should probably get back on the mainline, with the Big Boy.

I have to admit that it was me that that took the siding with Jon in the middle of the night.

Anybody have a good spot to view the train anywhere between O’hare and West Chicago?  I’d like to take my kids and maybe get some video/photos.  

Just passed Mount Pleasant, Wisconsin an hour ago.

In Illinois now, if you get the chance stand next to the track as it passes by.

A once in a lifetime trill.

Amazed most did not record the entire consist.

sitting in the Elmhurst station waiting for it to pass through. Got a primo spot at the west end so I can watch her all the way in.... exciting!

I saw it pass by in Gurnee, Il.  I had my phone camera on video and it switched to photo somehow.  Rats.  Was by in two secs.  Too short.

Caught it this morning as it made its way through Lake Forest, IL. What an experience!

Lots of spectators on the west side!

BobbyD posted:

Lots of spectators on the west side!

There must have been 100 people of all ages at the grade crossing.

EricaAnn posted:

BobbyD posted:

Lots of spectators on the west side!

There must have been 100 people of all ages at the grade crossing.

That was a great video!

Yep, kids, parents, lots of workers (that shall go nameless:-) and vehicles stopping to ask what everyone was there for! Not a lot of "Foamers" 

At Kloempken Prairie in Des Plaines. Just awesome. 

So, maybe I wasn't far off on my earlier estimate of thousands showing up when it came to bigger cities?

Kent in SD

When I was in Altoona, I was talking to one of the crewmen and he was impressed with the crowd in that small town, but he said there was 10,000 people in St. Paul. I can’t comment on that, but that is what he said.

RD posted:

Just saw it in Elmhurst....

No stops westbound correct?

No stops until West Chicago I believe....

Enjoy the video of the run by in Elmhurst... 

JDFonz posted:

When I was in Altoona, I was talking to one of the crewmen and he was impressed with the crowd in that small town, but he said there was 10,000 people in St. Paul. I can’t comment on that, but that is what he said.

It was a Thursday in St Paul. There was a fair amount of discussion about crowd sizes back on page one. Chicago should be a zoo, it's the weekend and both days.

If you plan to hit West Chicago, you might want to check out the photos I posted on page three of the interior of the Experience baggage car. Then you can decide if you want ton take the time to stand in line to go through.

It's nicely done, but not exactly thrilling for rail fans. If you have kids along, then you might want to take them through. There is one interactive item where get to inspect wheels as fast as you can. That was kind of cool.

Rolling through Elmhurst, IL today. She was absolutely majestic!

Nick Chillianis posted:

The reason it glides so silently is because it is pulling nothing relative to its capabilities. The diesels you see are hauling thousand of tons of freight behind them.

4014 is hauling maybe 1200 tons. She can easily handle 10-12 times that much tonnage on the prairie.

 

Years ago, when 3985 was here in Dallas, pulling about twice as many passenger cars as the BB on this tour, I asked Steve Lee if the consist was much of a load for the engine. His response was "Na, she's just loafing."

Just awesome!! Took the boys to see it go through Elmhurst. By the photos and videos I can tell that RD and BNSF Matt were about 30 feet west of us on the south platform! Small world. How about the guys who scored the spots at the top of the parking garage?! Bet those were great views.

Nothing like seeing that beast roll by nice and slow with the whistle blasting. I loved how you could hear the whistle long after the train was gone. Totally amazing. 

As we were walking back to the car and listening to the whistle in the distance my boys started talking about how Lionel has the Big Boy in the catalog and of course we need one now! 

Perhaps all the whistling is the product of 844 hitting - and killing - a pedestrian. 

On  a more cheerful note, paced 4014 today,  from Bain Station (outside Kenosha) to West Chicago. Litterally 1000's trackside.  The old iron horse can still draw people ! 

At least 3 helicopters over head in Waukegan, assume from the local news outlets.

I saw it at Elk Grove Village just west of O'Hare Airport. Stood on top of a weedy pile of debris with about 20 other people and took a shaky video (sorry, I'm getting on...). One of the guys up there felt the need to narrate for everyone else...he didn't have a camera, of course. 

 https://youtu.be/l9kcH8vzvGA

mark s posted:

Perhaps all the whistling is the product of 844 hitting - and killing - a pedestrian. 

Nope. That's what the current manager does, and was doing the same thing many years ago when he first started on the UP Steam Crew. He simply loves the sound of "his" whistle, and uses it constantly. Tends to drive everyone else in the cab a bit crazy.

On  a more cheerful note, paced 4014 today,  from Bain Station (outside Kenosha) to West Chicago. Litterally 1000's trackside.  The old iron horse can still draw people ! 

At least 3 helicopters over head in Waukegan, assume from the local news outlets.

4014 exhibited marvelous rod clank.

mark s posted:

 

At least 3 helicopters over head in Waukegan, assume from the local news outlets.

I've been known to rent a helicopter to take photos.  I can't be the only one.  Small ones are about $250 per half an hour here.

Kent in SD

jay jay posted:

I saw it at Elk Grove Village just west of O'Hare Airport. Stood on top of a weedy pile of debris with about 20 other people and took a shaky video (sorry, I'm getting on...). One of the guys up there felt the need to narrate for everyone else...he didn't have a camera, of course. 

 

 Always one of those.  I bring a roll of duct tape.

Kent in SD

mark s posted:

4014 exhibited marvelous rod clank.

Remember, it is always better to hear the rods, then to smell them.

I missed her by about 30 seconds on my lunch break! Going with my colleague to see her on display tomorrow at least!

YES I DID.  Had breakfast with 10 of my best train buddies.  Then we waited 3.5 hours for dessert.

https://youtu.be/UyAKpoq8-fM

bigtruckpete posted:

Just awesome!! Took the boys to see it go through Elmhurst. By the photos and videos I can tell that RD and BNSF Matt were about 30 feet west of us on the south platform! Small world. How about the guys who scored the spots at the top of the parking garage?! Bet those were great views.

Nothing like seeing that beast roll by nice and slow with the whistle blasting. I loved how you could hear the whistle long after the train was gone. Totally amazing. 

As we were walking back to the car and listening to the whistle in the distance my boys started talking about how Lionel has the Big Boy in the catalog and of course we need one now! 

You're in trouble now!  So am I.

Yea seen it pull into West Chicago today. Oh man a beautiful thing. It stopped on the track for about an hour steaming whistle blasts every now and then to a cheering crowd. A lot more people today for the Big Boy then when 3985 was in town. Came home told my wife to top seeing the Big Boy today would  have to be seeing Jesus Christ.

I never thought I would ever say these words, here it goes... I saw a Big Boy under steam today!!

Two23 posted:

mark s posted:

 

At least 3 helicopters over head in Waukegan, assume from the local news outlets.

I've been known to rent a helicopter to take photos.  I can't be the only one.  Small ones are about $250 per half an hour here.

They were flying drones over it at the Elmhurst station..  channel 7 ABC news was there also.

Just got home from seeing the Bigboy on display in West Chicago. Even at 9:30pm still a nice size group of people. Saturday and Sunday will be very crowded.

Also had a chance to see it operate through Des Plaines... along with 1000's of my closest friends. No real need to shoot the engine as there is already enough still and video content to last a life time. So I just kept my camera in the case.

I will say, that I did hear from many younger people just how "cool" this engine is.

If you plan to see the engine in West Chicago, you will be able to park in the Metra lot and walk over the bridge. Decent view from the bridge, but you have to view/shoot through a chain link fence.

The engine is parked in the same spot the Challenger was a few years ago if you were around then.

Charlie

Did they ever make this observation car in O-scale, I really love the look of it. My daughter and I had a great time at the event in West Chicago today.