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

Kent, funny you should mention this as I do find myself from time to time on the wrong side of the tracks. Since I grew up with the C&NW I just automatically go to the "wrong" side of the track when I'm out looking at other roads.

Are/were there any other left-hand operating railroads in the US?

Charlie

Yes I did as it came into Cedar Rapids.  Went to my favorite spot and there were people there but set up my video anyway.  Heard the whistle, started the camera and then a big ole blob of a gal had to move in front and center of lens.  Asked her to please move, was told by her partner to bleep bleep off with added hand gesture.   Too late to move camera for another attempt. So no video.  Hoping I can find someone to sell me a copy.

All takes one rotten apple to spoil the barrel.

And to add insult, the UP schedule clearly indicated that engine was not on display and closed to public in Cedar Rapids.  On the local evening news there was the station camera crew showing hundreds of Cedar Rapidians milling around the engine.  I recognized several faces and they were not UP employees. 

So I guess I should just ignore rules, after all, rules apply to everyone else but me. 

Parts of Cajon Pass, before the recent redo?

rrman posted:

Yes I did as it came into Cedar Rapids.  Went to my favorite spot and there were people there but set up my video anyway.  Heard the whistle, started the camera and then a big ole blob of a gal had to move in front and center of lens.  Asked her to please move, was told by her partner to bleep bleep off with added hand gesture.   Too late to move camera for another attempt. So no video.  Hoping I can find someone to sell me a copy.

All takes one rotten apple to spoil the barrel.

Don't think you were alone on that account. I have just such a video that left my wife cursing for the exact reason. It's a railfan's occupational hazard.

I've been gathering YouTube videos into a Big Boy 4014 playlist on my channel. I wouldn't have added them to the list if I didn't think they were pretty darn good. So if you still haven't had your fill of 4014, checkout that playlist. There are a few hours of material there, including some material with Ed Dickens.

Big_Boy_4005 posted:

Don't think you were alone on that account. I have just such a video that left my wife cursing for the exact reason. It's a railfan's occupational hazard.

I've been gathering YouTube videos into a Big Boy 4014 playlist on my channel. I wouldn't have added them to the list if I didn't think they were pretty darn good. So if you still haven't had your fill of 4014, checkout that playlist. There are a few hours of material there, including some material with Ed Dickens.

But today was redemption!  The wife suggested, OK, we go west of Cedar Rapids to Norway which has Railroad Street that perfectly and levelly  parallels the UP.  Got there early, set up camera, aimed it east and waited and waited. Finally smoke and whistles AND no one within 50 feet of me.  Started the camera and just let it record whistles and noise, slowly panning as engine thundered by then panned going away shot of the cars.

So happy camper.    Here's hoping blob girl's lens cover was on, battery died, or  took selfie instead!!

Two23 posted:

I certainly take it into account and avoid shooting over a track.  Otherwise I watch the opposing signals closely.  The other thing that will certainly screw you up is trying to shoot across a road.

 Kent in SD 

Absolutely! 

And of course some (possibly) oblivious individual will walk in front of you or suddenly stand up in front of you, and also begin talking loudly if you are recording sound 

It's just car number 2066, no name.

Correct. The UP doesn't "name" their power cars.

 

Hot Water,

Except when prime mover and/or alternator or auxiliary equipment fails, then I am sure 2066 gets called alot of names!! 

Glad someone posted about this car as it looked "odd" in consist, so I surmised (correctly) it was probably supplying trainline power.

Any specification on car as far as prime mover HP, RPM, AC power output (kilowatts or megawatts)?  Wonder if the alternator output goes directly to trainline or if alternator output is fed into an AC inverter to give a clean steady 3 phase 60 cycle 480V? Would seem the technology is already proven for AC traction so should be easy maybe to "trick" those inverters into supplying trainline power.

Apologies as I have not read all six pages, but are the consist cars used for the crew (would make sense) or are crew put up in hotel/motel at night?  Or is consist and diesel just along to provide loading for steamer to work against?

Crew do not stay or eat many meals on the train.   According to my conversations with the crew, they stay in local motel/hotels and eat at local restaurants.   Even this train, as nice as it is, would get uncomfortable and crowded over a 30+ day excursion.   Can't blame them for wanting the luxury of a full size bed and shower during their time away from home. 

Cheers, Dave

RRMAN, glad you got your shots. Sorry for the rude people the got in your way. Please post them when you can. Don

Unfortunately, no matter where you go there can be people that get in front of you and block your photographic efforts. Last year, my wife and I were in St. Peter's Square in Rome and my wife thought that she had a perfect spot to get pictures of the Pope and the pope-mobile. However, when the pope-mobile arrived several people elbowed in front of her with their arms raised blocking her attempt to photograph the Pope. Thankfully, there was someone in our group was successful and shared their photos with the rest of us.

Heres my big boy video

https://youtu.be/4cQsS5kR4yQ

rrman posted:

Apologies as I have not read all six pages, but are the consist cars used for the crew (would make sense) or are crew put up in hotel/motel at night?  Or is consist and diesel just along to provide loading for steamer to work against?

darlander posted:

Crew do not stay or eat many meals on the train.   According to my conversations with the crew, the stay in local motel/hotels and eat at local restaurants.   Even this train, as nice as it is, would get uncomfortable and crowded over a 30+ day excursion.   Can't blame them for wanting the luxury of a full size bed and shower during their time away from home. 

Cheers, Dave

I'm not so sure if the crew didn't stay a number of nights on this train. Maybe not all of the nights, but some. It looked like they had plenty of space. They even had a dining car and UP commissary crew on board. I know about the dining car and crew because we got to go through the last three cars when the train was in Duluth. I saw at least two people in chef whites in the kitchen preparing hors d'oeuvres when I poked my head in.

It's the cars that we didn't get to go through, that were probably being used as crew quarters. They also had railroad police on board and a lady from the PR department. There could have been upwards of 20 people traveling with this train. 

I'll make a point to ask when we are in North Platte next week.

Is that Green Bay, John?

It looks as if they simplified things a bit from the original configuration. Far from simple, but a lot fewer valves.

rrman posted:

Yes I did as it came into Cedar Rapids.  Went to my favorite spot and there were people there but set up my video anyway.  Heard the whistle, started the camera and then a big ole blob of a gal had to move in front and center of lens.  Asked her to please move, was told by her partner to bleep bleep off with added hand gesture.   Too late to move camera for another attempt. So no video.  Hoping I can find someone to sell me a copy.

All takes one rotten apple to spoil the barrel.

This is why I carefully scout locations ahead of time.  I try to imagine what it will be like when dozens of people show up.  If you go back to the photos I posted earlier you'll notice I picked spots with good light direction and a clear view.  The first was up high so I was shooting over any "obstructions."  I arrived there hours ahead of time and set up over a high retaining wall with no possibility of anyone jumping in front of me.  Second location I walked out into a corn field several hundred yards knowing no one else would go to that trouble.  I was the only person for half a mile in any direction.  My other plan was to shoot a bridge while anchored in my kayak.  Again, little to no chance of someone jumping in front at last minute.  My approach is to prioritize shots I want.  I don't just blindly chase and hope for the best.  I analyze what the best shot will be and do everything possible to make it a success.  I then have a couple of backup spots planned.  If I come away with one pretty decent shot I consider it a success.  Quality over quantity.

Kent in SD 

Looks like the Kearny Nebraska cam is down & a few days before Big Boy is slated to come through.

The appearance of the tender with the big flag on the side is much improved with the flag "flying" in the right direction on this outing.

Hey Gang ;  I get to see the “Big Boy” tomorrow in Carroll , Iowa !!   Eat your 💕 Hearts out!!  LOL

Fredstrains

rattler21 posted:

This isn't learned in a day.  John

So I assume the UP hired "octopus" firemen who could keep twisting up to eight valves at a time, as well as an eye on pressure gauges and water glass??

rrman posted:

rattler21 posted:

This isn't learned in a day.  John

So I assume the UP hired "octopus" firemen who could keep twisting up to eight valves at a time, as well as an eye on pressure gauges and water glass??

No! The Fireman rarely uses more than one valve at a time, no matter whether it is a coal burner (as pictured) or an oil burner.

So I assume the UP hired "octopus" firemen who could keep twisting up to eight valves at a time, as well as an eye on pressure gauges and water glass??

No! The Fireman rarely uses more than one valve at a time, no matter whether it is a coal burner (as pictured) or an oil burner.

Thanks, hope you knew this was a tongue firmly in cheek comment

rrman posted:

So I assume the UP hired "octopus" firemen who could keep twisting up to eight valves at a time, as well as an eye on pressure gauges and water glass??

No! The Fireman rarely uses more than one valve at a time, no matter whether it is a coal burner (as pictured) or an oil burner.

Thanks, hope you knew this was a tongue firmly in cheek comment

Well, no I didn't, considering some of the posts that show up here on the Real Trains Forum.

I originally thought I'd catch 4014 on the return from Omaha to Grand Island, NE.  After last weekend's scouting trip I was discouraged though!  Then my wife told me she had Friday off and we could go to some place a day's drive away for fun, and that sounded good.  However, weather showed most of the places were going to be too hot for hiking and bike riding which cooled our enthusiasm!  Woke up this morning and we were still feeling unmotivated.  So, I booked a room at the Hampton Inn in Omaha for Saturday night and my original plan is back on.  Strange how things work out sometimes.  Hoping to meet up with Elliot & wife and any other forum members hanging out there.

Kent in SD

I have been posting on another thread on this subject and didn't want to duplicate, but I am posting the Youtube link here as well.

https://youtu.be/RsfCnRgZ1vE

Art 

Most impressive has been the crowd handling and adherance to safety exhibited.  Everywhere I have gone following 4014 has been highlighted by enormous crowds.  Well done, UP PR Dept, UP Police Dept and local/state police departments.  

Columbus Ne, on a bluebird day.  Fireman and engineer. All other trains were being held for safety on the double track. Public had plenty of access. 

balidas posted:

Looks like the Kearny Nebraska cam is down & a few days before Big Boy is slated to come through.

Here is the link for the active Kearny cam. Big Boy is slated to come through around 10:30 this morning & he may actually stop at the crossing for a while.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=560ffEh5RBM

Thanks for the link - I managed to see it roll by - and promptly stop just outside of the frame!

Got to see the Big Boy again today while it was stopped in Kearney, NE.  Biggest crowd I have ever seen viewing any of the steam engines that have passed through Kearney,

jhz563 posted:

Thanks for the link - I managed to see it roll by - and promptly stop just outside of the frame!

What you can do is switch to the west cam, roll back the footage & see what happened during Big Boys stop.

Ken in Nebraska posted:

Got to see the Big Boy again today while it was stopped in Kearney, NE.  Biggest crowd I have ever seen viewing any of the steam engines that have passed through Kearney,

That was a crowd. We could see it on cam. Over 1100 watchers.

I'm sort of posting this as a test of sizing. File is 3900x2600. FYI, I don't see the option that Rich mentioned, about size. Also attaching what I see on screen.

David

Is the area surrounding the firebox door getting this white hot normal?

J 611 posted:

Is the area surrounding the firebox door getting this white hot normal?

That really isn't "white hot". That's the oil flame "woofing at the door", as a result of the atomizer forcing the flame rearward in the firebox. The flame then curls forward, and proceeds through the combustion chamber and into the flues/tubes. Nothing to worry about.

I'll wrap up with my final photo here.  Actually, it's a video.  I've been playing around with video a little this year using a Nikon D850 and a Rode stereo mic, Sigma 35mm f1.4 lens.  There is a switch on the Rode that let's me cut out 10db to reduce distortion and I now think I should have used it.  Overall not bad for a first effort, maybe.  Video was taken east of Columbus, NE from a spot I found while scouting.  No one else found it.

Kent in SD

Two23 posted:

I'll wrap up with my final photo here.  Actually, it's a video.  I've been playing around with video a little this year using a Nikon D850 and a Rode stereo mic, Sigma 35mm f1.4 lens.  There is a switch on the Rode that let's me cut out 10db to reduce distortion and I now think I should have used it.  Overall not bad for a first effort, maybe.  Video was taken east of Columbus, NE from a spot I found while scouting.  No one else found it.

 

 

Kent in SD

No doubt your camera has an AGC (Automatic Gain Control), but AGC is really compromises of how fast gain should change as things get louder and softer (especially sudden level changes like on/off whistles and horns).  Do you want maximum gain to hear faint bird chips or children laughing or minimum gain for 4014 whistle but miss the the side rod etc clankings and rail joint (if any) clicks?  The 10dB reduction might remove distortion but could mute exhausts and other desirable noises.  Or you go overboard with multi mike set up and recordings at different levels then do a studio mix of the best sounds and pictures?

But still, I would take your video of that nicely lighted engine showing it in action at speed and whistle distortion be *****!

rrman posted:

And to add insult, the UP schedule clearly indicated that engine was not on display and closed to public in Cedar Rapids.  On the local evening news there was the station camera crew showing hundreds of Cedar Rapidians milling around the engine.  I recognized several faces and they were not UP employees. 

So I guess I should just ignore rules, after all, rules apply to everyone else but me. 

I had traveled to Cedar Rapids and in the course of planning the trip, had printed out the UP scheduled and had scheduled time to see the locomotive up close at CR, as the schedule clearly indicated it would be open to the public.  Once on the trip, when I checked the schedule for another reason, was surprised to see it was listed as no public access.  We decided to explore anyway and had no problem finding the location based on all the red/slow traffic showing on Google Maps.  In fact, the traffic backed up onto the freeway.  Parking was a bit of a madhouse.  The local police had blocked off entry into several local businesses.  Other local businesses, including the big General Mills plant had baffled rent-a-cops in front of their entrances.  There wasn't much room, and UP appeared to do all they could do keep the visitors controlled, especially as the backed up freights rocketed by on the nearby main, so I can understand why they might have changed their decision.  I enjoyed not only the locomotive and the servicing, but also watching the non-railfan people and watching the local TV crews, with the on-air reporters carefully trying to keep their nice cloths and dresses clean, setting up for their evening pieces.

We had parked along, with many others along a narrow road leading to a business park.  Both sides of the road were lined with cars.  As we were leaving, a very confused 18-wheeler turned onto the street, stopped and waited, likely trying to decide if he could fit down that road without damaging dozens of cars and perhaps thinking about the future of his career.  After about five minutes, he backed up, got lined up real nice and carefully and successfully threaded the road at about 1 mph, leaving dozens of 4014 visitors, including us, just sitting in our cars and waiting.

Bob

darlander posted:

Crew do not stay or eat many meals on the train.   According to my conversations with the crew, the stay in local motel/hotels and eat at local restaurants.   Even this train, as nice as it is, would get uncomfortable and crowded over a 30+ day excursion.   Can't blame them for wanting the luxury of a full size bed and shower during their time away from home. 

Cheers, Dave

 

 

Dave, we went Omaha last weekend, and I made a point to ask if anyone stayed on the train. The answer was both yes and no. The train crew does not stay on the train, but the support crew does. In other words, the guys who get dirty for a living, get hotel rooms, everyone else stays on the train.

So it may not have been today, but I did see the 4014 and its train in Duluth, MN at the North Shore Scenic Railway and Dept Museum.  Being the son and brother of professional photographers, I don't just take one photo so I had hundreds to sort through and pick the ones I wanted to post. 

There have been many pics of the locomotive posted, I have those too and will post some at some time but I'd thought I'd start with what made the Duluth trip special for me - special  access to part of the train through the museum's "Festival of Steam" Gala.  As a railroad enthusiast, I have a special fascination with named cars that I can't explain.  Being able to get close to and into these was a big part of my weekend. 

The first car we had access to was the Walter Dean, a domed parlor car.  One of the first things we saw after entering was a plaque with information about the car and the history of its name.  This was followed on the next wall with a set of historical photos.

Immediately after the entry corridor was a small parlor, I think intended for crew.  Note the shelf with games in the background and the safety equipment over the window.

After the small crew parlor came a small bar and lounge area situated under the dome.  This happy couple offered to smile pretty for me to set the scene.

The view in the dome looking toward the front of the train and away from the staircase.

And the view looking aft, towards the stairs.  This museum volunteer offered to move out of my shot but I didn't think it looked realistic to have all pictures totally devoid of any human presence.  There was so many of them around!

Looking back at the stairway to access the dome.  Note the beautiful woodwork and the polished hardware.

Looking back from the exit at the rear of the car toward the parlor area.  Historical photos on the wall, period decorations and seating and the look of luxury.  UP has done a nice job paying attention to the details in their heritage fleet.

For those who are interested or for whom this is important, all pictures were shot at highest resolution with a Nikon D3400.  Typically I like to play with aperture or shutter speed (back to my Dad's influence) when shooting and it's part of the reason I end up taking multiples of the same shot.  In this case, for ease of operation I used full auto w/o flash, the only manual operation being the decision of when to use flash.  These images have been downsized for posting.  My family has always preferred Nikons with my Dad having stepped *down to a digital D5500 and my brother who is still active professionally using an 830.  My other brother purchased a D3300 for my sister-in-law but prefers to use his phone, himself.