Today while hanging out near the Big Boy at the Ogden Union Station I found myself standing next to an older gentleman who asked me if I was from a railroading family. I respond "No, just a railfan" He then told me "My father was an engineer on this (up 4014) engine". He then removed a tattered old book from his folder and showed it to me. Inside was a train geeks dream, a day by day account of what his father served each day. His father was based out of Evanston, WY so he engineered Challengers, Big Boys and Northerns. No only was there a record of his father operating the 4014 but also his father operating the UP 833 that now sits at the Ogden Station. He told me he showed the steam crew the log and today they put him into the 4014 so he could sit in his dad's seat.
I asked if his dad retired from the railroad and he said "No" his dad died of Lung Cancer at age 50. He believes it was caused by exposure on the railroad, including an incident where a Big Boy he was operating became wedged in a tunnel in Weber Canyon when a poorly built roadbed gave way. He said it took another Big Boy to pull him out of the tunnel. No way to confirm the story, but is a good tale.
