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Ribbon Cutting For Big Boy Steam Engine 4004. To Take Place July 9, 2018

trainroomgarytrainroomgaryOGR Forum Member DIGITAL SUBSCRIBER

Ribbon Cutting For Big Boy Steam Engine 4004.

To Take Place July 9, 2018

1 UP Big Boy 4004

After six months of construction for restoration, the Big Boy No. 4004 steam engine will be reintroduced during a ribbon cutting ceremony at Holliday Park on Monday, July 9 at 12pm.

The locomotive has been restored to resemble how it looked when it was delivered to the Union Pacific in August of 1941. Cosmetic repairs feature a new boiler jacket, cab repairs, and a new coat of jet black industrial paint. The old asbestos jacket, as well as the original equipment parts that maintained oil and fuel for the vehicle, were removed to address future safety concerns.

On November 27, 2017, the Cheyenne City Council approved full funding for the restoration of Big Boy No. 4004. The contractor selected to perform the restoration was Wasatch Railroad Contractors, a locally owned and locally based railroad restoration company. The restoration project began in December 2017.

About Big Boy No. 4004

Big Boy No. 4004 is one of Cheyenne’s most famous landmarks. With an estimated visitor count of 25,000 a year directly coming from the Cheyenne Depot Museum alone. The Big Boy in Holliday Park is a prime destination for many tourists and railroad enthusiasts from all around the world. With only eight remaining Big Boys in existence, people travel from all over the world to visit all eight with Cheyenne being the home to two of them. With restoration of No. 4014 also taking place at the Union Pacific Cheyenne Steam Shop, Cheyenne will continue to be a mecca for steam engine enthusiasts for years to come.

Source: AP & Shortgo Digital News Service, Cheyenne, Wyoming 

Gary: Rail-fan

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Jim BarrettJim BarrettOGR Forum Member SUPPORTING MEMBERMEMORIALIZED MEMBER

Wow.  What a handsome job they've done!  Echoing R. Hale's comment above, it certainly didn't look like that when I last saw her in 1982.  It is great to see and hear of restorations of America's steam heritage - even if it is only cosmetic.  One day, without the forward thinking of these folks, the whole steam accomplishment might just become a memory.

Big_Boy_4005Big_Boy_4005OGR Forum Member

I see they never recovered or replaced the stolen shield number plate.

When I was there in 2013, someone had made a cheap facsimile using what looked like wood and aluminum foil. At a glance it would fool most people, but you can see from this photo, it is slightly askew. Get even closer, and it becomes more obvious.

IMG_3605

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smd4smd4OGR Forum Member
Big_Boy_4005 posted:

I see they never recovered or replaced the stolen shield number plate.

When I was there in 2013, someone had made a cheap facsimile using what looked like wood and aluminum foil. At a glance it would fool most people, but you can see from this photo, it is slightly askew. Get even closer, and it becomes more obvious.

IMG_3605

It would be super easy and cheap to cast a new one in aluminum. All costs could be recovered by selling copies.

trainroomgarytrainroomgaryOGR Forum Member DIGITAL SUBSCRIBER

1 Mighty Big Boy Unvailed

Today

Monday, July 9, officials from the City of Cheyenne, Cheyenne Parks & Recreation, Union Pacific Railroad, Wasatch Railroad Contractors and fans of steam engines gathered at Holliday Park for the ribbon cutting of the restored Mighty Big Boy #4004.

The 4004 is one of eight surviving Mighty Big Boy steam locomotives. The Union Pacific Railroad had 25 of these built, with #4004 being built in 1941. This Big Boy was retired in 1958 and placed in Cheyenne in 1963.

The City of Cheyenne and the community at large was praised during today’s ceremony for their gallant efforts to fund the restoration of this piece of history. A reported 25,000 visitors annually visit the steam locomotive. Last week, a tour group from Germany had the Mighty Big Boy as stop #2 on their itinerary between Rocky Mountain National Park and Mount Rushmore. With this popularity, the newly refurbished Big Boy promises to continue to be a big draw.

The City of Cheyenne Parks and Recreation department has also begun a fund raising effort to upgrade the fencing surrounding the Big Boy. 

Source: Shortgo, Digital News Service • Cheyenne, Wyoming

Gary: Rail-fan

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B BobbyDOGR Forum Member DIGITAL SUBSCRIBER
Hot Water posted:
trainroomgary posted:

1 CBS 4004 UP

This is the same reporter that did Facebook Live, with Ed Dickens, Senior Heritage Program, Union Pacific Steam Shop.

Click here: to watch video • I think she did her homework on this short promotional video.

Gary: Rail-fan

What? She said "....six months of construction...."? She is pretty but not too good with facts.

Was it about 6 months to complete the cosmetic overhaul? She could easily have just misspoken "reconstruction" there.

HW Hot WaterOGR Forum Member
BobbyD posted:
Hot Water posted:
trainroomgary posted:

1 CBS 4004 UP

This is the same reporter that did Facebook Live, with Ed Dickens, Senior Heritage Program, Union Pacific Steam Shop.

Click here: to watch video • I think she did her homework on this short promotional video.

Gary: Rail-fan

What? She said "....six months of construction...."? She is pretty but not too good with facts.

Was it about 6 months to complete the cosmetic overhaul?

It was a "cosmetic restoration"!

She could easily have just misspoken "reconstruction" there.

That would still be incorrect, as it was a "cosmetic restoration". The contractor did not really "construct" nor "reconstruct" anything.

 

B BobbyDOGR Forum Member DIGITAL SUBSCRIBER
Hot Water posted:
BobbyD posted:
Hot Water posted:
trainroomgary posted:

1 CBS 4004 UP

This is the same reporter that did Facebook Live, with Ed Dickens, Senior Heritage Program, Union Pacific Steam Shop.

Click here: to watch video • I think she did her homework on this short promotional video.

Gary: Rail-fan

What? She said "....six months of construction...."? She is pretty but not too good with facts.

Was it about 6 months to complete the cosmetic overhaul?

It was a "cosmetic restoration"!

She could easily have just misspoken "reconstruction" there.

That would still be incorrect, as it was a "cosmetic restoration". The contractor did not really "construct" nor "reconstruct" anything.

 

I bet only here did anyone not get what she meant.

C coalrollerOGR Forum Member
smd4 posted:
Big_Boy_4005 posted:

I see they never recovered or replaced the stolen shield number plate.

When I was there in 2013, someone had made a cheap facsimile using what looked like wood and aluminum foil. At a glance it would fool most people, but you can see from this photo, it is slightly askew. Get even closer, and it becomes more obvious.

IMG_3605

It would be super easy and cheap to cast a new one in aluminum. All costs could be recovered by selling copies.

Super easy and cheap? You are joking right?

 In regards to the previous plate it was just a piece of steel with a chrome decal. 

HW Hot WaterOGR Forum Member
coalroller posted:
smd4 posted:
Big_Boy_4005 posted:

I see they never recovered or replaced the stolen shield number plate.

When I was there in 2013, someone had made a cheap facsimile using what looked like wood and aluminum foil. At a glance it would fool most people, but you can see from this photo, it is slightly askew. Get even closer, and it becomes more obvious.

IMG_3605

It would be super easy and cheap to cast a new one in aluminum. All costs could be recovered by selling copies.

Super easy and cheap? You are joking right?

No, he is NOT joking.

 In regards to the previous plate it was just a piece of steel with a chrome decal. 

Now who is joking? Original UP locomotive "shield number plates" were cast steel with polished steel numbers that were affixed by machine screws from the back.

 

C coalrollerOGR Forum Member
Hot Water posted:
coalroller posted:
smd4 posted:
Big_Boy_4005 posted:

I see they never recovered or replaced the stolen shield number plate.

When I was there in 2013, someone had made a cheap facsimile using what looked like wood and aluminum foil. At a glance it would fool most people, but you can see from this photo, it is slightly askew. Get even closer, and it becomes more obvious.

IMG_3605

It would be super easy and cheap to cast a new one in aluminum. All costs could be recovered by selling copies.

Super easy and cheap? You are joking right?

No, he is NOT joking.

Why did you make the new plate?

 In regards to the previous plate it was just a piece of steel with a chrome decal. 

Now who is joking? Original UP locomotive "shield number plates" were cast steel with polished steel numbers that were affixed by machine screws from the back.

Note-- I said previous, NOT original.

I am quite aware of how the plates are constructed. And for the record the plate and letters are iron casted, the 4" numbers are aluminum NOT steel. Refer to original builders drawing.

 

 

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Tags: Cheyenne, Union Pacific Big Boy, Ribbon Cutting For Big Boy Steam Engine, Big Boy in Holliday Park, Big Boy 4004
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