because last months thread was closed I am starting another be nice!!
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At Laramie's train show last weekend, I heard that the Bog Boy will be viewable this Saturday at the Steam Shop. No further details.
I think it's significant that UP continues to make improvements to the steam shop.
Hopefully this bodes well for steam in America in the future.
Jim
EBT Jim posted:I think it's significant that UP continues to make improvements to the steam shop.
Hopefully this bodes well for steam in America in the future.
Jim
Improvements? What "improvements"?
The description of the CNC lathe is rather humorous. It's "robotic", lol. A lot of fluff there. CNC lathes have been around for half a century. While they have come a long way, there is nothing particularly special about the one they bought.
Hot Water posted:EBT Jim posted:I think it's significant that UP continues to make improvements to the steam shop.
Hopefully this bodes well for steam in America in the future.
Jim
Improvements? What "improvements"?
I'm not interested in this childishness, Jack.
Ed Dickens is, right now, busy doing what he does every day ..... and you are, right now, busy doing what you do every day. All is well .... be happy.
TexasSP posted:The description of the CNC lathe is rather humorous. It's "robotic", lol. A lot of fluff there. CNC lathes have been around for half a century. While they have come a long way, there is nothing particularly special about the one they bought.
You're right, a bit of fluff ...... but it was for the general public .... many of whom may not even know what a lathe is, even less so CNC. UP is trying to put a positive, interesting spin on things for the general public. Hopefully before steam locomotives are just an altogether forgotten part of our great American history.
What is important is that Union Pacific IS making these investments.
Sometime when I read the OGR forum, it seems as if there are some folks that go through life looking for things and people to criticize.
Happy Railroading
I agree, the nitpickers get annoying after awhile. Nothing seems correct or right to a certain group. Give us a break.
Isn't the fact they invested in a brand new CNC lathe saying something about their steam program?
I don't know what size it is, or what brand, but I'd bet it wasn't cheap.
Ed
be nice.
EBT Jim posted:Hot Water posted:EBT Jim posted:I think it's significant that UP continues to make improvements to the steam shop.
Hopefully this bodes well for steam in America in the future.
Jim
Improvements? What "improvements"?
I'm not interested in this childishness, Jack.
Ed Dickens is, right now, busy doing what he does every day ..... and you are, right now, busy doing what you do every day. All is well .... be happy.
TexasSP posted:The description of the CNC lathe is rather humorous. It's "robotic", lol. A lot of fluff there. CNC lathes have been around for half a century. While they have come a long way, there is nothing particularly special about the one they bought.
You're right, a bit of fluff ...... but it was for the general public .... many of whom may not even know what a lathe is, even less so CNC. UP is trying to put a positive, interesting spin on things for the general public. Hopefully before steam locomotives are just an altogether forgotten part of our great American history.
What is important is that Union Pacific IS making these investments.
Sometime when I read the OGR forum, it seems as if there are some folks that go through life looking for things and people to criticize.
Happy Railroading
Agreed!
Age of the technology aside, the fact that UP approved spending what surely was a hefty bill to improve operations and efficiency at the steam shop says a lot about their commitment to the program.
I would think that if I were a machinist charged with hand making a boatload of bolts all day I long would appreciate this "new" technology.
Ed
Is May 10 the 249th aniv. of the first transcon railroad? If so, the UP steam team has a lot to do.
149, that is. Maybe an announcement concerning the upcoming sesquicentenial?
Bruce
Jim Wrinn's article on the UP Steam Shop and the Big Boy progress in the June issue of Trains (pp 48-51) is well done with lots of photos! Jim has done a great overall job with the magazine! I started subscribing as a young man in the mid 1950's and David P. Morgan was my hero!
The real trick is converting the engine to burn oil. Somethng that large is going to use a lot of it.
When the railroads were using Bunker C as a fuel, they had to keep it warm so it could flow. Is there still the same concerns with the fuels they use in oil burners?
Dominic Mazoch posted:The real trick is converting the engine to burn oil. Somethng that large is going to use a lot of it.
True, however 4014 will really never have to work that hard in her new career.
When the railroads were using Bunker C as a fuel, they had to keep it warm so it could flow. Is there still the same concerns with the fuels they use in oil burners?
No. The current oil fuel of choice for the larger oil fired steam locomotives, is reprocessed waste oil, which is about the consistency of SAE 40 weight motor oil, and thus does not have to be heated, unless the ambient temperatures are well below freezing. Plus, the waste oil is much cheaper than purchasing the high end "power plant oil", such as #5.
That "Bunker C" was a PIA! Thanks to recycling, there is a better alternative as HOT WATER pointed out.
Tinplate Art posted:That "Bunker C" was a PIA! Thanks to recycling, there is a better alternative as HOT WATER pointed out.
It should be pointed out, for those unfamiliar with what the "bunker fuels" really were. They were the by-product of refining crude oil. As crude oil was distilled down, or "Cracked", into the various high-end highly volatile liquids, then the various fuels (gasoline, kerosene, diesel fuels), and finally the various lubricating oils, what remained in the bottom of the Cracking Towers, were the "Bunker solids". The western railroads and Navy & marine vessels purchased such Bunker fuels by the pound, for boiler firing. The stuff had to be heated to at least 175 degrees, just to keep it fluid enough to move.
With the discovery and development of plastic, around the early 1950s, the Petro-Chemical industry really expanded, to the point that the by-product, i.e. Bunker Fuels, were now longer "cheap throw-away" products. Thus, as the oil burning steam locomotives were being phased out and replaced by diesel electric locomotives, the Bunker fuels were less in demand, and as the plastics industry rapidly grew, the left-over crap in the bottom of the Cracking Towers was simply all used up as a highly sale-able product.
Today, I'm not sure that one could even purchase any of the old, original "Bunker C" product for locomotive fuel. About the only thing available today would be #5 or maybe #6 "black oil", and of course asphalt.
Thanks for posting this update. Tomorrow’s announcement should be interesting.
Also the U.P. Gas Turbines burned that bunker C oil.
Casey Jones2 posted:Also the U.P. Gas Turbines burned that bunker C oil.
I don't think so. You might want to research that a bit, as I seem to remember that the high carbon content of the burned Bunker C caused issues with the turbine blades. I think the UP switched to a slightly different fuel, early on, which still had to be heated but wasn't as corrosive.
Was there an announcement? I can’t find anything online with today’s date.
Update will be on UP facebook page at 6:30 C.T.
I hope somebody who has a facebook account will keep the rest of us updated with any news.
The announcement was that the Union Pacific Steam Roller would be going to Ogden next year for the 150 Anniversary of the golden spike. That is a video that will live in infamy. Probably the worst thing I have ever seen come out of the Union Pacific. I think the real message was that the 844 and the 4014 would be going to Ogden. It will take them several days to get there. No information on the return trip. No other locomotives mentioned.
Ed Dickens & CBS News Channel 5 • KGWN, with Danielle Seat
To watch the Ed Dickens live interview: Click here
Gary
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CHOO-CHOO MIKE posted:Update will be on UP facebook page at 6:30 C.T.
I hope somebody who has a facebook account will keep the rest of us updated with any news.
You don't need a facebook account to view the video. https://www.facebook.com/unionpacific/
It is, however, excruciating. Between the **** vertical video, and the worst female reporter I've ever seen..... Garys link to the actual news story is a little better. No vertical video and its much shorter so its easier to tolerate.
Nothing earth shattering here that hasn't already been mentioned. I'll wait until the drivers get back under 4014 to get excited.
Hot Water posted:Tinplate Art posted:That "Bunker C" was a PIA! Thanks to recycling, there is a better alternative as HOT WATER pointed out.
It should be pointed out, for those unfamiliar with what the "bunker fuels" really were. They were the by-product of refining crude oil. As crude oil was distilled down, or "Cracked", into the various high-end highly volatile liquids, then the various fuels (gasoline, kerosene, diesel fuels), and finally the various lubricating oils, what remained in the bottom of the Cracking Towers, were the "Bunker solids". The western railroads and Navy & marine vessels purchased such Bunker fuels by the pound, for boiler firing. The stuff had to be heated to at least 175 degrees, just to keep it fluid enough to move.
With the discovery and development of plastic, around the early 1950s, the Petro-Chemical industry really expanded, to the point that the by-product, i.e. Bunker Fuels, were now longer "cheap throw-away" products. Thus, as the oil burning steam locomotives were being phased out and replaced by diesel electric locomotives, the Bunker fuels were less in demand, and as the plastics industry rapidly grew, the left-over crap in the bottom of the Cracking Towers was simply all used up as a highly sale-able product.
Today, I'm not sure that one could even purchase any of the old, original "Bunker C" product for locomotive fuel. About the only thing available today would be #5 or maybe #6 "black oil", and of course asphalt.
My brother works in the operations department of an ocean shipping company. Their vessels burn bunker fuel in their marine diesel engines when in international waters. They switch over to cleaner fuel when they enter various nations' territorial waters in order to meet emission standards. The bunker fuel has a very high sulpher content as well as other pollutents, but it is much cheaper than the higher end refined diesel fuel. It is a residual product, is very viscous and has to be heated to flow. From every description it is the same product that used to be burned by western steam power. It got it's name because it was carried in the fuel bunkers of maritime vessels.
David Johnston posted:The announcement was that the Union Pacific Steam Roller would be going to Ogden next year for the 150 Anniversary of the golden spike. That is a video that will live in infamy. Probably the worst thing I have ever seen come out of the Union Pacific. I think the real message was that the 844 and the 4014 would be going to Ogden. It will take them several days to get there. No information on the return trip. No other locomotives mentioned.
That's a stretch to put that on the UP. That's the fault of the reporter.
Ed Dickens: “You will never forget the whistle when you hear it”
Union Pacific Big Boy Announcement, with no commercials & edited down to fit the OGR Video Player.
Congrats: To Ed Dickens and the Union Pacific Steam Shop Crew, for an excellent plan for running the 844 and 4014. Cheyenne, Wyoming to Ogden, Utah. for the 150th anniversary of the Golden Spike Celebrations at Promontory Summit, Utah.
Seeing both big steam locomotives make railroad history, Jim Wrinn, Editor for Trains Magazine, along with his writers, photographers and videographers will bring us all the action. There will be thousands of people lining the tracks to see railroad history being made along with YouTube Creators, and yes even the American Press and International Press.
Gary: Rail-fan
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Even though there are no commercials and it fits the OGR player its still excruciating to watch.
Hmm. I might have to find a spot out in the middle of nowhere. I get four weeks/year of vacation now. It would be cool if I could get close to the "Golden Spike" spot for a photo, but I'm sure it will be way too crowded for that. I've been learning how to shoot glass plates in my vintage 1880s camera. That would be cool to shoot! Will almost certainly have to settle for using a plain old Nikon digital though. Would also be very cool if they ran those suckers at night, just for me.............
Kent in SD
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I started looking for hotels a year from now around Ogden and most are already sold out.
bigdodgetrain posted:I started looking for hotels a year from now around Ogden and most are already sold out.
That is probably because the Union Pacific Historical Society had already announced their annual convention will be held in Ogden, for that same time period. Imagine that!
Miles of open land around there. Shouldn't be hard to simply camp.
Kent in SD
bigdodgetrain posted:I started looking for hotels a year from now around Ogden and most are already sold out.
I spoke to the manager on duty at the Radisson Salt Lake … he said the room requests started coming in last night. He had 4 rooms left for the nights I wanted for my family. He said it was because of the UP "choo choo trains" coming. lol. The "big one."
Seems as if this is a big deal. I think its great people are interested.
I would reserve rooms now, before all that are left are super expensive rooms.
Trains magazine has a trip set up, it ain’t cheap but it looks like fun.
OH Boy. The possible TRAINS curse. Remember 1309?
Dominic Mazoch posted:OH Boy. The possible TRAINS curse. Remember 1309?
superwarp1 posted:Trains magazine has a trip set up, it ain’t cheap but it looks like fun.
Geepers, for $5,000 you could go to England and see all kinds of mainline steam action.
Kent in SD
Based on double occupancy: $5,280
Camping sounds better to me.... I have relatives in these western states, Reno & Ouray.
Gary: Rail-fan
