Train Room Gary,

Thanks for the heads up about the commemorative postal issue.  I was a day late for the first day cover but my PO didn't carry them anyway.

These stamps are really gorgeous and my iPad photo doesn't do justice to the color and detail.  (But it did pickup the gold bling :-).

I recommend them as an economical and space saving way to commemorate the 150th anniversary if you can't have/run a Big Boy model on your layout.  $9.90 for the sheet at your local PO (and the UPS website).

My 95.5-year old rail fan mother collected stamps when her father worked for the PRR and received world-wide correspondence.  Even with memory loss, the name "Union Pacific" stuck with her; she was excited to hear about the restoration effort and this event.  

Seems like a fitting souvenir.

Tomlinson Run Railroad

Glad you guys like the photos 

"Like" is a very mild word. Love, is probably more accurate.

These are very, very good photos!

Journey back home to Cheyenne • The schedule........

Note: Click on schedule to read

Gary: Rail-fan

Eric fantastic pictures as always.  Now tell us where you set up your models for the photos.

CONGRATULATIONS, UP and the entire steam team and crew on a job well done! MISSION ACCOMPLISHED!  

Now that the great 150th Anniversary event has come and gone, I feel I can now say a few words on the subject.

I've read and followed the discussion of all of the issues brought up and discussed on this website over the last 4-5 yrs on the restoration of 4014.

As everyone has seen, and now must admit, the project was successfully completed in a timely manner.  The engine wasn't just dolled up for a show but completely refitted to fully operate (less coal) as it originally did when it left the American Locomotive Compony (ALCO) in 1941. 

Indeed there were some valid concerns early on regarding the UP shop's readiness to tackle such a feat in a timely and orderly manner.  However we've seen that they've met their objectives fully and successfully.

All of us should congratulate them on a job well done - especially the UP's executive team, without whom this NEVER would have come to pass.

It is my hope that the required maintenance isn't short changed and the boilers water treatment is meets or exceeds boiler treatment standards.  It would be a shame to spend this amount of money and energy only later to learn that improper boiler maintenance has sidelined the engine permanently. 

It is also my hope that CSX, finally see's the light that having a good steam program is a big plus verses a minus.   I'm crossing my fingers (but not holding my breath) that they would like to revive one of the remaining Allegheny's back to life!!   

Imagine the PR campaigns and events that could be waged between the two firms!  Railfanning would be at its best!

To Union Pacific, Ed Dickens and his team, as well as all of the support staff and volunteers Big Boy #4014 is First Class all the way.  Job well done!! 

A sincere thanks for all of your efforts.

Kevin

The corporate team at Union Pacific should also be recognized for their vision and generous support of this amazing and successful restoration of the mighty 4014! Also, KUDOS for previously arranging the dignified and respectful final journey of our 41st President, George Herbert Walker Bush.

samparfitt posted:

 

Video of today's ceremony: 

2019 Union Pacific Big Boy 4014 Transcontinental Railroad Celebration

 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3ksPRBFGXFQ

 

 

Does anyone have a link to a complete video that still works? I didn’t get to finish watching this one.

Hello JHZ563,

We fixed it.

New link:

https://youtu.be/uBFJ52hxhTo

Enough already with the " I told you so " comments. Let's just take pleasure in the fact the 4014 is back in operation.

Some footage I took the morning of May 10, 2019 before heading for Promontory for Spike 150 - good cylinder cock steam!

I suspect they're feeling a bit more confident now that it's made the trip to Ogden and it won't be so embarrassing to break down.

Kelly Anderson posted:

 

Spotted this just now on YouTube.  Throwing that exhaust pretty high for an engine that's being pushed.

Kelly Anderson posted:

It will be in about five more years.

Since when were you so sure that 4014 has been getting pushed?

This was in Echo canyon this morning, 5/12/19, of the train east bound.  

TrainMan1225 posted:

Kelly Anderson posted:

 

Spotted this just now on YouTube.  Throwing that exhaust pretty high for an engine that's being pushed.

Kelly Anderson posted:

It will be in about five more years.

Since when were you so sure that 4014 has been getting pushed?

Kelly was being sarcastic. Rich Melvin suggested the engine would be pushed:

"Uh-oh. The 844's April 27-28 runs are now cancelled? And the 844 will now "doublehead" with the 4014 to Ogden on May 4?

Reading between the lines to get "...the REST of the story..."  (as Paul Harvey used to say), what that really means is that the 4014 will be towed by 844 and pushed by a diesel.

Yeah...that will be exciting... "

I have watched this entire process since the removal from Pomona. and haven't said much about it. After watching the events of the last week as well as I can (via UP website, Livestream, YouTube and photos), I have to say that Union Pacific and the Steam Team have to be highly lauded for pulling this off. I wasn't able to attend (paraphrasing Duke Ellington, "I don't get around much anymore"), but if it should make its way out to or toward Chicago, I will drag myself out to witness it (God willing and the creeks don't rise).

I am glad this has gone well so far, and everything I have seen from videos of the trip is that 4014 is not a fake front being dragged/pushed around, but rather is doing a lot of work hauling the train, unless someone put a mega version of an MTH fan driven smoke generator in it..... The team that did this should be proud, it was a real accomplishment to get this back and running, I can only hope going down the road that it was done right enough that 4014 can keep going and that the powers that be allow it and the other members of the steam program to keep on the rails. Living on the east coast it is unlikely I'll ever see it around these parts, hopefully by the time I get a chance to travel a bit out west it will still be running.....but I am thrilled for those who will be able to witness this beast under power. As far as those who claimed this trip would be a farce, a dog and pony show with nothing to show for it, my only wish is that somehow they were able in the end to enjoy this trip for what it was, seeing a magnificent engine come back from the dead and thrill a lot of people.

ALL of the great footage shot by both pros and amateurs brightened my spirit and really made my day! I have renewed confidence in the great UP Steam Program, the one and only Class 1 corporate funded program! You go UP and THANKS! from railfans EVERYWHERE!

bigkid posted:

As far as those who claimed this trip would be a farce, a dog and pony show with nothing to show for it, my only wish is that somehow they were able in the end to enjoy this trip for what it was, seeing a magnificent engine come back from the dead and thrill a lot of people.

Very well said!

bigkid posted:

I am glad this has gone well so far, and everything I have seen from videos of the trip is that 4014 is not a fake front being dragged/pushed around, but rather is doing a lot of work hauling the train, unless someone put a mega version of an MTH fan driven smoke generator in it..... The team that did this should be proud, it was a real accomplishment to get this back and running, I can only hope going down the road that it was done right enough that 4014 can keep going and that the powers that be allow it and the other members of the steam program to keep on the rails. Living on the east coast it is unlikely I'll ever see it around these parts, hopefully by the time I get a chance to travel a bit out west it will still be running.....but I am thrilled for those who will be able to witness this beast under power. As far as those who claimed this trip would be a farce, a dog and pony show with nothing to show for it, my only wish is that somehow they were able in the end to enjoy this trip for what it was, seeing a magnificent engine come back from the dead and thrill a lot of people.

I believe Rich's actual term was …. "chrome-plated, bling-laden dog and pony show." 

Regardless, hope there are no unexpected problems as UP 4014 continues her inaugural journey. 

Erik C Lindgren posted:

Nice event! 

Eric-

All the pictures you posted are amazing, but the one in this group shot at sunset is just plain stunning, would love to see that enlarged, printed out and framed on my living room wall. 

Highlights of Union Pacific's Transcontinental Railroad Completion Anniversary Celebration from the Union Pacific, YT Channel

https://www.youtube.com/watch?...ature=em-uploademail

Union Pacific hosted a celebration marking the 150th anniversary of the transcontinental railroad’s completion with the ceremony being held at the Ogden Union Station, a day ahead of Utah’s celebration at Promontory Summit where the Golden Spike was originally tapped into place. Union Pacific no longer has tracks near Promontory Summit. They were removed to support the scrap metal projects during World War II.

Gary: Rail-fan

4014 in Morgan Utah, posted by Boomer41 … 

Still has the leaking packing gland...

Once the SOUTHERN PACIFIC built the causeway accross the Great Salt Lake, the original CENTRAL PACIFIC and UNION PACIFIC line became secondary.  Hence it was not needed for national defence needs.  So it was scraped in WWII.

I know of another line scraped like that.  Tbe T&NO La Grange branch was removed from Glidden TX to, er, La Grange.

Trains magazine has an article and video including an interview with Ed Dickens and Austin Barker about how 4014 is operating and about the new oil firing system. Skip through the Ogden ceremony. 

http://trn.trains.com/news/new...14-makes-ogden-debut

Dominic Mazoch posted:

Once the SOUTHERN PACIFIC built the causeway accross the Great Salt Lake, the original CENTRAL PACIFIC and UNION PACIFIC line became secondary.  Hence it was not needed for national defence needs.  So it was scraped in WWII.

I know of another line scraped like that.  Tbe T&NO La Grange branch was removed from Glidden TX to, er, La Grange.

Trains had a big issue with the 150th anniversary, and basically from about 1900 on the Promontory point line was a branch line, and by the time of World War II was all but abandoned, the alternate route across the Great Salt Lake saved something like well over 20 miles and also had a lot better grades, less curves, etc. 

Waiting patiently

Cold in Rawlins this morning.

Another nice video:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3GSKb2fyWEY

4014 had a couple of rear engine drivers go on the ground, but they got her back on the rails in a couple of hours or so: http://trn.trains.com/news/new...-toe-with-derailment

This was exactly the thing that Steve Lee kept saying made running a Boy Big impossible in modern times, but as long as 4014 keeps to where it would have ran back in the day (or at least where the large diesels and cars go), things should be fine, at least as much as they are for 844... 

BB might be able to go on ex-SP lines where they used large articulateds.

Inplaces were the tender could poise issues, use one of the yellow aux tenders, converting it for both wstet and oil, perhaps?

Dominic Mazoch posted:

BB might be able to go on ex-SP lines where they used large articulateds.

Inplaces were the tender could poise issues, use one of the yellow aux tenders, converting it for both wstet and oil, perhaps?

Without a centipede tender, it really wouldn't be a 'historic" Big Boy then, will it?   It would become a cartoon.

The UP's not going to spend the bucks so the Big Boy can go "everywhere."

Rusty

Rusty Traque posted:

Dominic Mazoch posted:

BB might be able to go on ex-SP lines where they used large articulateds.

Inplaces were the tender could poise issues, use one of the yellow aux tenders, converting it for both wstet and oil, perhaps?

Without a centipede tender, it really wouldn't be a 'historic" Big Boy then, will it?   It would become a cartoon.

The UP's not going to spend the bucks so the Big Boy can go "everywhere."

Rusty

Not so sure if the UP decides they want to take the Big Boy somewhere they would care much if the tender was authentic, for PR purposes people care about the engine mostly,only rail fans would care IMO. Some of the 'experts' criticized UP for using parts not from a BB originally, no one cared outside 1 to 1 scale version of rivet counters, and likewise that they used the converted to oil tender from another engine instead of converting 4014...and few cared. It is kind of like w classic cars,some are all hyped on numbers matching stock as 'true', most just love looking at a cool car *shrug*

bigkid posted:

Rusty Traque posted:

Dominic Mazoch posted:

BB might be able to go on ex-SP lines where they used large articulateds.

Inplaces were the tender could poise issues, use one of the yellow aux tenders, converting it for both wstet and oil, perhaps?

Without a centipede tender, it really wouldn't be a 'historic" Big Boy then, will it?   It would become a cartoon.

The UP's not going to spend the bucks so the Big Boy can go "everywhere."

Rusty

Not so sure if the UP decides they want to take the Big Boy somewhere they would care much if the tender was authentic, for PR purposes people care about the engine mostly,

Might as well just retrofit a couple of tank cars to act as tenders then...

Rusty

Didn't have these problems with 3985. Now that this stunt is over, let's see the Challenger out again.

Quick Casey posted:

Didn't have these problems with 3985. Now that this stunt is over, let's see the Challenger out again.

 

Didn’t 3985 have some tender derailment issues in the past?

Ukaflyer posted:

Quick Casey posted:

Didn't have these problems with 3985. Now that this stunt is over, let's see the Challenger out again.

 

Didn’t 3985 have some tender derailment issues in the past?

844 did:

https://www.youtube.com/result...rch_query=844+derail

So did 3985:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1UyxYwFBJIs

and of course 4014:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oq77z-9hUXY