An article and photo published in the Wyoming Tribune Eagle newspaper yesterday.
http://www.wyomingnews.com/art...fic.txt#.VGqfHod-57d
Have fun!
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Update
From the article:
"The ash pan and grates in the firebox, along with other items related to coal burning, have been carefully disassembled to permit reassembly at the RailGiants Museum."
Does this mean they are going to turn it into an oil burner?
Originally Posted by SouthernMike:
From the article:
"The ash pan and grates in the firebox, along with other items related to coal burning, have been carefully disassembled to permit reassembly at the RailGiants Museum."
Does this mean they are going to turn it into an oil burner?
Making it an oil burner has been the plan all along.
Originally Posted by SouthernMike:
From the article:
"The ash pan and grates in the firebox, along with other items related to coal burning, have been carefully disassembled to permit reassembly at the RailGiants Museum."
Does this mean they are going too turn it into an oil burner?
Yes. It's too dry out west here to burn coal.
That was the announced plan from the beginning, it will be an oil burner.
But . . . 5 to 7 years!
Originally Posted by Tranz4mr:
Yes. It's too dry out west here to burn coal.
That makes sense. I haven't been following the 4014 rebuild very closely, all my attention has been focused on the 611. Can't wait to see her fired up!
Good to finally hear something from the Big Boy project. The whole thing has been very quiet in recent months. Not good that he is moving the target date back a couple of years; sounds like the project is bigger than they had originally planned. And add that to the implied problems that we've heard about the whole steam program and it didn't sound too good, either. I just hope that I live long enough to actually see it run, once again.
I guess that it has become necessary to convert the engine to oil, due to modern environmental concerns, but I also worry about the uncertainty of that conversion to even being mechanically possible. I think that I read that the firebox in a Big Boy is like 22 ft long. That's an awfully large area to contain an oil fire.
Paul Fischer
The 844 and 3985 run on oil so I'm sure its doable.
Originally Posted by fisch330:
I guess that it has become necessary to convert the engine to oil, due to modern environmental concerns, but I also worry about the uncertainty of that conversion to even being mechanically possible. I think that I read that the firebox in a Big Boy is like 22 ft long. That's an awfully large area to contain an oil fire.
Paul Fischer
Considering that the NP/GN/SP&S Challengers had slightly larger fireboxes than the Big Boy's (152 vs 150 sq. ft. of grate), and successfully burned oil (SP&S/GN), I don't see why the Big Boy wouldn't be able to be successfully converted to burn oil as well.
Stuart
The whole issue with the 4005 and the test conversion to burn oil, was the copious amounts of oil needed to supply the BTU's necessary to maintain pressure. The conversion worked fine according to HW, but the issue was the amount of oil needed to burn wasn't worth the expense of the conversion. That won't be an issue anymore since there's usually a diesel or two in the consist to provide some "MPG" to the 4014.
Well another thing to consider is that it won't be out pulling maximum tonnage either. The conversion from coal to oil has been the plan from the beginning.
I just talked to a gentleman last week that works for a railroad and he told me that they will probably have 4014 done in 2 years 2016.
Originally Posted by wrawroacx:
I just talked to a gentleman last week that works for a railroad and he told me that they will probably have 4014 done in 2 years 2016.
Now THAT is just too funny!!!!! They will be lucky to have 844 returned to service in 2016, let alone that 4014.
I would have to go with 4/5 years easy...2 years just ain't gonna happen IMHO.
2 years to restore #4014 is truly wishful thinking! Its taken at least 10 years to restore #2926 to operation - admittedly with a 'volunteer/professional' crew - and scheduled to be ready for steam-up sometime next year. If the UP crew in Cheyenne can accomplish a full restoration in less time I'll be absolutely amazed. I only hope I'm still around when #4014 finally gets on the rails which I predict will most likely take 5 - 7 years to complete with a professional crew doing the work.
Originally Posted by wrawroacx:
I just talked to a gentleman last week that works for a railroad and he told me that they will probably have 4014 done in 2 years 2016.
Personally, I'd be surprised if they ever finish it to begin with.....
I wonder. 611 will be back on the rails next summer after setting 20 years. 1309 scheduled for spring 2016 after setting 50 years. UP has less resources and manpower than these guys? A tourist railroad can restore an articulated faster than the Union Pacific?
Originally Posted by Drydock:
I wonder. 611 will be back on the rails next summer after setting 20 years. 1309 scheduled for spring 2016 after setting 50 years. UP has less resources and manpower than these guys?
Actually yes! The "resources" at the Cheyenne Steam Shop really have no clue about articulated steam locomotives, as NONE of them have ever worked on one (and I don't mean just running and/or firing one).
A tourist railroad can restore an articulated faster than the Union Pacific?
Absolutely,,,,,,,,,YES!
Yeah, I know. Just pointing out the incongruity of it all. Sad, ain't it.
Well, I plan on being in Frostburg when 1309 climbs that mountain for the first time.
Originally Posted by Drydock:
I wonder. 611 will be back on the rails next summer after setting 20 years.
I get your point but 611 was running when they dropped the fires in 1994 and she's been very well maintained under cover since then. Big difference between that and a 4-8-8-4 that hasn't turned a wheel in 50 years of being stored outside, no matter what climate she's been in.
A friend of mine visited the Cheyenne facility's in June and was told 844 would be on the road in August...guess he should have asked what year??
I read that news article in the first post and it mentioned they were going to remove the front engine and use a special flatcar in it's place. Why would they need to pull the front engine? To work on the articulation joint?
Originally Posted by CRH:
A friend of mine visited the Cheyenne facility's in June and was told 844 would be on the road in August...guess he should have asked what year??
Yea, funny thing about the current manager's predictions.
I read that news article in the first post and it mentioned they were going to remove the front engine and use a special flatcar in it's place.
The "flatcar" has been the current "make work" project at the steam shop. The silly thing is, throughout the steam era, shops tended to use a non-sprung freight car truck to support the front of the smokebox/boiler whenever the front engine was removed (just look at how the Western Maryland Scenic Railroad has done it on their C&O 2-6-6-2).
Why would they need to pull the front engine?
A very good question.
To work on the articulation joint?
The "articulation joint" is simply a matter of the huge pin that retains the drawbar which holds the front engine frame into the main frame. Simply drop the big pin, and do an inspection.
WMSR pulled the front engine to make the whole thing easier to ship, they've left it off as its easier to work on (since it's already off) Note the link bar to the articulation joint. I think that front truck rig took a good welder about a half hour to make . . .
And here's what she looked like 6 months ago in a Maryland parking lot!
Originally Posted by Hot Water:
Originally Posted by CRH:
To work on the articulation joint?
The "articulation joint" is simply a matter of the huge pin that retains the drawbar which holds the front engine frame into the main frame. Simply drop the big pin, and do an inspection.
I seen that in the Kratville Big Boy book...looks like a 10 or 12" diameter pin and not something to mess with. Can't imagine that would fall out by removing a few bolts. On heavy equipment pins that size are pressed in and are usually destroyed when removed as in cutting them out with a burning bar or arcair gouger.
Yeah I watched that 2-6-6-2 move last summer...forgot all about them using a freight truck under the boiler!! My old age creeping up 
Two questions RE Big Boy:
1. Does anyone have an estimate of how much it will cost in fuel and labor just to fire the thing up from a cold start?
2. How much fuel would it consume just to run light for one mile on level track?
I don't think UP cares how much it costs per mile to run. Apparently the good publicity of a big boy running is worth it to UP. They are spending millions to rehab the steam shop with new heating, AC, windows, roofing, overhead crane, lighting etc just to maintain the 3 steam engines, 3 tenders, auxiliary tenders, rotary plow, DDA40X, and the EMD ABA.
Originally Posted by Tranz4mr:
They are spending millions to rehab the steam shop with new heating, AC, windows, roofing, overhead crane, lighting etc just to maintain the 3 steam engines, 3 tenders, auxiliary tenders, rotary plow, DDA40X, and the EMD ABA.
When will all that "rehab" on the Steam Shop begin?
Based on photos and the article the demo phase has already begun. If UP is like the large company I work for investment in capital improvements and equipment is usually planed and a budget approved in the upcoming fiscal year. Ordering a crane of that size would probably take some time too. Construction would also take some time. Why whats your hurry?
Originally Posted by Tranz4mr:
Based on photos and the article the demo phase has already begun.
Yes, it certainly has. However, shouldn't some thought have been given about when to actually start that "demolition", i.e. lets NOT remove the heat RIGHT BEFOR WINTER?
If UP is like the large company I work for investment in capital improvements and equipment is usually planed and a budget approved in the upcoming fiscal year. Ordering a crane of that size would probably take some time too. Construction would also take some time. Why whats your hurry?
I'm certainly in no hurry at all. The more time being spent "working on flatcars, drop tables, and buildings", just means less/no time being spent on 844 or 4014.
Is it a working steam shop, or a static display?
Originally Posted by Tranz4mr:
Based on photos and the article the demo phase has already begun. If UP is like the large company I work for investment in capital improvements and equipment is usually planed and a budget approved in the upcoming fiscal year. Ordering a crane of that size would probably take some time too. Construction would also take some time. Why whats your hurry?
Well, those of us of a certain age would like to see this before we die, or at least still understand what it is we're looking at. 
Originally Posted by Tranz4mr:
Based on photos and the article the demo phase has already begun. If UP is like the large company I work for investment in capital improvements and equipment is usually planed and a budget approved in the upcoming fiscal year. Ordering a crane of that size would probably take some time too. Construction would also take some time. Why whats your hurry?
Oh, That's why 99% of the original buildings got tore down in the first place and the crane scrapped because the UP was investing in capital improvements...I see
hello
I know that when the big boys where new ,that they came from a factory
that all they did was to build locos.
But how long did it take to build and fire one when they were new ?
Originally Posted by Hot Water:
Originally Posted by Tranz4mr:
You have obviously NEVER worked in that shop under the previous manager.
No never worked in there. I have spent a few hours in there getting the private tour on several occasions. Before and after Ed. Looked like crap both times.
http://trn.trains.com/locomoti...-story-began-in-1940
Above is a link to a little history and a time line from conception to completion of the first locomotive.
Don
Originally Posted by Tranz4mr:
Originally Posted by Hot Water:
Originally Posted by Tranz4mr:
You have obviously NEVER worked in that shop under the previous manager.
No never worked in there. I have spent a few hours in there getting the private tour on several occasions. Before and after Ed. Looked like crap both times.
So, you took a few tours and formed an OPINION on the working conditions, without taking any notice of the heating system in the winter, nor whether there was hand soap & towels in the locker room, nor whether the drop table actually worked, nor all the huge filling cabinets full of technical/historic background data?
Uh, as a matter of fact, an active steam repair facility (USN Machinist Mate, retired) generally looks like crap. Its comforting, really . . .
