p51 posted:

Terry Danks posted:

Don't even pretend to understand much of what gets posted in this particular OGR forum

Say . . . has the roast crow been served yet?

I agree, but there were some apparent issues:

• UP was without running steam for more than a couple of years.
• Ed had some legal issues that were in the press.

I have no clue about any of this, either, though. But the above points are indeed facts. The question must then be asked, at what point will the bashing stop? 844 is running and that didn't slow the usual suspects down much. So, will it take 4014 running again?

Unlike some, if it means that 4014 gets the work and will indeed be running, I'm fine with 3985 staying cold and am quite baffled that anyone would think that's a bad thing (again, if indeed 4014 does actually get running).

Ed still has legal issues, I think the trial starts in a month or so?

At the recommendation of someone on Trainorders I purchased "Hear That Train A'Comin" on EBay which was a PBS documentary shot in 2004 following a 3985 trip across Nebraska. It has great interviews with Steve Lee, Lynn Nystrom, Art Lockman and others, some of the things they say are eye opening when it comes to the current condition of the UP Steam Program . Things like "844 will be good for another 30 years with routine maintenance" (Thanks to Ed not so much) and Steve Lee saying Ego has brought down a lot of institutions (sounds like Ed again). It was great seeing the UP Steam team at the top of their game and sad at the same time knowing those days are long gone.

You can also watch it here for free if you want to save $10

http://netnebraska.org/interac...ne/hear-train-acomin

Erik

p51 posted:

Terry Danks posted:

Don't even pretend to understand much of what gets posted in this particular OGR forum

Say . . . has the roast crow been served yet?

Unlike some, if it means that 4014 gets the work and will indeed be running, I'm fine with 3985 staying cold and am quite baffled that anyone would think that's a bad thing (again, if indeed 4014 does actually get running).

Seriously?   Are you flying without your oxygen mask on?

This one is simple.  The 3985 WAS running when Ed "took over".  Now, it is not.  Care to wager who is to blame?  Whatever happens to the 4014 does not excuse what happened to the 3985.  They are NOT mutually exclusive. 

And while I do not wish to pile on, the fact is that the 844 was also running when Ed showed up.  He, literally, broke both of them....and a few other pieces.

All that Ed has done with the 844, in essence, is fix what he broke on it.  Where is the glory in that?  It's almost the equivalent of participation trophies that kids get today.

BTW:  I, and I'm sure many others on this site, own shares of UNP.  Technically, Ed's ineptitude has cost the Corp money.  While I'm very happy the 844 is up and running again, I do not see any reason to praise Ed...at all.  All that he has done, at least temporarily, is given me one less reason to dislike him.

I personally would love to have the 3985 back, I mean she was restored by UP employees volunteering their time...and only she and the 3977 still exist out of 105 examples on the UP.  While I am happy that a 4000 will be restored I think it's nothing short of a crying shame to have the 3985 put away possibly to be nothing but a parts source for the 4014.  We will have to see what comes, I will wait like many...patiently and hopeful for a successful restoration....but I sure miss the 3985.  

Just in terms of aesthetics, I always thought 3985 was far better proportioned than the Big Boy.

Berkshire President posted:

Seriously?   Are you flying without your oxygen mask on?

This one is simple.  The 3985 WAS running when Ed "took over".  Now, it is not.  Care to wager who is to blame?  Whatever happens to the 4014 does not excuse what happened to the 3985.  They are NOT mutually exclusive. 

Like I said, I don't know for sure what has gone on other than the two points I made about nothing running and Ed having legal issues. Other than that, it's all just people posting conflicting things about Ed that link him to everything short of the Lindberg baby kidnapping. For all I know, Ed could be the ultimate source of evil in the universe. I have no clue. I have no axe to grind and will gladly admit I really don't know for sure either way. the only issue some have with Ed that I must agree with is the truth that nothing has steamed out of Cheyenne for a very long time until recently. And if that's your issue, I have to agree with it because regardless the reason, nothing was steaming and the results spoke for themselves, all opinions disregarded.

The idea that running 4014 or 3985 is mutually exclusive? Really? You think the UP has the resources to run two large articulateds at the same time? That comment shows comical levels of understanding on what it takes to run something like that. Eeven the NS steam program in its heyday of running 611 and 1218 was stretched quite thin, with full company support and a dedicated steam team that nobody apparently had a lot of issues with (though, if the internet was up back then, maybe we'd have been reading the same comical stuff about them prior to 1994).

Heck, to see a Big Boy running, I'd have been just fine with them intentionally sidelining a fully operable 3985 to make it happen to conserve the resources they have.

That anyone would complain about 3985 staying cold to have a 4000 running, to me, shows that many people simply wanna gripe about something. Beats me what the complaints are going to be if/when 4014 is double-heading with 844. But given the usual suspects being who and what they are in that regard, I'm sure even then the complaints will come loud, long and often.

Some folks have to have something to gripe about, regardless. Now we know who they are...

p51 posted:

Berkshire President posted:

Seriously?   Are you flying without your oxygen mask on?

This one is simple.  The 3985 WAS running when Ed "took over".  Now, it is not.  Care to wager who is to blame?  Whatever happens to the 4014 does not excuse what happened to the 3985.  They are NOT mutually exclusive. 

The idea that running 4014 or 3985 is mutually exclusive? Really? You think the UP has the resources to run two large articulateds at the same time? That comment shows comical levels of understanding on what it takes to run something like that.

That is your OPINION.

Berkshire President posted:

That is your OPINION.

Got it. I keep forgetting that only you and the other usual suspects can post opinions as facts.

I keep forgetting that, somehow...

OK, folks. We are NOT going down this road again.

Thread closed.