UP Big Boy Restoration

Hard to understand, the rationale behind this move.  Someone once mentioned that there was an effort to steam a Big Boy for a Hollywood movie, some years ago, but this seems to be the official U.P. position.  I remember Steve Lee, the former manager of their steam program giving all kind of reasons why a Big Boy would be impractical which is why he favored the restoration of the Challenger.  Now, with the new chief honcho of the steam program, we're gonna charge right into the restoration of the"ultimate steam engine".

Well, for whatever reason and for whatever plans, I guess I will include myself among those that simply "must" see it.  It's been about 60 years or so since I actually saw these monsters in action, and it will be a great experience to see one once again.

Paul Fischer

yeah, i would have to go see this myself.

Yes, but UP has NOT placed her in the shop, YET.  Now, they could find something which could bring the project to a halt.

Now, are there parts from the 3895 which could be used on the BB?

If the estimated timeframe of Railway & Locomotive Historical Society people I talked to back in April are correct, they'll move it out of FairPlex on panel tracks in October after the LA County Fair. Based on the distance from the museum to the tracks, it could take a few days just to get it out to the tracks.

I figure they'd then move it along the Metrolink tracks West to El Monte, then east along the UP tracks through South Pomona to the UP Colton Yard. There are a couple of curves along this route, but 3751 makes it through there when they run out to San Bernardino. They also turn 3751 on the wye at San Bernardino, so it could get probably get through there. I have my doubts about the corner at the Colton diamond leading to Colton Yard, especially with the bridge construction over the diamond. I guess we'll find out sometime this fall.

I wonder why they wouldn't restore 4024 which is already in Cheyenne?

Must have something to do with the overall condition of each. I am sure there is a very good reason.

Great news all the same. Wow, two Bigboys in Cheyenne!

Road trip for sure.

Rod

And not talk any more about it.    

Heck yes lets talk about it.....

Chris

Road trip?  Did someone say ROADTRIP???  

You bet!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Will the turntable and roundhouse at Cheyenne handle the length of a Big Boy?

The turntable?...Yes.  As for the RH... the section that once had the extended stalls for the 4000's was torn down back in the 70's.  Will the 4014 fit in the steam shop?...with the tender seperated I would think so.

Chris

ROAD TRIP !

i'll rent the van.

Who is coming?

Scrapiron "Big Boy" Trainspotter

Great news!

Road Trip! Sounds good, ours will involve a flight over the pond.

 How about a OGR style Cannon Ball/ Gumball Rally to Cheyenne?

Nick

Road trip? I'm sure Rich would be happy to run the 765 and a few coaches out there with/for us!

This is wonderful news!. It is about time that this magnificent engine gets a new life. I have been to the Railroad Museum at Green Bay where they have one on display. To have one ride the rails again will be awesome.

Hmm maybe some day we will see a double header of the UP challenger and UP big boy? or may the 844 in there too for the mix 

>>What happened to the 3985? Can Hotwater or someone else chime in? <<

That's a good question.  I didn't know it was taken out of service.

Maybe they're doing a swap with the BigBoy.

Seems I recall reading the museum wanted something good in exchange for the BB.

Joe 

Matt, since you live in that area will you be able to photo log some or all of the moving process?  Should you be able to, I would love a DVD of such.  Please consider making a DVD and selling it to those interested.  Put me down for DVD number one.

Also, do you know what happened to the Challenger engine?  From some of the post, it seems to be out of service.  Please confirm...

Paul, when did Steve Lee retire from the management of the steam program?

Big Boy:  As I understand, Steve Lee retired from the U.P. the beginning of 2011, so it's over two years ago.  Gee, time flies when you're having fun!

To answer someone else's question:  I understand that the Challenger is still located in the steam shops at Cheyenne.  Don't know of any work that has been done on her. She outlasted her FRA permit time, and would require a major overhaul and inspection to be brought back to "life" once again.

Just out of curiosity:  How many of you guys ever saw a Big Boy under steam and in actual service?  My experience was in 1951 when my parents and I made a trip from Milwaukee to Calif. following Hwy 30.  I recall seeing the 4000's double headed, sometimes with two of that class, sometimes with a Challenger.  Wonderful memories!  Later a friend and I followed the U.P. again in 1956 but the largest engines we saw were Challengers.  I understand that they were in occasional service all the way up to 1959.

Paul Fischer

My questions is where is she going to run???  Doesn't do any good to have a such a hug Public relations tool and be limited on where she can go.

Is it true the WP wanted an add on order to a UP order, but they went for diesels instead?

S. Lee did retire after the 844 trip to the Texas Vally trip in April 2011.

I love the DVD idea.  It would be great if the move and restoration was covered.  As for the 3985 not much is happening, she needs her 15 year inspection.  But with the 4014 coming to town I don't know how all this work will get done.  But HW has posted that Ed Dickens doesn't like the 3985 so who knows what will happen. 

Chris

While everything deteriorates, it could be that 3985 is indoors and well preserved.  Adding this giant should not degrade the Challenger or its potential for future use.

Just curious - why would the longer wheelbase of 844 be used for a gauge of whether the     smaller drivered Big Boy can make curves?  I have no experience with real locomotives, but my 70" drivered 4-8-8-2 models go around curves with far less protest than my 80" drivered Northerns.  I have flanges on all drivers, tailbeams, and correct-sized cylinders and lead truck wheels.

Actually, Steve Lee did not really "retire from management of the steam program". Steve was promoted to Superintendent of Heritage Fleet Operations, in about April or May of 2010. As part of Steve's promotion, Ed Dickens was brought up from his Engineer's pool job out of Denver, and promoted to Manager of the Steam Shop.

Steve Lee retired from the UP RR at the end of December 2010.

If I'm still in California this fall and I can get the info and close access, I'll document the move as best I can. UP isn't quite as friendly to railfans, but as an LA County employee with a public safety connection, I think I should be able to find some way to finagle access to Fairplex for that part of the move.

I'm figuring they'll take it to Colton for prep work, then take it over Cajon on the ex-SP trackage, then switch over to the UP Las Vegas route for its trip to Cheyenne. I'm pretty sure UP will keep that schedule a secret as the Big Boy move will create a traffic hazard like 3751's maiden resurrection run when it went through the Cajon pass -- people were lined up on both sides of I-15 to get photos and videos.

Again, assuming I'm still here, I'll check with the guys at the Fairplex display and see what I can find out about the move.

So, Mr. Dude, do you actually KNOW Mr. Dickens? Have you ever been around him for many days in a row? How about, have you ever WORKED WITH, or FOR Ed Dickens?

No such luck for me!  I've only seen the 4000s on DVD or on display at Pamona.  Paul you are a lucky guy to have had seen both the 4000s and 3900 class engines.  It must have been a sight to have actually seen a Big Boy in action!  And to have seen a double header is beyond words.  Did you ever see a 9000 in action?  Hey Paul,  havin' seen a Big Boy and Challenger in action kinda makes you a 'train rock star'...  

Bob2, I was at Cheyenne Depot Days two months ago and the 3985 is indoors in the roundhouse.  The tender is disconnected from the engine because the stall is too short since the old, Big Boy length stalls were torn down long ago.

It is all about the rigid wheel base. Any 4-8-4 with 80" diameter drive wheels will have a rigid well base of 22 feet. Thus the 4-6-6-4 Challengers, and the 4-8-8-4 4000 class with their 69 " and 68" diameter drive wheels have shorter rigid wheel bases and can go places that the 4-8-4 can not, regardless of those darned centipede tenders.

So I heard the secret contributor to the restoration  is Warren Buffet on the condition that they paint the Big Boy BNSF colors when done. Interesting

.... sounds like Warren Buffet might be related to Lee Willis

The table, yes, but there are no stalls at Cheyenne long enough for a Big Boy WITH tender.  

Chris,

Would that be a War Bonnet scheme or the Pumpkin?  Pumpkin w/the black of the original would be striking.  Probably would pass on a Lionel model though.

Jim

I concur.

War Bonnet, the Big Boy all Chromed out with a Red Bonnet on front would be beyond awesome. It would sort of look like the Coors Silver Bullett train