UP Big Boy Restoration

And how many people complaining about negativity have ever been involved in any kind of steam locomotive restoration projects whatsoever?

I fail to see any "negativity" here. Some folks are entirely too sensitive.

Steve, you must have skipped a lot of the posts. 

It also seems some are overly optimistic about something they have no control or say about. 

If the UP pulls it off, fine, if not... well, how many cheerleaders will react with the negativism that laced the termination of Norfolk Southern's steam program?

Granted, my steam experience is limited to about two decades in IRM's steam department working on Frisco 1630, UP 428, Tuskeegee 101 and J Neils #5. 

I'm no longer active at IRM and have nowhere near Hot Water's experience, but it did give me a perspective on the rebuilding, care, feeding and what happens when a "surprise" happens (and they do indeed happen) with a steam locomotive operating in the late 20th century. 

...Along with the grime, sore muscles, joys and disappointments such endeavors entail.

Rusty

Move is currently scheduled for late October. 

What about the Winter Nationals, traditionally aren't they scheduled for early November? How long would it take to move it off of the facility?

I think the bigger question is, how are they planning to physically get it out of the fair grounds? Especially since the old branch line was torn out after the American Freedom Train displayed there, back in 1975/1976.

the NHRA winter nationals are in February.

the NHRA finals are Nov 8 to 11 2013.

What about laying track through the lot?  Not doable?

jhz563 thanks for the information.

Chris

From What I heard, that is exactly what they are going to do.

Ahhh ok...makes sense.

Chris

My bad, I meant the NHRA Finals. Hot Water, the line is on the north side of the Fairplex across the street (Arrow Blvd if I remember) and it is about a mile or maybe a little less all the way across. Was this the line that the AFT came in on? It seems logical that that would be the easiest. The parking lot is really waving though, at least the last time I was there, no reason to see them repaving it. How long would it take to move it across the parking lot? It also seems logical to me that they would take it to the Colton yard for prepping?

John, the old heart is always with AGHR, I miss it everyday and all my friends out there. I had no choice when uncle Sam says move you move. DC is not bad, I got a new house to build a vey large Layout. I am trying to talk Matt into joining us, we can start AGHR east.

I promised not to mention the S word here on the forum, But I have all the S I can eat here anytime unless farmer Bill does not get to it first. I believe the 4014 # will be kept, I do not see a problem with that, a little paper work and paint.

John

Drop track panels just like this:

That's exactly what the CSRM does whenever they move equipment to and from the museum display building & railfan line and the remaining shops/storage tracks in the old SP yard.  Of course in that situation, it's done on a much, much smaller scale as they use track panels just long enough to be able to cross over the UP main line as there is no actual crossover there anymore.  As a matter of fact, there was a small article in one of the past issues of OGR about that, including some pictures when they moved WP #913 (F7 unit) from the museum to the shops for maintenance.

ReadingFan,

John P. has been a scrapple sandwich-eating fiend even while he was living here on the west coast.

In regards to your suggestions, I'll have to say no thanks.  Even John P. has been trying to turn me to the sCRAPple dark side but I remain unswayed.

Scrapple = Mystery Meat.   I think I'd rather smell a gorilla's armpit than partake in that culinary abomination, regardless of how it's prepared. 

Please do!

Yeah..I forgot they did that with the 3751.  Great find on the pic..thanks.

Chris

Scrapple = Mystery Meat.   I think I'd rather smell a gorilla's armpit than partake in that culinary abomination, regardless of how it's prepared. 

When it comes to scrapple, nobody is neutral.

How did we go from a UP Big Boy to sCRAPple?  

C'mon folks...either stay on topic or I'll close the thread and we'll move on.

Great photos...thank you.  Wow that's a whole lotta boiler out in front....

Chris

Great pics!

Question... what is the green "box" above the air-brake gauges and throttle?  It looks like a cab-signal display, but with only 2 indications?

Yeah it sure does...anybody out there know for sure?....

Chris

  I am still in shock that this is going to be rebuilt! Who would ever have thought that there would be Union Pacific Big Boy in steam in the 21st century! Kudo's UP! Al

It's the START-STOP buttons.  

Now that would be a modern steam convenience!!

or remote control indicator lights

The top light lets you know you're going FORWARD, the bottom, REVERSE.

Rusty

It appears in the lower large indicator of the two there is a smaller green indicator over a red one....

Chris 

Its just like your ZW, Green means power on, red is a short circuit

LOL....

Chris

On the green box

option one

Protosound style front/rear uncoupling buttons.  Installed to save work and improve safety for fireman or conductor that has otherwise has long walk to either end of locomotive.  Also avoids the need for those gigantic uncoupling magnets in between the rails!

Option two

remote activation button for water tower milepost 138 and coaling station at milepost 397

Option three ( and slightly more humdrum)

Foam meter.  Red over green for high and high-high foam levels.  Worked off of conductivity probes inside a separate water column.  This would give the engineer an indication that a blow-down was needed to get some of the impurities out the boiler water.

Then again I still like the start-stop button idea.  It would sure save alot of time on start up!!

Gentlepeople,

In 1948 the Big Boy had a speed limit, per the employee timetable, of 40 mph to 50 mph, depending on the specific subdivision and whether in passenger or freight service.

What effect, if any, will today's improved track have on the permitted speed?

This is a theoretical question, because the actual speed will be limited due to safety concerns from the thousands if people attracted trackside by the spectacle.

ChipR 

"This is a theoretical question, because the actual speed will be limited due to safety concerns from the thousands if people attracted trackside by the spectacle."

of which i will be one...it will be my first railfanning experience.

could be the block signal cab indicators.

Watch for them changing in this video, at the 5:15 mark and located in the upper left corner.

Motorman acknowledges to his right.

Now that you all have had your fun, those green boxes are the cab signal/automatic train stop system. Also note the acknowledger on the Engineer's side of the cab wall, about knee level. 

Thank you, Jack!