And she will get a PTC box in the rebuild!

How do you know that?

At the risk of this question being answered before. Were these engines built in New York, and how difficult at the time was it to deliver them to the UP.  Considering clearance problems as mentioned.

Yes, all the "modern era" UP steam power was manufactured by Alco, in Schenectady, NY, and were shipped "dead in tow" to western customers (in the case of the UP, that would have been Omaha, NE).

Thanks.  Would be curious about the route taken, and if Chicago caused or any other areas caused problems.

What kind of "problems" are you thinking about? There were/are MANY routes around or thru the Chicago area back then, so if clearance issues caused interference, then a different routing would have been used.

Just wondering about clearance mainly.  I suppose back than there were more options.  As was discussed earlier in this thread I'm guessing weight was not a big issue.  Probably no relevance to today; just curiosity.

Well one thing is for sure, what ever clearance issues there may have been they definitely got worked out as all the 4000's made it to the UP....

Chris

This was yesterday at the Fairgrounds. The museum has a Twitter page where they had this photo.

Nice photo...wonder what they were doing?

Chris

read more here;

http://www.trainorders.com/dis...n/read.php?1,3152007

getting her ready to move end of sept. early oct. 2013.

A good read...thank you.  I guess the UP is definitely not wasting time with this.

Chris

Looks like they are taking it across the parking lot to Metrolink as I mentioned earlier (like it took any real genius to figure that out), but I think the route to Colton will be going WEST on the Metrolink tracks to the Valley Blvd Junction, then east to Colton yard. It's a longer way, but avoids the wye at San Bernardino and the sharp curve at the Colton diamond/junction.

UP preps Big Boy for move to Wyoming

Published: August 12, 2013

Photo by Howard N. Bunte

POMONA, Calif. – Work begins on moving Union Pacific 4-8-8-4 Big Boy No. 4014 from its home in Pomona to Cheyenne, Wyo., where the railroad plans on restoring the legendary steam locomotive. This weekend, members of the UP steam crew were at the Rail Giants Museum, located on the Los Angeles County Fairgrounds, disassembling the locomotive pistons and attempting to move it back and forth few feet with a tractor. However, initial attempts to move the locomotive with a pair of front-end loaders to see how easy it would, or would not, roll were thwarted by steel chocks welded to the rails.

Less than three-weeks ago, UP announced that it has struck a deal with the Southern California Chapter of the Railway & Locomotive Society and the Rail Giants Museum to purchase the locomotive. The railroad donated the engine to the group in December 1961 and it arrived at the museum a month later.

The UP Big Boys were among the largest steam locomotives ever built. The first of 25 built exclusively for the UP was delivered in 1941 and the engines remained in service right up until the end of steam in the late 1950s. Eight of the Big Boys are preserved. If the restoration is successful, No. 4014 will join UP's already impressive steam stable that includes 4-8-4 No. 844, known as the only Class 1 railroad steam locomotive never to be retired, and 4-6-6-4 No. 3985, currently the world's largest operating steam locomotive.

For more information, visit www.railgiants.org.

 

Wonder how the permit applications will work out for THAT!

It's good to see they are not wasting anytime moving it out. Any word on what is going in behind it? It would see that they would not want to have to lay the panels twice.

Still haven't figured out where I want to take pictures of it at, so many places in Weber Canon, but I bet a ton of people as well.

"However, initial attempts to move the locomotive with a pair of front-end loaders to see how easy it would, or would not, roll were thwarted by steel chocks welded to the rails."

You'd have thought somebody would have noticed the chocks during the initial inspection.

Rusty

"were thwarted by steel chocks welded to the rails."

yikes!  that can't help.

As a Side note, when they moved the BB from Bellows Falls VT(Part of the Steamtown collection) to Scranton the biggest issue they had on the tight curves was not the BB herself but the rigid frame tender.

Link is now paywalled, as is anything not on page one of any Trainorders thread.

---PCJ

Ahh who knew  ....here is what was posted...

Many things are subject to change, and I mostly tell what I am absolutely confident will actually occur.

Union Pacific is providing some valuable things in exchange.  Some are physical, but some are not.  Some will arrive soon; others won't arrive this year.  Our organization will be talking more about this soon.



Steve McFerson
Secretary, Website Editor,
RailGiants Train Museum - Pomona California
The Railway and Locomotive Historical Society, Southern California Chapter

Chris

ok I just saw this youtube video..roumers are going around..that UP might scrap the 3985?...since there going to restore the 4014...a train blog posters where saying the 3985 is in bad shape..the 844 isnt to far behind..saying the 4014 is way better in shape the both 3985 and 844....heres the video..

Oh lord....

Excuse me while I go grab the popcorn!

When they steam up the 4014 I will be there.  It's a good excuse for a road trip out west.  And by the way, the Big Boys are a favorite of my Missus, so she will be as excited to see it as I will. 

We have a Lionel JLC Big Boy that occupies an honored spot in our living room (it's too big to run on my layout).  On the other side of the bookcase is a Lionel version of the 3895, coincidentally.  They certainly make for a nice display.

Totally, totally, totally INCORRECT!!!!

The Challenger #3985 is NOT "in bad shape", she is simply due her 15 year FRA inspection in 2014.

Concerning #844, MORE TOTAL BS!!!! 

You have GOT to be kidding me You actually BELIEVE that utter nonsense?

Josey, I don't know what web sites you are visiting, but whoever has posted this is absolutely, totally clueless. In other words, a typical foamer...

Who is that guy on the video anyway? He sure likes to talk alot about nothing.

 I think he belongs on one of thsoe bigfoot/ loch ness monster shows on the discovery channel. Ya know, were at the end the results are "inconclusive".

I am looking forward to the next release of the 4014 model from MTH or Lionel if they fix the sound issues.

Whom ever sounds better get the deal, that is assuming they will rerelease the 4014 soon.

Note to importers, if you snooze you lose.

I posted my previous response before I watched that video. I have now seen most of the video (I couldn't get all the way through it before I had to stop - I had seen enough.) and all I can say is, YIKES!

It just goes to show you that you cannot believe everything you hear on the internet. That guy - "Nick White" (whoever he is) - has absolutely no clue as to what he is talking about, nor do the people he "quotes" in his video. A "mis-drilled" flue sheet is going to render the entire locomotive as scrap? That's like saying your car has to be scrapped because you scratched the windshield while cleaning it. 

This is without a doubt the best illustration of a "Totally Clueless Foamer" that I have ever seen.

The sound issue is fixed, go check out the AF BigBoys, One can expect the new engines to sound this good or better since they  use the same sound board

Ahhhh, what can ya say after watching that dribble.  Clearly this guy has no idea as to what he is talking about. 

Chris

Scrapped! Thats nuts! I reckon this guy must work on documentaries for Channel 5 here

in the UK.  Actually that's being a bit harsh to Channel 5

Just about anything can be fixed it's just a question of time and money. Some real rotting hulks of locomotives have been rescued from scrap yards and fully restored over here. Complete new locos have been built or are under construction by volunteer groups.

Oh and if you guys decided to do a new build loco on your side of the pond. Make it a

4-4-2 Class A. Hiawatha.I had to explain to my 4 year old that they were all scrapped he was most upset as he would like a ride on one.

Thanks Chris,  that is good news, well then please Lionel make the 4014 and I will buy one, I promise!

One thing is true, I had the pleasure of seeing both of the UP big engines, the challenger and the 4-8-4 in person in LA, They were kept immaculate, something kept well and given the best attention will last for a long time, proof to this is the many old steam kettles across this great country that are given the love and attention they need. 

I believe the UP  guys have that spirt, I have witnessed it in person. Those engine will be around for a long time.

I wonder what changed UP's mind in restoring the 4014, I seen Steve many time saying it would be an enormous undertaking to get a big boy up and running.

I am glad they picked 4014, every time I went to the fair grounds I pay my respect to the old girl. I have photos of the old founding AGHR guys and I climbing all over her, packed somewhere in one of those 100 unpacked moving boxes they put in my beloved basement.

I saw the video, I also could not get through it altogether ether, I think that fellow is one of those Area 51 guys, the sky is falling! if it were to be thought of as unfixable I am sure there is a hundred sites that would take her in a heart beat from UP, Steam town...

No need to scrap a workhorse challenger that helped win WW2 and get the economy back. The thought of scrapping it would be ludicrous and I am almost 100% certain it would never happen.

John P

Someone posted the following on another forum topic:

FORUM

*******************************************************************

You are correct, UP 3985 is no longer serviceable, although she really was NOT due her 15 year FRA inspection until 2014. UP 3985 is tucked away in the furthest stall in the round house, with all her appliances removed, superheaters removed, and is no longer "worked on" despite what the bulletin board "work sheets" posted show.

********************************************************************

Since I'm not too familiar with steam locomotive construction or repair what does the above actually mean to a layman? Is this normal repair type of stuff or has the 3895 been stripped of some parts?

Jerry

An excellent question, and thank you for asking.

The FRA (Federal Railroad Administration) 15 year inspection requires that enough flues/tubes removed from the boiler so that BOTH the inside AND outside surfaces can be ultrasonically tested for steel thickness, as well as a complete visual inspection of the steel surfaces. Back in the "old days of steam" this was usually done every five years (not with the ultrasound however). As a result of the completed inspection, the FRA Form 4 (essentially the engineering 'birth certificate' of the boiler) must be recalculated, and resubmitted to the FRA. If any of the steel sheet thickness no longer complies with the required design safety factor of 4, then the boiler MUST be repaired, or the working boiler steam pressure must be reduced accordingly.

No, to sum this all up, the new manager of the UP steam program, elected to "sideline" Challenger 3985 back in 2011, and made various claims that she had untold "boiler issues". He then had 3985 relegated to the far stall of the roundhouse, and had her appliances removed "for storage". He has absolutely NO plans to ever work on 3985 again, especially now that "HE" has the 4014!

Let me know if this does not answer your questions.

I think TRAINS is going to have an issue going into depth concering the 15 year inspection process.

I'm upset the way 3985 is becoming a second class citizen of the steam world.

Although I dropped my Trains Magazine subscription, last year, I can see that they are caught between the "party line" issued by the new manager and the REAL TRUTH behind what is going on with poor 3985. Trains editors don't want to be caught in the middle, obviously.

I agree, she has been cast aside, such a sad state of affairs. 

Chris