Ed Dickens, senior manager-Heritage Operations, demonstrates stay bolt cap maintenance that's currently underway on Union Pacific steam locomotive No. 844. Ed also talks about a variety of parts that are arriving for use on both No. 844 and Big Boy No. 4014.
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Thanks for posting.
The steam shop ought to enlist whoever at UP made this video:
Far more interesting 
Perhaps they could show us more than reamers and staybolt caps?
The steam shop ought to enlist whoever at UP made this video:
Not possible as nothing gets accomplished fast enough at the steam shop to produce a video of that quality, i.e. actions speak much louder than words.
Far more interesting Perhaps they could show us more than reamers and staybolt caps?
Especially if all that isn't needed, just as it isn't needed on 844.
That's what I find amazing about this video. All those shiny staybolt caps and sleeves will be dirty and rusted again at the end of the first service day!
It seems like a lot of pointless make-work for no apparent reason.
It seems like a lot of pointless make-work for no apparent reason.
Thanks for the comment Rich. All the knowledgeable steam people I have heard from think something similar which leads to the view that either
a. the current UP steam manager doesn't know what he is doing maintaining steam locomotives
or
b. he is trying to make overhauls last as long as possible to avoid the risk of more incidents on he road due to a lack of knowledge and skill in operating steam locomotives.
Either way it is a depressing state of affairs.
Imagine how long to do the same work on 4014.
No kidding. The NS steam program just might have NKP 765 and N&W 611 joined by a replica PRR T1 before UP has the 4014 operating. The T1 project could even cost less.
Didn't take long for the haters to come out on this thread. Why don't you guys give Ed a break? We all know you don't like him, no reason to come on hear and trash him every time some posts something about the UP Steam Program.
I'm just an old USN Machinist Mate. I got to say, nothing much on these videos makes any operational sense. Looks pretty though.
Which may be the point . . .
There I fixed the name, I meant to say Ed. I'm sure you and everyone else on here that acts like they are paying for the repairs out of pocket know who I meant.
What "repairs"? Poor 844 wouldn't have NEEDED "repairs" if the current manager hadn't screwed up the boiler water treatment program, nor performed sufficient blow-downs and proper boiler washes. You seem to forget that 844 received a COMPLETE boiler overhaul, and TOTALLY new firebox between 2000 and 2004, returning to service in 2005. Just why does she now require all these extra "repairs"?????
From some of the photo's that were posted on the web, it looks like they discovered some questionable work that was preformed in the past. It's a good thing they are taking care of these.
From some of the photo's that were posted on the web, it looks like they discovered some questionable work that was preformed in the past. It's a good thing they are taking care of these.
More lies from the current manager. He'll say and concoct ANYTHING to try and discredit the "previous crew", in oder to make himself look like the big hero. Bottom line is however, he has NOTHING operational, and nothing for the foreseeable future.
All I have are these of the 3985 tender from my visit a few months ago.
Ed claimed that this was normal sediment at the end of a season of running and would have been cleaned up prior to the next season.
As for your other question Ed stated that 844 would be overhauled to run for the next 40 years. Apparently retired and past members of the UP steam crew don't agree with his decision. Oh well. As for the shiny flexible staybolt covers/seals I guess he felt that enough of them were worn and rusted thin enough so rather than replace a few every few years he would replace them all now. Is it a waste of time? Look at the pile of old caps in the video. Maybe. Depends what your goals are. Perhaps if and when the 844 is running again it will have less down time. That appears to be Ed's goal. Time will tell.
Just something to keep in mind, and I'm sure Rich can add a lot to this point, is that 844 and 765 were both overhauled in the same time period, 765 has probably run MORE miles than 844 since then, and doesn't have ANY of the supposed problems Ed thinks 844 has. To make the point further, I was told by a couple of people that when 765 goes in for it's 1472, that at least as of now, only basic service and repair would be needed to go along with the inspection. It must suck for Ed to get shown up by a bunch of volunteers. The other point I will make is that the prior UP crew ran 844 and 3985 for YEARS with only one real issue which was the fault of tooling, not the crew. If they were HALF as incompetent as Ed likes to say they are, those engines would have fallen apart YEARS ago! For those of you that wonder why so many hate Ed, it's because many of them KNOW him personally, and they KNOW he's a poser. It's really as simple as that. Unlike his predecessor, he has ZERO credibility in the steam operating community, and pretty much to a man, NONE of them want anything to do with him. Do you think that a bunch of people just got out of bed one morning and decided they don't like him? Why is it that under Steve Lee, there were more people that wanted to be on the crew than there were slots for, and now, they have to ADVERTISE for open positions, and they have trouble filling them?
All you have to do is look at NKP 765. Look at NS 611. Look at C&O 1309. Then look at 844.
Not being an 'expert' on operating any steam engines I have to believe there is a rotten apple in the UP steam program barrel. I think 'dieselbob's' well said explanation unfortunately rings true and its indeed unfortunate UP's corporate 'types' have been put in charge of their steam program and my guess is we won't see an operational Big Boy for at least the next 10 to 15 years given their current style of leadership.
Just something to keep in mind, and I'm sure Rich can add a lot to this point, is that 844 and 765 were both overhauled in the same time period, 765 has probably run MORE miles than 844 since then, and doesn't have ANY of the supposed problems Ed thinks 844 has. To make the point further, I was told by a couple of people that when 765 goes in for it's 1472, that at least as of now, only basic service and repair would be needed to go along with the inspection. It must suck for Ed to get shown up by a bunch of volunteers. The other point I will make is that the prior UP crew ran 844 and 3985 for YEARS with only one real issue which was the fault of tooling, not the crew. If they were HALF as incompetent as Ed likes to say they are, those engines would have fallen apart YEARS ago! For those of you that wonder why so many hate Ed, it's because many of them KNOW him personally, and they KNOW he's a poser. It's really as simple as that. Unlike his predecessor, he has ZERO credibility in the steam operating community, and pretty much to a man, NONE of them want anything to do with him. Do you think that a bunch of people just got out of bed one morning and decided they don't like him? Why is it that under Steve Lee, there were more people that wanted to be on the crew than there were slots for, and now, they have to ADVERTISE for open positions, and they have trouble filling them?
Another thing, unless I'm mistaken, I've noticed that since Ed has taken over, the 844 has always had at LEAST one or two diesels with it. Notice NS lets their steam almost always go solo now with NO diesels. I think that speaks volumes about NS's trust in the locomotives and crews.
Another thing, unless I'm mistaken, I've noticed that since Ed has taken over, the 844 has always had at LEAST one or two diesels with it. Notice NS lets their steam almost always go solo now with NO diesels. I think that speaks volumes about NS's trust in the locomotives and crews.
Another thing, unless I'm mistaken, I've noticed that since Ed has taken over, the 844 has always had at LEAST one or two diesels with it. Notice NS lets their steam almost always go solo now with NO diesels. I think that speaks volumes about NS's trust in the locomotives and crews.
Not eastbound all the way to Omaha, Kansas City, St Louis, or on the routs sour into texas. Plus, since the first operations of 2011, 844 RARELY exceeds 55 MPH. No dynamic brake involved there. The diesel/diesels essentially do the work.
One thing that I took away from his recent talk at the last historical society meeting was he needs to show value to UP to keep the projects going. He does not have a blank check. So that means he needs to be somewhat of a salesman. Recently UP stock has slipped from an all time high about 15%. Do you suppose management will keep the same budget or will they look for more justification to keep the program at its current budget level. I listened to Ed for the better part of an hour and I heard not one word of prior team shortcomings. Know this, Ed is what we got now. He may not be what we have been used to but the future is with him for the moment. But then it is not unusual in the RR business for the operators to know more than management.
That's what I find amazing about this video. All those shiny staybolt caps and sleeves will be dirty and rusted again at the end of the first service day!
It seems like a lot of pointless make-work for no apparent reason.
Rich,
I believe this is a cost plus contract. ��
Larry
One thing that I took away from his recent talk at the last historical society meeting was he needs to show value to UP to keep the projects going. He does not have a blank check. So that means he needs to be somewhat of a salesman. Recently UP stock has slipped from an all time high about 15%. Do you suppose management will keep the same budget or will they look for more justification to keep the program at its current budget level. I listened to Ed for the better part of an hour and I heard not one word of prior team shortcomings. Know this, Ed is what we got now. He may not be what we have been used to but the future is with him for the moment. But then it is not unusual in the RR business for the operators to know more than management.
I'm sure he DOES need to be somewhat of a salesman, just like his predescessor did. The problem is, the BEST way to sell the program is show some ACTUAL RETURN on the investment, which at UP has stood at ZERO for the last two years. If Ed wants to "sell the program" he needs quit doinking around and trying to gold plate every single part of one locomotive while randomly tearing apart two more, and get SOMETHING operating and make it USEFUL to the company. From every thing I have ever read, heard or seen concerning the previous steam crew, they were always standing at the ready to help the company in ANY way possible, whether it directly involved 844 and 3985 or not. Remember the steam crew pushing stranded freights? Remember the heritage diesels being ready and released to the freight pool during the 1998 meltdown? I believe Steve and probably ALL the crew went back out and ran trains during that time of need, and they always did their tasks in a way that reflected positively on the company. Exactly WHAT is the company getting out of Ed Dickens for the money they pay him, and spend on the department he runs?
Ed's full of S### if you ask me. Not one operating steam locomotive in the UP fleet...
I know a guy like him at my work-shifts the focus off of his inadequate knowledge with meaningless self created tasks to convince other's he's doing something productive...Sound familiar?
I've saw this type many times...results never equal their pay grade...no exception at UP either.
Ed Dickens is not unlike most of today's managers. That is, if he can't dazzle you with knowledge, he will baffle you with "BS".
We had a bunch of those "apple-polishing soab's" when I worked in the Oil Industry, and all industry has em! That/they don't make it right, but that's the way it is.
When watching these "self serving types" work in the past, makes me wonder what the hell is at the top of the company.
If the Presidents and VP's on up, get there "Big Bonus", perk's every year, "No Negatives", and the pay checks are flowing to the "Coolies", they don't care.
The only thing that the top managers like better than a big bonus, is having one of their flunkies hold the door for them, as well as, the on going getting their A** Kissed.
If you think I'm wrong, just look at the Federal Government. If we were living under the same standards, as we were during WW2, probably half, would be serving time in the pen, or just out right Hung for treason!
What ever happened to the new guy, from, I think it was Memphis, that was suppose to get things lined out in the UP Steam Program?
Did he get side tracked, or something?..........................Brandy!
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