I just did some surgery on this thread to remove a few posts. Play nice, eh boys?
A few comments if I may, to those of you still trying to claim that everything is OK in Cheyenne...
First off, please understand that I don't have a dog in this fight. I don't know anyone on the current UP steam crew. I have never met Ed Dickens. And I don't care one way or another about seeing the Big Boy run. However, the problems on the UP Steam Crew currently in play in Cheyenne are well known in the steam locomotive owner/operator "fraternity." The photos which documented current state of the 844's boiler got the attention of EVERYONE in the steam locomotive fraternity when they came to light. The condition of the inside of that boiler was downright frightening! I have been inside the 765's boiler many times and can tell you that on its worst day it has never looked anywhere close to the mess they found inside the 844! The 844's flat wheel incident was another well documented event that tarnished the UP steam crew's reputation, especially when Mr. Dickens attempted to foist blame on others.
Two lawsuits have been filed against Mr. Dickens. One is an employee discrimination suit and the other is a sexual harassment suit. These are not rumors or mudslinging. They are a matter of public record and I have read them both. It is serious stuff.
Other documented issues include the fact that the Union Pacific does not have an operable steam locomotive this year - that's a FIRST. The steam crew has had more than 100% turnover in the short time Mr. Dickens has been in charge. These are also not rumors or mud slinging...they are provable facts. Many of the things which Jack (Hot Water) has stated about this situation are also provable facts. He still has contacts inside the company and gets a lot of first-hand intel on this situation.
The bottom line is that none of this bodes well for the future of the UP steam program. The operational and maintenance issues in play are serious enough that they could even have far-reaching, negative effects on other steam locomotive operators.
To those of you who think this is nothing more than a few disgruntled former employees just trying to stir the pot, that is NOT what this is! This situation is much more serious than that! The guys doing the complaining (there are several - it is not just Jack) are trying to expose real problems in the UP steam program. It would appear that this long-standing corporate railroad steam program is in real danger of collapsing.
UP has got to get this mess straightened out one way or another...and soon!