Since the move seems to be going to happen, and knowing the Big Boy weighs ~1.25 million pounds I have a couple questions
1) Will they have to at least get the brakes marginally functional?
2) How may engines will be on either end of the Big Boy
3) Any ideas on max speed permitted will be (Though I assume it will be slowed to a crawl on questionable corners)
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Since the move seems to be going to happen, and knowing the Big Boy weighs ~1.25 million pounds I have a couple questions
1) Will they have to at least get the brakes marginally functional?
2) How may engines will be on either end of the Big Boy
3) Any ideas on max speed permitted will be (Though I assume it will be slowed to a crawl on questionable corners)
The Dallas BB (4018):
This past weekend, they had two GP38-2's at one end. The BB was in the middle of seven tankers and one hopper - these provided braking power. 10 miles/hour for the 55 mile trip.
I don't know if the brakes are functional on the BB or not.
I am thinking the Dallas move was a lot flatter. There are some formidable Hills between SoCal and Cheyenne. Both power uphill and braking downhill with be needed.
It would be cool if they bought out all the Heritage SD70's to bring her home, maybe even the DDA40X. I don't think the E9's or the 844 would be able to help much.
Traffic density may also play a factor in the routing. Whatever route they chose the move will not be at high speed and a lot of the east/west trackage is running at high capacity. Cajon Pass might be the most direct route but has a long 2.2% grade. Tahachapi to the north is 2% but a Lot of traffic is routed through it.
It might be 256,000lbs lighter. If that weight includes the 28 tons of coal and 25,000 gallons of water that "could" be in the tender. Maybe only 1 million lbs
A million pounds is only four fully loaded covered hopper cars. Braking will be the issue they need to address. Getting the locomotive to Daggett and then from Ogden to Cheyenne at 10 MPH will also be challenge. They may be able to run at a higher speed depending on how much work is done prior to the trip.
I the UP makes a formal request/petition to the FRA about moving the 4014 WITHOUT BRAKES, the best way to do it would be with 2 or 3 SD units operating in Distributed Power Mode. Thus the consist would be: one or two lead DPU diesels, the 4014, then the UP Steam Crew support cars, and a DPU diesel on the rear. Thus there would be sufficient dynamic brakes AND operative air brakes, even without working air brakes on the 4014.
Should be no problem.
I've seen these moves before without brakes.
I saw a run around hose on the 4014 in the pictures posted on this site earlier.
When they moved the Nickel Plate (763) steam engine thru the Kenova District a few years ago they did this.I also noticed all but the main rods were removed and a support crew was in a caboose.
It might be 256,000lbs lighter. If that weight includes the 28 tons of coal and 25,000 gallons of water that "could" be in the tender. Maybe only 1 million lbs
You may be right, when they moved the Bigboy through the streets of Omaha Nebraska the home mover felt it was a lot lighter than a million, who knows if he was right, but he did get it moved to its new home.
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