Steam engine Big Boy #4014

[Reggaemon]

Has anyone seen it or plan to see it on its latest tour? It's going to be running on a track about five miles away so I was out looking for good viewing spots.
The schedule has it in the area on Saturday.

 

[ctechbob]

I wish it were coming a little closer. I have family that was talking about going to see it in Altoona today but I haven't heard if they went or not.

 

[Tman220]

I saw it several years ago when it came through St Paul, MN. Huge machine! The only thing that ticked me off is that when they took off it seemed like they used the help from the diesel elec locomotive, I really wanted to hear the chug o chug from that beast, but I was deprived.

Sometimes they will use the help from the diesel elec when they need to conserve water or fuel since the infrastructure just doesn't exist anymore along the rail lines to support the needs of a big steam locomotive for obvious reasons.

 

[User_19876]

I saw it several years ago when it came through St Paul, MN. Huge machine! The only thing that ticked me off is that when they took off it seemed like they used the help from the diesel elec locomotive, I really wanted to hear the chug o chug from that beast, but I was deprived.

Sometimes they will use the help from the diesel elec when they need to conserve water or fuel since the infrastructure just doesn't exist anymore along the rail lines to support the needs of a big steam locomotive for obvious reasons.

The diesels make things much smoother. The one time I was on a steam engine, it was only the engine (Southern 630), a tender, and a couple of Pullman lounge cars. Nothing else. This was not a big engine. A 2-8-0. It was fairly rough without diesels to start and stop. I can imagine a steam engine the size of #4014 would be much worse with its weight and power.

 

[ctechbob]

Don't forget brakes. They use the diesel for its dynamic braking.

Plus UP dumped a TON of money into that locomotive, I'm sure they want it to last as long as possible.

 

[skyactiv]

Wife and I saw and heard in Lorain, OH, a town on the shore of Lake Erie. I say heard because the whistle and the train sounded beautiful. You cant duplicate the sound it makes watching a video of it.

 

[GaryMX5]

I got to see it a few years ago when it did a western tour (Wyoming, Nebraska, Kansas and Colorado) right after it completed it's refurbishment. It toured without the auxiliary diesel engines at that time. It did haul a couple of water tank cars, one box car with support personnel and a caboose. I saw it in Oakley, KS at a planned whistle stop (about 30 minutes). We were allowed to walk right up to it and even touch it. A monstruous technical marvel for sure and well worth seeing!

 

[GaryMX5]

 

[GaryMX5]

 

[GaryMX5]

 

[paulri]

If it comes out to California, or anywhere close for that matter, I'll take my dad to see it (he loves trains).

 

[FordSVTGuy]

Yes, saw it coming out of Philly on Tuesday. Was very cool and I agree the train whistle is incredible. Sounds almost ghostly in the distance.

 

[GaryMX5]

View attachment 346992

Note that the engine burned coal up to 2017 or so (when the major restoration was done). It was converted to fuel oil at that time. The coal car/tender is now a 6000 gallon fuel tank. The 2 yellow cars to the rear of it are for water.

 

[AZjeff]

I wish it were coming a little closer. I have family that was talking about going to see it in Altoona today but I haven't heard if they went or not.

Horseshoe Curve?

 

[ctechbob]

Horseshoe Curve?

That would be cool, but that's a ticketed event only and its been sold out for a while.

I think he's actually gong to go catch it in Cresson.

 

[opus1]

This is what it looked like coming through Hammond(Hessville), IN when it was headed east in June. I picked the spot because the train would have to go slow when switching from the Indiana Harbor Belt tracks over to the Norfolk Southern mainline. This is right before that switch-over took place. I was pleasantly surprised that the crowd of people wasn't larger than it was.

Hoping to catch it on its way back to the yard in South Holland, IL, before it heads out of the area next week but I have some work training that day and am not sure I'll be able to sneak out like I did for this shot.

 

[AZjeff]

That would be cool, but that's a ticketed event only and its been sold out for a while.

I think he's actually gong to go catch it in Cresson.

So you're familiar with the Allegheny-Portage Railroad nearby? They did crazy interesting stuff BITD.

 

[DukeOfFrontenac]

Caught it coming through Linfield PA on the 2nd. Was very cool to see in person. The temp was >100f, humidity not far behind, and the crowd was huge. Glad I was there.

 

[ctechbob]

So you're familiar with the Allegheny-Portage Railroad nearby? They did crazy interesting stuff BITD.

Yup, did a bunch of reading about it a few years ago. Grew up a few hills over from it.

 

[relentless044]

I saw it a few years back in Denver, got to take my dad and little nephew, kinda special cause like most little boys I grew up loving trains, especially steam, my dad too and he always wanted to see a big boy alive and in person, got to do it before alzheimers and dementia got too bad