Major Components of Big Boy 4014 Back Together!

[_o_OOOO_oo-Kanawha]

What tender was 4014 coupled to in the steam tests? Big Boy's own tender is on the next track and the tender she was coupled to didn't seem to have a coal bunker?

[JohnS]

What tender was 4014 coupled to in the steam tests? Big Boy's own tender is on the next track and the tender she was coupled to didn't seem to have a coal bunker?

They converted her to burn oil. Also, it was stated that she will use 3985's tender till hers is completed.

[_o_OOOO_oo-Kanawha]

What tender was 4014 coupled to in the steam tests? Big Boy's own tender is on the next track and the tender she was coupled to didn't seem to have a coal bunker?

They converted her to burn oil. Also, it was stated that she will use 3985's tender till hers is completed.

Makes sense, since coaling facilities are non existent nowadays and only having her own 40 tons of coal would limit Big Boy's excursion range no further than 50 miles from Cheyenne and back.
I also read UP needs to furnish two auxiliary water tenders to quench Big Boy's mighty thirst. So I suppose any Big Boy excursion train will also have one or more tank cars with liquid fuel and pumps and hoses to replenish the tender.
Will she burn clean Diesel fuel? That would satisfy those communities and individuals that care about the environment and air quality and also increase Big Boy's range and appeal.
It will probably deprive us staunch fans of thick black smoke, but one can suppose the engine crew has a secret way of creating that photogenic smoke still.

[Ericmopar]

4014's first move under it's own power in over 50 years.

[_o_OOOO_oo-Kanawha]

Seems like railfans are posting on that viaduct day and night, trying to get a glimpse of Big Boy with their telelenses, not letting her out of their sights.

[Ericmopar]

All photos and videos are courtesy of "The Official Union Pacific Steam Club Intelligence Network"

[Ericmopar]

4014's first track warrant to leave the shop...

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[GSkid]

I was told by a rail fan friend of mine that supposedly the big boy was gonna do a test run to Greeley, CO and back today. If so I hope someone uploads a video of it as a preview of what is to come. I’ve been in Kelso on the Cima sub since Monday. It’s been beautiful. I’ve gotten plenty of video from here and Tehachapi that I’ll work on editing it in the meantime.

Not sure when I’ll head for Utah but I’m guessing in the next couple days. I look forward to the cool down from the desert heat.

[Ericmopar]

The Beast is out...

[Ericmopar]

Gorgeous, handsome, devil.

[Ericmopar]

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[GSkid]

Found a 30+ minute long video of it both in the daylight and at night.....

https://youtu.be/RR7Q27cIEvo

I arrived at Spanish Fork at dusk tonight. It’s where eastbound trains start their climb up towards Soldier Summit. Not sure if I’m gonna film a train up it or just go straight to Ogden and start filming the canyon. There are not a ton of trains over Soldier, so there would be a ton of waiting. Maybe I can get the Amtrak California Zephyr this time. I saw it last year when I was here. Problem was that I was chasing an eastbound freight and had just turned off my camera when it appeared out of nowhere and disappeared behind the freight that was creeping slowly on a siding to let it pass.

[Ericmopar]

[mindenjohn]

Great to see, thanks for posting.

[GSkid]

Well I’m here. Some interesting observations.....

I first went to promontory point where UP crosses the entire Great Salt Lake on a levee. I drove across the entire thing on UP’s access road. I had just missed a train. I want to film a train over it, but when I do I’ll have to be quick. There are literally cloud swarms of mosquitoes everywhere out there. As soon as you stop your car, they land on and coat the entire car. And even when you drive away, they try to stay on as long as they can. Some stayed on up to 40mph.

I noticed UP likes to leave trains parked everywhere around the Salt Lake area unmanned until they need to move. I saw an eastbound parked at promontory point with all engines off. Another one was parked ahead of it on the mainland with no crew on it either.

I have been scouting spots along Echo canyon to film in general. It’s very tricky in a lot of spots because the tracks switch sides of the canyon. They are along the westbound highway lanes on the eastern half of the route, but flip to the eastbound lanes on the western half. The western half is the deepest cut into the mountain and prettiest shots IMO. But.. I’d only be able to get one shot there cuz you are driving the opposite direction of the train. And the next turn around is always up the road quite a way. I’ll see if I can get it there on its return trip.

From my day of observations.... the track laid to the north have all been eastbound trains and the track laid to the south have all been westbound. The eastbound trains are the ones that climb the grade. So if I want to get big boy climbing the canyon, it will have to be on the return trip as well.

I also worry about police. I passed a highway wide LED sign that warned Race to Ogden ... no parking on the roadway. Well you kind of have to if you want to get a lot of the great shots. I doubt many in the caravan that is following it will heed that call.

There is currently a ton of track work equipment in the canyon. They must be replacing wooden ties because from Ogden to Echo they are beside the tracks in piles. Not sure why they haven’t switched to concrete ties on such a busy route. I noticed that along with the new Vader signals, there are these slightly larger and much older looking Vader signals still there, but are turned 90 degrees sideways to the track.

I’ve already met a bunch of local and out of town rail fans, including ones from Belgium.

There is this super aggressive UP guy driving a high-rail pickup. He was driving by really fast on the rails, saw me parked on a road near the tracks, hit reverse and hauled butt back towards me. I waved at him and he simply got on his radio to the powers that be and then sped off. About 30 minutes later I ran into some railfans that said he screamed at them over his PA system and they weren’t parked that close to the tracks. So he sweat them miles down the track after he bugged me. It’s gonna be bumpy ride with this Dudley Do-right on the job, so if you are coming here.... you’ve been warned.