UP Big Boy 4014

[GSkid]

I was a little surprised to see an EMD SD70ACe-T4 on this train. I know UP acquired 100 of them, but they are relatively rare as a percentage of their total fleet of locomotives. A lot are in storage due to UP's Precision Scheduled Railroading and teething pains.... mostly electrical issues. Keeping them in storage also keeps them under warranty in the meantime.

There is a lot of videos on the net and Big Boy seems to be garnering some decent size crowds on this tour. It's harder to follow a train on a route that plows through miles of forests.

[cometcatt]

I was a little surprised to see an ACe on this train as well. I'm thinking they went with the newest, shiniest diesel they had around. It looks like this particular unit was built in 2016, and probably in storage most of that time- it looked pretty much immaculate.

The crowds gathering to see this thing are just crazy, estimates of between 3 and 5 thousand people gathered in Altoona for it. Down in Milwaukee, people lined every opening at Butler Yard, and every opening on the track as it was coming and leaving the area. There was even a news chopper circling above, reporting on the event!

[buzz456]

Courtland IL. Today. Awesome.

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[buzz456]

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[_o_OOOO_oo-Kanawha]

I bet is was awesome!

Big Boy, the old girl still draws a crowd where ever she makes an appearance.

[buzz456]

I understand that it was just mobbed in the three days it was in West Chicago over the weekend. I actually have a funny story to tell about this morning but the boss lady is reminding me that we are meeting friends for supper in a bit so later I will post about it.

[buzz456]

Supper meet pushed back a half hour soooo this morning knowing every back road and cranny on the UP mainline South of us I brilliantly told my bride we should go down to the Co-Op grain elevator on Meridith Road and Route 38 because they're right next to the tracks and have a huge parking area for the grain trucks. We'll several hundred other folks apparently thought the same thing. Cars were parked on the road for a quarter to half mile in either direction so on down the road the my secret 'tiny gravel road' train spotting place. Dozens of cars all over the place there. So on to the little unincorporated village of Courtland. Lot's of folks at the main road crossing but two blocks away there we were with a great spot to watch the show. Barney Fife a very nice cop kept everyone from throwing themselves in front of the 4014 and it was a awesome experience. Actually country folk have a tendency to be very respectful and this was no exception. I can't believe the number of people turned out for this event. UP is doing it right and staying at 30 MPH gives even the mentally challenged plenty of time to get out of the way.
Viva Union Pacific for this program.

[trev123]

One of the many videos you can find on the internet. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DYS0hysp2MM

[cometcatt]

@buzz456 Awesome pictures! Thanks for Sharing!

No doubt UP is doing the right thing by keeping the speeds lower. A buddy of mine tried filming the locomotive from practically on the tracks! He fell and slid into the ditch trying to get out of the way in time! Some people just have no sense around trains.

@gskid Looks like Big Boy is heading for Cajon Mid October, circa 10/13- 10/14. Official schedule yet to be announced. Hopefully you can catch it powering up the pass!

[trev123]

There is a safety warning video on youtube about how close you can get to Bigboy. They are saying get no closer than 25ft and no standing on the track to get a front on a photo in case you trip and full. Bigboy is a big and heavy loco and takes some time to stop.