The Big Boy 4014

I took the kids out this morning to see the Union Pacific Big Boy. It’s in Fort Worth for the day.Pretty cool. Thousands of other people thought so too! The lines for merch and the “Experience” was way too long, but it was pretty neat to see it. Here’s the schedule, it may be stopping in a town near you. Sucker’s so big I couldn’t get it all in one picture.

https://www.up.com/heritage/steam/schedule/index.htm

 

The 4-8-8-4 configuration has always been a stunning piece of machinery. I would love to see it in person. Thanks for the pictures.

 

My brother lives in Euless, he was gonna head over to see it as well, that is one impressive machine!

 

We saw Big Boy a couple years ago shortly after it's most recent rebuild. By chance we drove past this site today, very quiet.

 

1.3 million pounds, if I remember right. Thanks for the pictures.

 

I've been trackside to see AND HEAR them roll through Iowa a couple of times. You will never forget the sight and sound as they accelerate to full chat.
Listen for the jingle the rumble and the roar. Three distinct sounds. You will swear they are alive.

 

Incredible piece of machinery.

 

Yep, we saw it coming through Muskogee, Oklahoma a couple of days ago. We had another one or this one come through Muskogee probably twenty years ago and since I’m was the Master Mechanic for the Fire Dept here I got to haul fire hoses to it and fill it up with water. It was actually driving under it’s own power then.
I saw this one come through and noticed a modern engine in the train. Don’t know if that was for back up or if it was powering the trip. The Big Boy didn’t seem to be smoking enough to be pulling a train…..but it was a short train.








Bones

 

It is now powered by No.5 Fuel Oil rather than coal. More environmentally correct. Probably not traditional.

 

A little Roy Acuff anyone?

 

The modern engine is for positive train control which the Big Boy doesn't have