Motorized Freak of the Week: The Union Pacific "Big Boy" Locomotive

[cjforumadmin]

http://www.bangshift.com/blog/Motorized-Freak-of-the-Week-The-Union-Pacific-Big-Boy-Locomotive.html

[BigBlockMopar]

I've read and seen pics of this baby years ago in some book. I used to be into model-trains and such back then and was amazed at the size of the machine.

Awesome piece of work!

Check this out...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x8f9VFlNyDQ

8)

[ecniv]

I live about 3 miles from this place:

http://www.psrm.org/

I have yet to go check it out, I should go and snap a bunch of pics. From what I hear, they have some cool old stuff there.

[HoosierGTA]

Makes you wonder how many cars of coal it alone needed to start/finish a run !

[TheSilverBuick]

Something about steam trains. We have two here in Ely, not nearly as large though. Both unfortunately are currently down. One was taken off line as planned to clean out and rebuild the boiler's, then about two months after that one was taken off line the other ate two bronze wheel bearings and went off line. The rail road museum that does the train rides is a volunteer crew that's only revenue is donations, train ride tickets and gift shop, so repairs are slow. Hopefully one of them will be up and running early next year. I've been on the Steam train ride to the mine and back twice. They are currently running what I think is a 50's era diesel locomotive in the mean time.

Those heavy haulers were the last to go, finally finished off by the diesel electric. Awesome machines.

[Scott Liggett]

I don't know now, but when I lived in Omaha, there was one of these Big Boys sitting in UP's yard on the north side of town. You could easily see just driving down the freeway as they had it lit up at night. UP's main headquarters is in Omaha and they have a museum there as well.

[AllenK]

I grew up less than 1/4 mile from a Union Pacific railroad line. I would've loved to have seen and heard one of those things go by!

[Blazerteam]

I've read and seen pics of this baby years ago in some book. I used to be into model-trains and such back then and was amazed at the size of the machine.

Awesome piece of work!

Check this out...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x8f9VFlNyDQ

8)


Thanks for sharing..What a great trailer for a movie 8).Wish one for christmas ;)

[DanStokes]

If my fuzzy old memory is working correctly, there's one of these monsters at The Henry Ford in Dearborn, MI. Awesome machine. See one if you can.

Dan

[Brian Lohnes]

Dan, your memory is 100% correct!!

Brian

[Barry_R]

http://www.waymarking.com/waymarks/WM298Y

http://www.steamlocomotive.com/allegheny/


The one at the Henry Ford is possibly even bigger - if you can imagine that....

[ch1ll]

I'M ON THAT BIGGER IS BETTER. AND THESE LOCOMOTIVES ARE TRULY IMPRESSIVE .....BUT FOR SPEED AND ELEGANCE CHECK THESE HIAWATHA'S OUT THAT RIPPED THRU WISCONSIN FROM CHICAGO ON THIER WAY TO ST. PAUL/MINNEAPOLIS AT SPEEDS WELL IN EXCESS OF 100MPH STARTING IN 1935. GRUNTING HUGE LOADS AROUND (HAHAHA-CHAD-HAHAHA)IS COOL BUT THE THOUGHT OF AIR BETWEEN THE WHEELS AND RAILS GOT TO BE TWILIGHT ZONE SH!T. CHECK IT OUT.


WWW.MINNESOTAJONES.COM/HIAWATHA_PAGE.HTML

[Freiburger]

NO CAPLOCK please.

[Scott Liggett]

Coincidentally, the History Channel is now showing a show on the big steam engines.

[chryco]

Thanks for posting the article , loved it !
Chryco ;)

[JRoberts]

Brian, another great article. Thanks. I love steam engines and really would like to see one of these in person. I remember when I was very young, my Grandfather was a yard master with the Chicago Northwestern branch in Omaha. I loved going down the the yards and visiting with him. He would show us the trains up close and personal.

[ZEDZED]

In the middle of the fairgrounds in Pomona, California, sits a Big Boy. When I went to the LA Roadster show on Father's day weekend, the Railway & Locomotive Historical Society (Southern California Chapter), had its entrance gate flung wide open. If you can, please take the time to visit. Pictures do not do it justice. They are open infrequently, so plan ahead.

[Brian Lohnes]

Zed...good call!

Brian

[noboD]

Thanks for reminding us of these engineering marvels, David. I've seen the one in Cheyenne, Wy., one in Denver's Forney museum, and the one in the Henry Ford and every time they still amaze me at the size and power.

[glxi390]

I am a locomotive engineer and I know that those steam locos took a deft touch to run properly. Not just powering the unit itself but the old air brakes took a bit of skill to stop smoothly. The new units we use are all computer managed and the tonnage they pull is pretty impressive, they are rated at 4300 HP and wheel slip is nearly non-existent.

[Huskinhano]

Yes, the Big Boy is an incredible pieces of machinery! I've seen one several times. Living on the east coast and close to what was a major steam hub of the east in Scranton, PA is Steam Town. Steam Town is a national landmark that I highly recommend visiting if you're in PA. I've been there many times. Here's a link to a trip I took there about 2-3 years ago. http://www.picturetrail.com/sfx/album/view/11293330

I own some property in a sleepy little town in PA called Nicholson. It's claim to fame is the Nicholson viaduct. Any steam buff worth their salt should know about it.

http://pic90.picturetrail.com/VOL2210/716707/1468921/251015354.jpg

Pictures don't do it justice. It's absolutely mind boggling. I've walked underneath it. Here's a couple of links with some info. Also a must see is the Lackawana coal mine tour. This was a working coal mine and could still be one if needed.

http://www.newyorkrailroads.com/Nicholson/

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tunkhannock_Viaduct

Hope you've enjoyed the pictures.

[Blazerteam]

Pictures dont do justice,but hopefully this pic will let a glimpse of it.What an enourmous bridge..Thanks for the link.

http://i251.photobucket.com/albums/gg320/blazerteam/Nicholson300tt.jpg

[66gg1tnc]

In the middle of the fairgrounds in Pomona, California, sits a Big Boy. When I went to the LA Roadster show on Father's day weekend, the Railway & Locomotive Historical Society (Southern California Chapter), had its entrance gate flung wide open. If you can, please take the time to visit. Pictures do not do it justice. They are open infrequently, so plan ahead.


They also have the biggest ridged frame steam locomotive there as well. A 9000 class 4-12-2. It's also a 3 cylinder!

[efi-diy]

What is truly sad is the infrastructure and skills to build anything close to this has died and gone offshore.

While I was at sema it was depressing to see just how much of the US economy is off shore - just go to the AAPEX lower level. Make a fast buck ... never mind that the guy across the street is out of work permanently - job just moved to China.