Walter, good to have a "photo of record" for the cab of 4006 (I have the Genesis model). Unfortunately there are sound reasons for not returning a Big Boy to operation. They seriously tested the UP's infrastructure when introduced in 1940, and some current conditions, including bridge loadings and track spacing on curves, wouldn't permit safe and easy passage of such a locomotive. Big Boys were coal burners and the one attempt to convert one to oil was a failure. They would consume the entire contents of their coal bunkers within 50 miles, and supplying steam coal today is always difficult. It would be essential to convert the locomotive to oil - which would require expensive engineering work and custom fabrication. Steve Lee of UP claims there's nowhere to turn one, although a Big Boy can surely be turned on any wye that 844 is turned on - the 4-8-8-4 has a shorter rigid wheelbase than the 4-8-4. And with 3985 alive and kicking, there's no pressing need to add a Big Boy to the roster - the Challenger is an ideal representative of the Jabelmann designs and is more flexible and less expensive to run than the Big Boy. But it sure would be fun to see a Big Boy in action, all the same!
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| Posted by on July 27, 2013 | |
You can put your shame to rest Union Pacific's getting Big Boy 4014 up & back out on the road.
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I'm not ashamed. I was simply reporting all the arguments I'd previously heard from the likes of Steve Lee himself.
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