That will be awsome to see!
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It's always a pleasure for me to hear that one of those old iron horses will be refurbished and back on the rails doing what history intended them to do. Your history on this is much appreciated Chris. Thank you. Hopefully, you'll follow this restoration and give us updates from time to time on how the restoration is
going. She will be a welcome addition to my train picture collection.
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Wow! A Big Boy under steam. If anyone company has the resources it would be UP. That bulkhead looks a little beat up though.
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But...the fire will not be as easily seen, she will be converted to burn No.5.
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I wonder how they will move her maybe with some heritage unites coupled on
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What about 3985? Is UP ever going to get it back in operating condition? Or are they going to renovate 4014 and leave 3985 sitting in the roundhouse in Cheyenne? Just curious.
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I need to plan a trip out west in 2019. It will be one incredible sight to experience this locomotive in operation. Thanks Chris and thanks UP.
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I need to plan a trip out west in 2019. It will be one incredible sight to experience this locomotive in operation. Thanks Chris and thanks UP.
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I agree that it will be cool. But man, I wish it could burn coal! And as stated, if getting a Big Boy (with I'd guess a limited territory it can travel) will mean the end of the 3985's career, I'd rather they keep the Big Boy parked and finish the work on 3985. I'd guess 95% of the general public couldn't tell the difference--or care--between a Big Boy and a Challenger. Is it just for bragging rights? That's a LOT of money being sunk into this for bragging rights--but UP already has the "largest operating steam locomotive in the world" with 3985.
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3985 is not going anywhere according from UP, 3985 will continue to be worked on and UP has no plans of getting rid of her.
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Finally...one of the remaining steam titans of the rails being restored! Thanks Union Pacific!
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It would be great to see Steve Lee in the cab of 4014 and tugging on the throttle. It's a shame a Big Boy wasn't refurbished prior to his retirement. A man who dedicated his career to the preservation and operation of Union Pacific's steam fleet.
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She would run on coal if UP would get a decent set of grates and not try to burn that glorified dirt they call coal out west. Ship some good Eastern coal to Cheyenne and let her roll.
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I see a movie contract! Hope i'm still kicking to see this machine run again.
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Why not burn diesel? Nice hot fire, not too much smoke!?
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| Posted by austgms on September 18, 2013 | |
Travelled 8000miles from Australia to sit in those two seats a fulfill a boyhood dream. It is an amazing machine and it will be great to see it on the road again with the bearded Steve Lee at the throttle, that is if he can be coaxed into it.! As I understand it, he wasn't in favour of restoring a Big Boy for various technnical reasons. However if you're a steam fan how could you resist.
That aside, Union pacific should be congratulated for making this happen along with the California Chapter of the R&LHS who have maintained it all these years.
I'm just curious, has the momentum to do this have anything to do with Warren Buffet aquiring his 1:1 scale train set called the Union Pacific.
Finally I looked up the distance from Pomona to Cheyenne. Thats one hell of a tow job and I guess it won't be at track speed
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I think it was BNSF that Warren Buffett acquired.
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Welcome to the future, folks, where the Big Boy is back up and running!
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