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Big Boy 4014 will move east in April
Pulling freight. You just made everyones day with that statement:-)! This will be awesome to see in person! Especially for those of us who didn’t witness steam in revenue service.
I can’t wait to see it here in California and hopefully NORTHERN CALIFORNIA, the Bay Area!!
Well, that settles it. A road trip to to the USA is in order simply because of that comment about pulling freight. Can’t wait!
If recall doesn’t betray, it was no coincidence that in the days of “icer” reefers, the 40-footers, those perishable trains (R-Block trains) that went to Roseville (the R in R-Block) with no more cars than would fit at the ice dock, 93, 97, can I say whatever?
My guess is that the R-Blocks stayed intact except for power and caboose changes.
Likely that a mile and a half of loaded “icers” didn’t happen.
BTW each R-Block took a number in the yearly count…over #200 by the end of Aug…In the early 60’s, that is.
I don’no? 4014 on a stack train? 20 foot high container cars behind a 15 foot high locomotive. Big Boy becomes Lil’ Bro?
Great program, Ed. I am looking forward to the whole show.
Yea, the freight comment is the winner. And I agree, something completely anachronistic like double stacks would be perfect, preferably w/o any diesel “backup”.
Where are they going to find a mile and a half of 40 ft yellow reefers to run behind her?
Where are they going to find a mile and a half of 40 ft yellow reefers to run behind her?
Back when News Wire broke the story about U.P. restoring a Big Boy to operation I suggested they could earn revenue by hauling freight, which it was designed and built to do.Maybe mister Dickens read my comment and decided that was a good idea.I like to think so anyway,showing the importance of feedback to News Wire articles.
Imagine Big Boy on the point trailing a string of double stack intermodals through Cajon Pass. I’d drive out west for a week just to see that!
It was either Pacer Stacktrain or APL that had the UP run the Challenge on a stacktrain back a number of years ago. I would love to see Big Boy on one of those mile or two long stacktrains. Gotta love the UP for looking back at its heritage and not forgetting where it came from.
I’d rather see an operational New York Central “Niagara”! Even a “Berkshire”, or “Mohawk” would work!!!
Even down here in Australia us Big Kids and Train Nuts have been following the story with much interest. The closest we ever got to anything remotely like the Big Boys was The Garratts back in the late 60’S which were a lot smaller but did have the articulated wheel system.
Being a U P Fan to begin with is a bonus when it comes to Big Steam Trains as there isn’t any Road better for big steam.
Remember The World needs more Big Kids we all take Life so serious these days. As my Grandfather said 45 years ago
“Don’t take Life too serious we are not going to get out of it Alive” Gee I still miss my Pop. Regards to All, Denis.
Even down here in Australia us Big Kids and Train Nuts have been following the story with much interest. The closest we ever got to anything remotely like the Big Boys was The Garratts back in the late 60’S which were a lot smaller but did have the articulated wheel system.
Being a U P Fan to begin with is a bonus when it comes to Big Steam Trains as there isn’t any Road better for big steam.
Remember The World needs more Big Kids we all take Life so serious these days. As my Grandfather said 45 years ago
“Don’t take Life too serious we are not going to get out of it Alive” Gee I still miss my Pop. Regards to All, Denis.
I remember Steve Lee saying in a article around his retirement that every year or two,UP frequently used the 3985 and 844 on Sherman Hill during a power shortage moment to pull revenue freight to pay for the Steam Program’s funding…cross subsidizing if you will. So this is not at all surprising that 4014 will see freight service.
Double Stack Train!
Double Stack Train!
Need frequences for Cajon Pass for the 4014 when it leaves Colton,will it be BNSF freqs. or UP FREQS?.
Great to hear. I hope I can see it run. I saw 3985 in St.Paul 08 or 09.