This is not an early April 1st story, but a story from Trains.com and several other sources.
CZ
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Union Pacific studying Big Boy restoration projectPublished: December 7, 2012
No. 4014 climbing Wyoming’s Sherman Hill on June 25, 1949. Photo by R.H. Kindig
POMONA, Calif. – Union Pacific may be bringing back the ultimate steam machine, an Alco-built 4-8-8-4 Big Boy, the last of which steamed more than 50 years ago. Company spokesman Mark Davis told Trains News Wire Friday that the company has been approached by and is working with a third party interested in restoring and operating a Big Boy. He said the railroad is evaluating the condition of preserved UP Big Boy locomotives and that it believes two might be available for restoration. Davis declined to name the other party or give
I’m sorry, but that story is false. The real story is that Canadian Pacific has re-acquired a T1c from the Heritage Park Group (llc) and is going to start restoring it to operating condition starting in the new year. David B
Don’t believe it until you see it being shipped to Cheyenne, even then detailed inspection could get 86 the entire project if hidden flaws are discovered (which I think it highly possible), until then all discussion is just intrigue.
Anybody who thinks this has more probabity then a snowballs chance in hexx should hold their breath until they pass out and maybe they will come to their senses when they wake up.
here i got this from the steam preservation thread
FTA:"…A Dec. 23 letter sent by the chapter’s board of directors to its members, and obtained by Trains Magazine, indicates a substantial division, both in the board and the museum’s membership, as to the ultimate fate of the locomotive. The letter stressed that at this time there is no firm proposal from the railroad, and the two parties are only in the midst of exploratory discussions. The chapter’s board has unilateral authority to make such a deal. However, the board decided the issue to be important enough to take a vote of the membership in the matter.
Part of the proposed transaction would be for UP to provide alternate equipment for display, presumably a diesel locomotive or locomotives, to replace the Big Boy. Union Pacific has made it clear to the chapter that it would not consider a trade for another steam locomotive, as the railroad feels it is not in a position to thin its roster further.
Ed Dickens, manager of Union Pacific’s steam program, visited the chapter’s exhibit on the Los Angeles County Fairgrounds Nov. 30-Dec. 4. According to the board, at that time, Dickens expressed interest in the Big Boy project. If the 4-8-8-4 does return to the railroad, after restoration, the belief is that No. 4014 would eventually visit most of the 23-state railroad.
Some members are in favor of having the locomotive back under steam again, which also means returning it to Union Pacific. Chapter members in favor of a trade feel that the primary benefit, not only for the chapter, but also for the public in general, is that people will be able to see a Big Boy in action. Others are adamant that
I have found that without dreamers/big picture types many big developments don’t get started, much less completed. We have heard rumors of a Big Boy returning on and off for years and I have wanted all of them to be true ever since I stepped into the cab of one. I am assuming someone has figured out a fix for the boiler vs firebox issue using oil–I sure hope so. Maybe that’s what the third party is bringing to the table?
well this has alittle more behind it then 10 guys that have layouts in their basement & wanna restore a steam engine lol, if they union pacific wants it a big boy WILL be restored might not be the 4014 but there is alot to chose from & union pacific has the lawyers & the logicstics to move any of them
I am active on several other forums and from what I have read (from members of the UP steam crew, and the people representing the Pomona museum) is that the restoration and the running of the Big boy are not the problems. They have already done extensive research into the running, and restoration of the locomotive.
The delay is finding a replacement locomotive for the Pomona museum. I say horsesh** on this article saying that the UP can’t find a SD40T-2 (one of the locomotives the museum would like to trade for). The UP has 7 of them. There is many more scattered all over the United states the UP can buy. I am sure Larry’s truck electric has a few
For all you people saying the length of the Big boy is too long to run.The length of the DD40X is 98 feet. The length of the Big boy locomotive is 85 feet (minus tender). The DD40X is not only as long as the Big boy it is 13 feet longer! The DD40X travels all over the UP system.
Even if the Pomona locomotive does not work out. The Big boy in Holiday park should be easy to acquire.
The Selkirk in Calgary is beyond repair from neglect, damage so bad it is cheaper to build a new locomotive, but the preservation is almost finished for the C.P.R. 3101 Northern in Regina Sask., 3 years of work finally coming to fruition.
Although I’m sure the UP is studying the clearance issues and that alone prob. is not a deal killer on this proposal, you are making an apples and oranges comparison between the Big Boy and the DD40X. It’s not really the length of the equipment as much as it is the wheelbase and the ability of the running gear to operate smootly and safely on given track.
A diesel truck, even a DD one has very different dynamic motion than a set of steam locomotive drivers…
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