Why does UP or some rich fellow not restore a Big Boy to working order? I know that it would be expensive, but I think that it would be worth the effort and money to restore one, so people could see the world’s largest and most powerful steam locomotive in action once more.
The UP has stated that it would not because the Big Boy was intended for a specific service, running trains over Sherman Hill, and cannot be turned at most other locations on the UP. Because if its length, it cannot fit on most turntables nor negotiate the curve radius of most wyes. Unlike its larger sibling, the Challenger could run almost anywhere, so it was the locomotive restored.
Thank you for your response. I always wondered about that.
When the UP began to take delivery of the “big boys” wernt some of the engine facilitys modified to handle them? like the turntables lengthend and also some of the roundhouse stalls? I read this a few months ago in Trains mag. The alco issue wich had an article wriiten by steve lee the manager of UP’s steam operation. So why arent some of these turntable’s and facilitys still used? where they all tore up or abanded after the retirement of the Big Boys?
Yes, the turntables and roundhouses were modified, at Cheyenne and Green River, Wyoming. The 4-8-8-4’s were never used outside of Wyoming on the UP - they were specifically built to conquer Sherman Hill. The 4-6-6-4’s were used everywhere else, although the turntable in Ohama could handle Big Boys that came East for shopping.
That’s what I know : today there’s no way of turning a Bigboy. That’s why UP decided to keep a Challenger running.
Want to see two beautiful Bigboy models ? Then check out my homepage www.sschaer.com
in the picture galleries there are two Brass Bigboys. One in N-Scale and one in O-Scale (25pounds…)
have fun
Sandro
I’m fairly certain that I’ve seen a photo (in someone’s published collections?) of one of the Big Boys in Denver with a “regular” train, i.e., not a fantrip or other “special”, nor diverted there for any servicing. If memory serves me, the photo’s caption read that they were occasionally run down there off the Sherman Hill line, and upon returning back north, might either head back to Cheyenne, or else take the “cutoff” line toward the west and Rawlins/Laramie. If I can locate where I saw that photo, I’ll pass along the reference.
With the railroads going to diesel locomotives, the need for turntables diminished since a diesel locomotive can run long or short hood forward without any decrease in performance(but it does create problems for the crew running it). Now most all of the operating turntables are owned by museums, etc. I only know of one turntable used by a major railroad(CN/IC in Memphis, TN) but there may be more.
Also, the turn radius of a Big Boy is so great that many of the wyes for turning locomotives are too sharp for a Big Boy.
There is avery nice article in the spring issue of Classic Trains.
Man,Its to early in the morning for me to do this.I meant to say in the sring issue of Classic Trains there is a very good article on the big boys.
The turtable is by no means a fading relic. Not only do most of the class ones use them at some facility but new turntables have been built in the last decade. UP,if my memory serves,is particularly keen on these devices.
My father-in-law, now deceased, told of an incident where a locomotive went on the ground in Indianapolis on a turning wye. All he could recollect was it was a western RR loco, too large for the radius. Reportedly the rail creeled over and it took much effort to re-rail it. Wish I knew whose RR it was. Any historians out there?
CP has an active turntable at their engine facility in Bensenville, Il. yard. Takes a telephoto lens to get a good shot of anything on it as access is very limited.
I haven’t followed this thread all the way, but
does anyone know the status of the Big Boy
restoration started in Texas a few years ago for
use in a movie?
I haven’t followed this thread all the way, so it may have already been brought, up but does anyone know the status of the Big Boy restoration started in Texas a few years ago for use in a movie?
It died. Ran out of money.
To repeat myself, it died. Lack of money.
The “X4018” is at “The Age of Steam Museum”
@ Fair Park, Dallas. It seems I remember reading
in our local rag, that when that project was still
viable that they fired her up and she moved
back and forth 6 or 8 feet. After that the project died because of lack of intrest and funding.
Enough with the attitude!!!
I could be wrong , but I don’t think they “fired her up and she moved back and forth 6 or 8 feet”. when this locomotive was given by the UP they cut the pistoin rods(or some other part of the running gear) so the cylinders would not overheat during the move to her resting place. I can check my photos to make sure what they cut. I think they moved her with the help of another locomotive.
CHESSIEMIKE