Does anyone know why UP decided to doublehead the steam locomotives?
And, should we expect a diesel in the consist also?
Highly likely that it is ‘sensible insurance’ in case anything strange happens with 4014 in its necessarily-abbreviated break-in. As noted, the new train length is within 844’s capacity if 4014 is operating under less than ‘her own power’ at any point and has to be ‘carried’ also (even though in steam).
I’d expect at least one protection diesel just for ‘rapid response’, rather than have the protect power set up ‘invisibly’ as done for the Bush train. I suspect this depends in no small part on what department(s) at UP deem important, which is something I do not know firsthand.
I bet it’s not, but the accompanying diesel really should be the 6936.
Understandably lost in all the great Big Boy news with this is discussion or public plans for the attendance in Ogden of the last operating member of this class of power. A class that of course was named in honor of the previous major celebration of this event, 50 years ago.
While the 6900 that was in attendance for the 100th anniversary isn’t easily accessible today (Although 10 years ago or so when she had to be relocated, she made at least one trip doubleheaded with the 6936 before her new home was ready, albeit just for show since she wasn’t operational), the 6936 would’ve been the next best thing.
Just doesn’t seem right for a Centennial to not be present for the Sesquicentennial. But my impression has been that the Centennial and E9’s mostly have just sat the past 8 years, victims of the focus on rebuilding the #844 and the amazing return of a Big Boy to steam.
Not unusual for UP to double head steam locomotives when going to a big “do,” they did it quite often years back when 844 and 3985 were putting in appearances at rail festivals and celebrations. And frequently there was a diesel in the consist, sometimes one from the historic collection.
It made sense. If both steamers were heading there anyway it made sense to team them up. Made for a good show anyway.
I suspect it is a pragmatic consideration. There is only one ‘steam team’ to care for all the steam engines 844 - 3985 - 4014. Spitting the engines up on separate trips between the same O-D pairs would spread the team thin in case there was trouble.
That makes sense too.
Do we need any reason except that a double headed steam power lashup looks AWESOME!
Perhaps also for liability reasons, if the Big Boy breaks down we still go one steamer running, and also it’s an easy way to transport both locomotives to places they need to be.
That was pretty close to my first thought when I read the title: FOR FUN!
Both are the current in-use steamers under the UP banner, so why not showcase them? If one goes lame, the other can be a ‘steam’ stand-in. And, with both locos on location, the awesomeness of the Big Boy can be demonstrated; a direct comparison for the enthusiasts.
Once again, BaltACD is on the advertised!
It is my understanding from reading various other sources that the qualified steam engineers are also part of the steam crew members who were working on Big Boy, and the race to get him finished in time for May 4 required “all hands on deck”.
If the 844 had left a week earlier as originally planned, half the steam crew would have been out of town with 844.
Doubleheading them instead kept all the crew in town to help in the race to finish Big Boy, and then be together on the road if, heaven forbid, Big Boy would throw a shoe. (This being Kentucky Derby day, I always thought Big Boy would be a great name for a race horse.)
Hope 844 & 4014 don’t have to run the Sloppy Track that the horses will in the Kentucky Derby!
Looks like a modern EMD, I believe a SD70ACe, is tagging along with the #844 and #4014.
Looking at popular railfan picture upload sites, it doesn’t look like their Centennial has had an outing since July 2014.
I read a wile back, when paired with 844, that the diesel loco had a duel purpose. One was to give a nuge when needed on hills but the most important reason was to supply electricity to the passenger cars.
No, at least in this particular instance (Although I believe you’d often be right, such as when Amtrak power tags along on a steam excursion for other mainline operators). They don’t have freight power equipped to provide HEP and I think only the E9B is equipped in their heritage fleet of locomotives with a HEP generator (Or at least was when it left VMV after its 1993 rebuilding).
They’re bringing a dedicated power car along for HEP. It’s an ACF built boiler dormitory car that was rebuilt to provide HEP and water for UP’s passenger cars and is named in honor of artist Howard Fogg (A much appropriate name since Union Pacific’s 25 Big Boys were a favorite subject of his). You can hear it running in YouTube videos from today’s departure. Edit: Two power cars, to be exact. Just noticed the #207 is also in the consist.
Will there be any tunnels? They coast through long tunnels so as to not essentially steam clean the roof of the tunnel, washing decades of diesel exhaust grime on to the train. And when that happens they need a diesel helper ready to go online to pull the train in those instances.
Steam Power ran from what ? 1830s to well into the 1950s And now today they have to have Diesel for what ? Back up ? In the years that UP Steam Program has run, have they ever had a problem with the Steam Power fail ? Norfolk Western 611 runs like a Bat out of Hell, no diesel.
I would like to see UP run 4014 with a 100 car freight like he was designed to do. Let him earn his keep.
Steve
100 car freights of 40ft boxcars and 100 car freights today are two entirely different things.
Is UP’s challenger running at the moment? If it is is it also in the area? I wouldn’t know, I don’t really keep up on UP steam stuff…
If the challenger is running we could have it pair up with the others, and TRIPLE head a train!
Reason why you ask? Answer; because we can!
3985 is not running at present.
Challenger 3985 isn’t running at the moment. It’s in need of a good overhaul but the focus of the steam team for the past several years has been getting 4014 up and running, so 3985 has had to wait.
Work on 3985 should start after the steam team has a well-deserved breather.
From my hubby’s buddy in the steam program. 3985 along with 4014’s tender will be started on this Summer after they get back from the trip to CA with the 4014. Yep she is going to California and up and over Cajon Pass according to our friend and might come back via Techaphi pass to Donner. They are still trying to get the logistics worked out on crews and such.