OP
The little boy plugging his ears with his fingers is priceless! May be as close as I will ever get................
BIG BOY IS COMING!!
- Thread starter Joey
- Start date
Here's a photo I took of "Big Boy" #4014 headed east out of Cheyenne, WY back in August 2024:
Big Boy has been converted from coal to #5 fuel oil. It burns hot but dirty so they have to blow soot on the tubes frequently for maximum efficiency of the boiler.
The tender is what was called a centipede tender because it has 8 axles with 16 wheels.
The 4-8-8-4 wheel arrangement means 24 wheels on the locomotive and an additional 16 wheels for a total of 40 wheels for the entire motive unit.
That's impressive in my book.
The tender is what was called a centipede tender because it has 8 axles with 16 wheels.
The 4-8-8-4 wheel arrangement means 24 wheels on the locomotive and an additional 16 wheels for a total of 40 wheels for the entire motive unit.
That's impressive in my book.
Last edited:
Years ago there was a fellow named Bud Laws. He had amassed an absolutely huge collection of train photos, and took quite a few himself. He graciously shared those on like with a lot of folks. Here is one of the earliest Union Pacific 4000 series and one of the latest.
4004
And 4019
4004
And 4019
Last edited:
Sturgis270
Single-Sixer
"Big Boy" #4004 is currently on display in a park in Cheyenne, WY:
This is the one that is on display North of Dallas
Ya better count them thar wheels on the Engine again it has a total of 24,
D'oh! I doubled them while thinking about the number of wheels on the tender. It would be a 4-4-8-8-8-8-4-4 with my equation... Now that would be an impressive locomotive!!
Perhaps with my fine mathematical skills I should work on the board of elections and count the votes...
Not Big Boy...but Texas has something called the Texas State Railroad. TRR operates between Palestine and Rusk (in the Piney Woods of deep East Texas) on a 50-mile round-trip route, including a depot excursion or a ride on a turn table."
TRR passengers can select between an old-timey steam locomotive and a vintage diesel locomotive as their energy source. Passengers can also select among six separate seating assignments - everything from the caboose to the locomotive cab, a presidential car, a dining car, etc. Makes for a good way for kids (and their parents) to learn about the past.
TRR passengers can select between an old-timey steam locomotive and a vintage diesel locomotive as their energy source. Passengers can also select among six separate seating assignments - everything from the caboose to the locomotive cab, a presidential car, a dining car, etc. Makes for a good way for kids (and their parents) to learn about the past.
Here are some pictures of the Texas State Railroad. The Engine is a 2-8-2 Mikado built in 1917
If you like trains, try the Skunk out if Ft Brag California. Steam excursions are a premium but worth it.
The Virginia City and Truckee out of Virginia City is another fun one.
The Virginia City and Truckee out of Virginia City is another fun one.
I would like to see the "Big Boy", I might try to make arrangements to see it when it heads east. The Age of Steam Roundhouse is not far from my house and they have quite a collection of locomotives. The largest being the 643. It wieighs approximately 900,000 lbs total weight. It is believed to be one of the largest non-articulated steam locomotives. If you are in the area and interested in steam locomotives, I would recommend visiting the Roundhouse.
https://ageofsteamroundhouse.org/
https://ageofsteamroundhouse.org/
OP
A hobo looks at 70
With apologies to Jimmy Buffet
Father father railroad
I have seen your steel
Wanted to ride your rumbling rails
Since I was old enough to feel
Your vibrations are real
Your vibrations are real
Saw the men who drove you
Switch from steam to fuel
On your rails they’re been to places
Both beautiful and cruel
Enough to make me druel
Enough to make me druel
Yes I am a hobo
In another time and place
The steam whistle don’t blast
They’re a part of the past
Getting old is hard to face
But I’m still in the race
But I’m still in the race
I’ve done a bit of hitching
I’ve driven a truck or two
But it doesn’t compare
To the wind in your hair
Riding a flat car at night
Just feels right
Just feels right
Father father railroad
After all the places I’ve been
Your beauty and sound
Just aren’t around
Somehow it seems like a sin
Tonight I’ll dream again
Tonight I’ll dream again
From Joey’s Book of Tall Tales
With apologies to Jimmy Buffet
Father father railroad
I have seen your steel
Wanted to ride your rumbling rails
Since I was old enough to feel
Your vibrations are real
Your vibrations are real
Saw the men who drove you
Switch from steam to fuel
On your rails they’re been to places
Both beautiful and cruel
Enough to make me druel
Enough to make me druel
Yes I am a hobo
In another time and place
The steam whistle don’t blast
They’re a part of the past
Getting old is hard to face
But I’m still in the race
But I’m still in the race
I’ve done a bit of hitching
I’ve driven a truck or two
But it doesn’t compare
To the wind in your hair
Riding a flat car at night
Just feels right
Just feels right
Father father railroad
After all the places I’ve been
Your beauty and sound
Just aren’t around
Somehow it seems like a sin
Tonight I’ll dream again
Tonight I’ll dream again
From Joey’s Book of Tall Tales
Last edited:
I was fortunate to ride the #4014 Big Boy when it came thru New Orleans in ‘21. It was a lifetime experience I won’t forget. Rode the dining car and had access to the dome car as well.
I wish they were swinging though southern US. Unfortunately all route stops are to far north to catch it again.
The tour started 3/29 and will be in Roseville. CA on 4/10 & 11.
First half of the tour.
I wish they were swinging though southern US. Unfortunately all route stops are to far north to catch it again.
The tour started 3/29 and will be in Roseville. CA on 4/10 & 11.
First half of the tour.
Here is a really nice video of #4014:
OP
Hear those drivers sing….
The black smoke is when they are blowing soot off the tubes. I ran a bank of 4 1600 horse boilers firing #6 oil and we would blow soot at night so as not to upset the tree hugger students.
WT, that 450 psi waste heat boiler I mention had the same issue with catalyst fines. So, we'd try and blow steam through it at night to clear the "soot". Rarely had anyone say anything because they were mostly asleep. The difference in steam production after the blow was remarkable.
They use sand on the Big Boy to blow the accumulated carbon off the flues. It's done under a high load for maximum effect and efficiency. One night at the college we blew soot and the atmospheric conditions were just right. There was a white Cadillac Eldorado convertible with a white top nearby. It was owned by a very irate pimp who never figured out how it ended up looking like a Dalmatian dog.
Donnieweps
Single-Sixer
- Joined
- Mar 20, 2018
- Messages
- 293
MAJOR, gross polluter, take it off the rails.
Surely you jest....
My late dad would love to see this, he was a hard core steam engine fanatic .
He worked on the Lehigh Valley RR back in the day. When growing up he would drag me, my sister, and mom all over the country to visit the museum's and old time railroad places like Steam Town, Durango & Silverton RR, etc.
Miss those days....
He worked on the Lehigh Valley RR back in the day. When growing up he would drag me, my sister, and mom all over the country to visit the museum's and old time railroad places like Steam Town, Durango & Silverton RR, etc.
Miss those days....
My friend Eddie was a Yard Bull for the Lehigh Valley railroad for 40 years retiring in 1974. He had some stories about "dem dam pums" as he called tramps and hobos.My late dad would love to see this, he was a hard core steam engine fanatic .
He worked on the Lehigh Valley RR back in the day. When growing up he would drag me, my sister, and mom all over the country to visit the museum's and old time railroad places like Steam Town, Durango & Silverton RR, etc.
When he died I put a sap in his coffin as a tribute to him and incase he ran into a "pum" on the other side.
If you are really serious then you're a nut case!
Top up or down?
Top up and it was a damp night. I'm talking Superfly type pimp complete with purple pimp suit and wide brim hat with feather.
Well, Jeepnik
Big boy is in Sacramento / Roseville and now is your time to go see it since you were complaining about it not coming to California. Supposed to make four stops so don’t wait.
Big boy is in Sacramento / Roseville and now is your time to go see it since you were complaining about it not coming to California. Supposed to make four stops so don’t wait.
I should have been more specific. Home to SoCal.
bigbillyboy
Hunter
Big Boy 4014 will stop here in Lewistown Pa . on July 8 th . Going to be a day off to see it ...
.....
.....
