Big Boy 4014 in Houston Texas

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scstrain

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The last two days have been the greatest two days of my, "Train Life" ever. Big Boy 4014 thundered into my home town Wend. evening at 5:30 and will leave this morning at 10:30. I have been able to touch, get it's grease on me, feel the heat radiating off it's massive firebox, talk to it's crew, watch it's atomizer blow steam mixed fuel oil into the firebox like a huge blow torch to maintain pressure while sitting on static display, see all the articulating steam joints, have the hair on my neck stand to attention each time they blew it's almost deafening throaty sounding steam whistle while everyone cheered, etc., etc. What a priceless National Treasure of the pinnacle of steam locomotive production.

Thank you Union Pacific, I never thought you could do this but you have.

The only way it could have been better is if my Dad could have been there with me.

P.S. Hello Tac. As you know, I have not been around over the past 6 years. Serious life issues got in the way, but all is good now. Looking forward to getting back into the steam hobby again.
 
scstrain said:
The last two days have been the greatest two days of my, "Train Life" ever. Big Boy 4014 thundered into my home town Wend. evening at 5:30 and will leave this morning at 10:30. I have been able to touch, get it's grease on me, feel the heat radiating off it's massive firebox, talk to it's crew, watch it's atomizer blow steam mixed fuel oil into the firebox like a huge blow torch to maintain pressure while sitting on static display, see all the articulating steam joints, have the hair on my neck stand to attention each time they blew it's almost deafening throaty sounding steam whistle while everyone cheered, etc., etc. What a priceless National Treasure of the pinnacle of steam locomotive production.

Thank you Union Pacific, I never thought you could do this but you have.

The only way it could have been better is if my Dad could have been there with me.

P.S. Hello Tac. As you know, I have not been around over the past 6 years. Serious life issues got in the way, but all is good now. Looking forward to getting back into the steam hobby again.
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Luck you to see such a beast - no pictures for us?
 
Here are some pictures.
 

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Thanks for the Pictures, the ones with People next to the beast just show the awesome size of the Big Boy. That guy who chalked up,the name on the Smokebox when they built the first one was right on the button with the name. Having stood next to a couple of these beasties, one at St.Lois the other in Denver I can appreciate how Big they truly are. My third one at Wyoming was not quite so easy to get at, but the only one that I could pic side on. Have posted my Pics of those 3 elsewhere in the Forum. USA is calling me............
 
Here's a four minute video of #4014 making a lube stop -

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Pay no attention to the caption that mentions oiling - what the maintenance crew are using is a steam-line driven greaser, called an Alumite greaser. They connect up the steam line to a handy steam-cock - all over the frames - and use it to drive a solid stick of grease and powdered aluminium into the bearings - that why you see the operator toggling the actuator valve. It's a bit like a VERY large glue gun, using steam at about 300 psi to operate. Just like with the M1 Garand, you really do NOT want to get any fingers or other appendages in the way of the actuator piston.
 
My experiece with the Big Boy, was the one at Kenefick Park in Omaha.... a truely huge beast.
Thing that got me, though, is that alongside, at 90°, is a UP DD40AX diesel that is as equally impressive.
Google street view it on I-80 just after crossing the river as you enter Omaha.
 
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Gavin Sowry said:
My experiece with the Big Boy, was the one at Kenefick Park in Omaha.... a truely huge beast.
Thing that got me, though, is that alongside, at 90°, is a UP DD40AX diesel that is as equally impressive.
Google street view it on I-80 just after crossing the river as you enter Omaha.
Click to expand...


Yes, but the DD40AX is a sparky not a steamer. :rofl:
 
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Where is the video link?
 
m1 garant.....no need to say more...auwa....I hope one day i will come over and see that magnificent beast with my own eyes.....
But sorry yes, where is the video link?

Best
 
Thanks from me too!
 
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