Per facebook.com/fairplex; twitter @ fairplex:
The BIG BOY will be moved to Colton, Ca., by Tuesday, according to RR staff.
1200 ft. of track has been built.
To visit the current movement operation at the Fairplex:
9-4 PM - weekends included.
Check-in at gate 1 – 1101 W. McKinley Ave.
The Fairplex is the LA County Fairgrounds – take the 10 Fwy. driving east of the 57 Freeway. There are fairground signs.
Wendell
There are some videos on YouTube showing the recent movement across the parking lot. Search on 4014 will bring them up.
Nuts and I have to work
PS which Tuesday, the 26th? I might be able to swing that…
Vic and others-
My understanding is the loco will actually leave the Fairgrounds parking lot on Tuesday – the 26th.
The websites will likely (read hopefully) report Monday evening if that event will occur and when during the day.
Meanwhile, if anyone at work is sympathetic to your angst of not experiencing this event, they may go with you!
Wendell
One day I might just break the habit of a lifetime and go further into the state to the south of Oregon than Crescent City in order to see this wonderful machine.
Be nice to see it arrive in Klamath Falls or Eugene - imagine it coming over the top of the Cascades!
Dream on, tac…
tac
Ottawa Valley GRS
It looks like now I’ll have the days before Turkey Day off, I’ll know by Friday if its this weekend, Monday or Tuesday, but I’m definetly going to check this out.
I hope you get to see it Vic. The video of it moving from it’s resting place into the parking lot was pretty exciting. Even without power just seeing this beast move is amazing.
Highly interesting. I am sure a great many folks will watch the locos progress and will be grateful for vids like this to watch. Thanks Jon.
Nov. 20th –
Thanks to Jon for giving us the video of the loco being moved.
Yes, it is mammoth and still dramatic even if “towed” by a large blade tractor.
Latest data re: continuing story of the 4014 moving – I was onsite at the LA Fairgrounds Wednesday afternoon and spoke to one of the Union Pacific workers.
– Appears a 1/4+ (visual estimate) mile more of hop-scotch track laying before the loco reaches a rail line.
– Even after reaching the line, Metro Link will “need to give schedule approval” for the loco to start movement to access the UP main line to reach Colton for about two weeks preparation.
– Best estimate, from the UP employee at the scene, is Metro will schedule the movement in December. So the loco will be stored at the point of connection until that OK is granted. Here’s hopes it receives adequate security protection. The earlier data the loco will be leaving for Colton on Tuesday, November 26th, appears to be incorrect. However, two UP personnel cautioned that Metro may change plans – to what that date is remains unknown. Sometime early December is the consensus.
– IF there is no rain on Thursday or Friday, the movement will continue. However, there is a Sheriff’s vehicle training activity on Thursday directly behind the current loco’s location which “may mean the movement activity will stop.” Entry gate #1’s entry guard has information on the current status.
–The Union Pacific UPSTEAM.com site will have incoming data as well as the YouTube sites.
Wendell
Thanks, Wendell, for that useful update on acitivity [or otherwise]. Pity it’s so far away from us here in sunny yUK.
In homage, I excavated my Rivarossi Big Boy last night, and geve it a run on rollers [our hut isn’t big enough to put any track down, y’see]. mrs tac was pedalling the ol’ generator like fury to keep the bulb going as well as the loco, but I got the general impression of some movement, if I looked real hard.
Best
tac, ig, ken the GFT and the Pedalo Generator boys of Farewell Bend
I would think the final Colton move would be made overnight.
Hopefully when it comes up Cajon Pass I’ll get to see it. It will only be 20 minutes from us,
There were updates through Facebook yesterday. I don’t have them handy, maybe someone else can post. Panel Track has reached Metra and the move date has been announced. Will be going through the loop. Supposedly all moves will be in daylight. They want to milk the PR value as much as possible. No word yet as what they will use to clean the foam from the track.
i have had a discussion with the railroad…last time the steam train went through the pass the foamers were everywhere. we will have extra folks out this time making sure people are smart and the dumb ones get tickets.
John -
The “foamers” you and Jon reference, please give some more data. This is a new one for me.
I interpret “foamers” reference anti-steam groups – a strange position for me considering how little rail is used for steam locos. So soapy lubricant is put on the rail to prevent successful delivery of the BIG BOY – what’s next?
Wendell
Wendell …Foamer., noun, (foo-mer) Railroad fan who upon site of railroad, train or even in discussion of, begins to foam at the mouth in classic Pavlovian responce. Other: Railfan, train nut, Cookoo for Choochoo
Similar example: Homer Simpson seeing donuts
in the pass the foamers are usually easy to spot… someone who looks way out of place in attire… wingtip shoes in the dirt, etc…you know the type.
I won’t even go into the improvements made at one spot along the line.
The big issue is keeping off the tracks and vehicles staying on designated routes… simple stuff.
If that engine goes through the loop the line it will be on is about 2 miles from our house! This could be fun!
Doug Arnold said:
If that engine goes through the loop the line it will be on is about 2 miles from our house! This could be fun!
Doug,
I believe that line is called “The Palmdale Cut-off”. I rode it as part of a Pacific Railroad Preservation Society outing in October 1983. We were the first train over the line…brand new track!
Yep, that’s the critter. UIt’s a little more “broken in” now!