Here’s the itinerary of the Big Boy this year:
It would be so amazing seeing the 4014 coming out of the new summit tunnel (not sure what its name is), on its way to Truckee.
Or, seeing the 4014 travelling anywhere for that matter.
The eastbound trip stops in Soda Springs… one of our clan lives near there, right? Can’t remember. Rick M?
Bucket list stuff for moi!
Cliff
Wow! The logistics of water supply must be interesting to run this loco!
multiple tenders help this.
Seriously hoping I can get down to southern Idaho to see it. I want to catch it in soda springs as there are some other interesting things to do in the area. Would be a fun long weekend.
That would be awesome, please post pics if you’re able to go.
Nope. Very disappointed but my wife reminded me I have other plans and will be in Seattle that weekend that it comes through Southern Idaho. I thought maybe I could get down to Salt Lake when it comes through heading west but it doesn’t look good for that either.
Mommy said so!
Well things maybe changing and I may be able to go after all.
I would love to se her run, but my time out West never seems to agree with her schedule. She and I were both in Denver on the same day a few years back, but it was an unannounced shake down run that I didn’t find out about until she was gone 
I missed N&W 611 in Strassburg PA both times. It’s close enough for me, but the predicted crowds and slow speed short line running kinda turned me off.
If you guys get down to Maryland some time, the dinner trains on the WMSRR look great, and the 1309 is a beast to behold.
I’ll agree and the end of the line has an hour and a half of places of interest, with the wagon museum being one.
Yes, the Thrasher is great. Another POI is the historic Gunter Hotel, where you can have a drink at their neat bar, and tour their jail cells in the basement – where special “guests” were lodged while being transported.
I’ve been twice. Once 15 or so years ago on my way to Cass. They were still running steam then. We went again last fall with Ralph Berg during the FEBT Fall Reunion. We had two days scheduled. One to ride and one to chase. Unfortunately, on our ride day, 1309 was down. That evening my car broke down so I didn’t make it back for the chase. Of course 1309 ran that day
It looks official. I have been cleared to go see the Big Boy. I won’t catch it in Soda Springs, ID though. In order for it to work with my vacation schedule and prior arrangements I am going to instead catch it as it heads from Elko NV to Ogden UT. I will be able to drive down there on a Thursday. I will then see it when it arrives at its whistle stop in Montello, NV. on Friday and then chase it Friday to Ogeden Ut. There it is on display for the public on Saturday. Then I will drive home Sunday.
Is anyone familiar with the tracks between Montello NV and Ogden? I see on google maps two possible routes, neither one very far from the other and along the same general path. But I am wondering if anyone knows which line is considered the mainline that the Big Boy would travel. It’s hard to tell on Google maps/earth which one is the more used route.
Atta boy Devon, sounds like a really fun trip!
Since I won’t be in a rush to get home my intent is to drive home Sunday and possibly Monday. One of the reasons is in order to hit the Golden Spike Historical Site on the way home.
Devon, with your keen interest in history, certainly worth the effort for a five minute detour, is the small ATK Rocket park. We stumbled upon it on our honeymoon visit to see the Golden Spike Historic Site. It was about 5 minutes away.
Many rockets made there were transported by rail to the launch pads.
The reason why I bring this up he total time between the laying of the golden spike and the moon landing is 100 years, 2 months, and 10 days.
Two insurmountable endeavours so close…
How far we’ve come.
Wonderful suggestion from you and Herself, Bill.
I hope the Dev does it.
Cliff
PS:
You actually honeymooned from Australia to Utah?? And Herself agreed?? I’d really love to see the script of that conversation and its outcomes…!!!
From the quality of pic, y’all seem recently married…
I, being in Maryland US, and approaching 40 years of marriage with the Missus, might be appreciative of your insights on how you swung that trip.
CJ
