post scriptum:
if anybody misses bill in the next days, he can be found in Oregon…
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As long as it’s nowhere near the BIG Boy Documentary crew. It’s almost like Devon has been surrounded by paparazzi & I suspect we will find out that it’s all fake news.
Except for the part about Devon’s obsession with studying the effects of static electricity.
That’s well documented.
For those of you on FB
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Drone shots really look like a model railroad 
Too bad it’s such low resolution, but still cool!
So I will post about the entire adventure when I get home but here is a teaser. Just west of Montello NV at a highway crossing.
Not sure how many of you have gotten to see the Big Boy steamed up and running the rails. Pictures, videos, words can not describe it. If you are a steam junkie this is the pinnacle. I thought I had seen real steam locos. All toys. This thing is a leviathan. It shook the ground and gave me goose bumps and it was off the power and slowing down.
Without further ado I present the Big Boy
I have more but I just had to share
And I asked one of the maintenance guys. The Dino burner that looks like a zit on the forehead of the prom queen is 100% there for breaking specifically dynamic breaking per federal law on a clas 1 RR. The Big Boy is indeed doing all the work and it’s a holiday for it. They are nowhere near stretching it’s legs. Not even on the steep grades. Easy work for the beast.
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Truely amazing Devon. Fantastic sound even on my IPad!
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Doesn’t come close to being 30 feet from. The real deal.
700+ miles of driving in 100+ degrees heat and 3 hours of waiting was a small price to pay.
And it isn’t over beca5its on static display tomorrow in Ogden. Stay tuned. The fun has only begun.
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One thing I thought was interesting was the maintenance crew are cheaters. They have pneumatic grease guns that plug into the trains air brake pressurized air to lube the bearings. Pretty effect and smart.
Took them less than 20 minutes to service it.
Sorry for the typos. I left my glasses in the car. It’s hot. I whipped out and stayed in a motel tonight. Lol
But without my glasses I have little idea if I am yelling the truth. Lol
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I just came across this YouTube you might find interesting while you wait at your next crossing or relax in your hotel room. I’m quite envious of your trip.
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Bill I need to watch that later I’m about to fall asleep. But I started it. And one thing that impressed me was it’s mammoth size even up against a modern loco. Every bit as big if not bigger. I was not prepared for how huge it was.
One thing about it. I am writing my congressman. We need to outlaw diesel and go back to steam.
The three massive tenders was impressive. Not sure if they all carry fuel oil or only the front one and the back two only water. That’s a question for tomorrow
Ha! And we thought it was your great-great-great grandpa had the industrial deafness.
Atta Boy Devon! I’m really glad for you, and wish I could do the same. Thanks much for the vids, pics and narrative.
Bill, thanks for posting that video on how it works, really good.
There is more to come cliff. I have to say I was a bit disappointed in the “display” day in Ogden today. They separated the train and they parked the Big Boy well away from the crowd. No close up look. I got a better closer view of it in Montello. And while the museum car was interesting it took all of about 5 minutes to see it.
So in other words the display day was wasn’t worth it. But after that I made the show at the golden spike park. That was totally worth seeing. I stood at ground zero on the tracks. Pretty cool.
And then I went to rocket park.
Whoohoo 
!
Whoohoo !
Whoohoo !
Whoohoo !
For 20
All I have to say after seeing it in person is that evel had brain damage. That was a stupid idea he had. That’s a freaking long way across.
not necessarily. - if one is too lazy to work, too stoopit to let others work, its a fine way of life.
being surrounded by envidious men and adoring chicks, shoveling loads of money, just by riding a bike…
and not to forget seriously shortened odds to die as a sick old man.
i can understand that. (but i was riding at rodeos for some years too)
All very cool!
Any news on the simultaneous bourbon tour?