Saw this on the UP steam page:
After more travel preparations are made over the next several months, No. 4014 will complete the journey home to Cheyenne later in the spring, where the restoration process will begin. For the return to Cheyenne, No. 4014 will be pushed and pulled by modern diesel electric UP freight locomotives.
Sure taking there time to get it to Cheyenne. Later RJD
There’s no place to pull over for repairs!
They need to be sure it will roll freely and without anything falling off.
I imagine those that knew them are long gone, so they’ve got to learn as they go.
They only get one chance, so had better do it right!
John
On those old dried out bearings you don’t go fast! Also it is a very heavy Loco! That would be why the name ‘Big Boy’! I hope we get a few more pictures before it gets to the ‘barn’.
Paul Austin
Last thing you need is having problems on the road with tons of snow around and more blowing in, not to mention the cold. Winter is far from over!
I wonder how many times the crew asked them selves, while on the 1st leg of the move;
Is she supposed to creak like that?
Frankly I’m amazed UP wants to put millions of dollars in this loco. Their other 2 they own cost enough as it is to operate. I guess they need a write-off.
The bulk of the cost are being paid for by a deep pocketed 3rd party and not the UP RR. The bearings are in excellent shape and most are being worked on in Colton before the move.
This should have been all done prior to moving. Sounds like there are other issues that they did not figure on. Later RJD
R.J. DeBerg said:
This should have been all done prior to moving. Sounds like there are other issues that they did not figure on. Later RJD
There’s ALWAYS other issues when you start working on an old steam engine. Ask anyone involved with a restoration.
I suspect Colton is the base where they can do heavy stuff like dropping axles to check the bearings. Pretty hard to do that in the middle of a fairground!
I’m actually very impressed with their professional approach. If you watch their videos from before the first move, they carefully removed and checked all the important bearings and made sure oil was being fed to them. Way to go, guys!
I would like to know where people are getting the impression that he steam crew is having problems, they are not. No bearing issues have shown up at all. Not just here but other forums as well, people just seem angry that UP is restoring this locomotive and want to see the project fail.
Not me Bob, I can’t wait to see this baby running again under her own power. I’ve always been a UP fan and most of my modeling has been of the UP or the NP.
Chuck
Bob, aside from the locomotive being taken from the fairgrounds, why would people want to see the project fail? That’s just sour grapes.
There are people who just aren’t happy unless they are causing a controversy…they aren’t happy with their lives and they want to make sure so one else is either…
Bart Salmons said:
There are people who just aren’t happy unless they are causing a controversy…they aren’t happy with their lives and they want to make sure so one else is either…
If they don’t like it , they should just ignore it. It is not costing them anything. As for me, I don’t care if it is a “Big Boy” or a “Saddle Tanker”, restore it! I want my grand sons to be able to enjoy some of the operating steam engines that I did as a boy .
They are going to have to carry a lot of water with them. Maybe four or five tenders. The original Big Boys, under full steam with a long train, had a re-watering range of about 50 miles or less. You’re basically running 2 “Northerns” together. I’m looking forward to seeing them run.
I remember as a youth, my father, (who worked for the SP&S and NP) would show me the SP&S Challengers, sitting on a siding. I was almost terrified by their size.
That’s an Alleghany I’m standing next to…
The point is if the loco is being moved they had permission from FRA to take to the nearest repair point to make any further repairs. Here any additional work that needs to me FRA requirements can be done prior to moving to Cheyenne. Later RJD
John Bouck said:
They are going to have to carry a lot of water with them. Maybe four or five tenders. The original Big Boys, under full steam with a long train, had a re-watering range of about 50 miles or less. You’re basically running 2 “Northerns” together. I’m looking forward to seeing them run.
I remember as a youth, my father, (who worked for the SP&S and NP) would show me the SP&S Challengers, sitting on a siding. I was almost terrified by their size.
I know what you mean, JB, I can remember being a lad of 3 or so, waiting for my mother to arrive on one of the trains that used to run from Seattle to Spokane, it was dark and cold, and I was terrified of a Mikado that was simmering about 50 feet from the depot in Wenatchee. I still remember my Dad laughing at me saying “What are you afraid of, that’s just a Mike.” The appliances that were huffing and puffing made it sound like the monsters that lived under my bed. 
To Bob Russell–
Bob, please continue to report information on the preparation of the Big Boy. Are you permitted to take any photos of the loco in preparation? Your apparent access to the reality not the fantasy is greatly appreciated!
Are there any further public viewing dates open in Colton? Apparently, TRAINS magazine has “exclusive” reporting options on the project and that may prohibit both photography and future public visits to preparation.
Any comments from you are appreciated.
Thanks,
Wendell