BIG boy
Posted: Tue Dec 11, 2012 5:12 pm
after 50 years Union Pacific plan to re-build/restore one of the locos for rail fan rides.
mr B
mr B
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BIG boy
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Re: BIG boy
Posted: Tue Dec 11, 2012 6:01 pm
It'd be amazing to see one of those beasts move under it's own steam. I've read from previous views into restoring a big boy, that it would have to be converted to oil firing.
Re: BIG boy
Posted: Tue Dec 11, 2012 9:46 pm
What a wonderful prospect.
After the 2 A4s this year, how about the 2015 season on the NYMR????
After the 2 A4s this year, how about the 2015 season on the NYMR????
Re: BIG boy
Posted: Tue Dec 11, 2012 11:21 pm
Mr B: Do you have a reference for such a project?
The general feeling was that Union Pacific are more likely to cut their operational steam fleet when the Challenger's boiler came due.
About 10 years ago there was talk of restoring the Dallas "Age of Steam" (now "Museum of the American Railroad") Big Boy for a movie but that never happened, probably when they started to look seriously at the cost. Despite cut motion and a boiler in bad physical shape, it was considered to be one of the better candidates because the wheel bearings hadn't seized up. It keeps getting pushed back, but she's due to be dragged up to Frisco (about one county to the north) in the next month or so. The route will take her about half a mile from our house...
The general feeling was that Union Pacific are more likely to cut their operational steam fleet when the Challenger's boiler came due.
About 10 years ago there was talk of restoring the Dallas "Age of Steam" (now "Museum of the American Railroad") Big Boy for a movie but that never happened, probably when they started to look seriously at the cost. Despite cut motion and a boiler in bad physical shape, it was considered to be one of the better candidates because the wheel bearings hadn't seized up. It keeps getting pushed back, but she's due to be dragged up to Frisco (about one county to the north) in the next month or so. The route will take her about half a mile from our house...
Re: BIG boy
Posted: Wed Dec 12, 2012 7:09 pm
Re: BIG boy
Posted: Wed Dec 12, 2012 9:26 pm
Thanks Ploughman - so very speculative at the moment. We're probably more likely to see P2s out on the mainline first...
I see the Challenger is being mentioned as being in overhaul - so what I heard was probably the usual imminent-overhaul rumours. A bit like we had with UoSA a couple of years ago.
I see the Challenger is being mentioned as being in overhaul - so what I heard was probably the usual imminent-overhaul rumours. A bit like we had with UoSA a couple of years ago.
Re: BIG boy
Posted: Wed Dec 12, 2012 9:42 pm
And re. the comments on those pages about wyes & turning, we'll see how the Dallas Big Boy navigates the Irving wye in a couple of months...
Note sure if they'll be turning it or not, but this is the wye en route which is being used to turn locos as required for the new museum. Either way it has to navigate a tight curve.
Publically the museum has expressed concern about the tracks leading out of the old site - this is why the Frisco 4-8-4 and the Big Boy will be the very last locos to leave.
Note sure if they'll be turning it or not, but this is the wye en route which is being used to turn locos as required for the new museum. Either way it has to navigate a tight curve.
Publically the museum has expressed concern about the tracks leading out of the old site - this is why the Frisco 4-8-4 and the Big Boy will be the very last locos to leave.
Re: BIG boy
Posted: Fri Dec 14, 2012 4:59 pm
the Big Boys have a lighter axle loading than a Challenger or a 69er (centenial) , as for turning BB's turn better than most big modern diesels , the problem is the tender .
mrB
mrB
Re: BIG boy
Posted: Mon Dec 17, 2012 10:28 pm
The museum also has a DD40 Centennial diesel - one of the largest production diesel models every built (the largest in North America by any rate) and they don't seem too concerned about that and will be moved before the 4-8-4 and the Big Boy.