Mike Boucher Posted June 1, 2014 Share Posted June 1, 2014 While the UP begins restoration on theirs, another "big boy" is returning to life...This is a 3/4" scale model, 3 1/2" gauge, built by Lindy Knight of Maine back in the early 70's (iirc). Its now owned by a friend of mine, and is being restored and returned to running condition. Here's a video of one of the test runs at the Montreal Live Steamers. 9 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
LNER4479 Posted June 11, 2014 Share Posted June 11, 2014 (edited) Back from our trip across the pond. Here are our pix from the trip to Cheyenne on 18th June May(!)... This is the Cheyenne depot museum (the former passenger station) from which we were shipped round by trolley (tram-like minibus) to the UP steam shops. Here she (he?) is in the surviving part of the heavy repair 'back shops'. That was where we saw her (him?) so, if in the roundhouse now, then it must have been moved since. #844 right alongside, reportedly having attention to her superheater (hence smokebox door open). Conditions for photographing #4014 therefore somewhat cramped. I was a bit disappointed that the Big Boy hadn't been positioned outside in the yard for display, but there you go. Moving over to the surviving portion of the roundhouse... #3985 separated from tender and looking a little forlorn The 2-10-2... ...and the snow clearer Outside in the yard, this appeared to be the only member of the fleet capable of turning a wheel at present (and indeed they were advertising trips behind it back at the museum). Of course, being at Cheyenne, across the way in Holliday Park resides #4004 and this was far more accessible from a photography point of view: We also saw #4005 at the Forney Transportation Museum in Denver, so 3 of the surviving Big Boys wasn't a bad 'haul'. Some more railway-related aspects of the trip posted on my layout thread. Roll on 2019! Edited June 11, 2014 by LNER4479 8 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold roundhouse Posted June 11, 2014 Author RMweb Gold Share Posted June 11, 2014 (edited) Back from our trip across the pond. Here are our pix from the trip to Cheyenne on 18th June... Can you let me know what type of time machine you used!! Some great photos there. One day I will manage to be there when the workshops are open. Ian Edited June 11, 2014 by roundhouse Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
LNER4479 Posted June 11, 2014 Share Posted June 11, 2014 (edited) Can you let me know what type of time machine you used!! Oops! Duly corrected. Edited June 11, 2014 by LNER4479 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Michael Delamar Posted November 24, 2014 Share Posted November 24, 2014 Is there any news? Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Premium jamie92208 Posted November 24, 2014 RMweb Premium Share Posted November 24, 2014 Is there any news? I've not seen anything either on the Trains website or the Trains forum. I know that theya re working on the workshop to allow the restoration to be done in better conditions but I;ve not heard anyting else. Jamie Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Premium jamie92208 Posted November 26, 2014 RMweb Premium Share Posted November 26, 2014 Perhaps I should have phrased my reply better. As far as I know there is some minor dismantling being done but the main work at the moment is modifying the workshop area with better insulation and craneage to allow for a better working environment. (Wyoming can get pretty cold in winter). They also have their normal summer/autumn workload in keeping 844 on the road as well as work on 3985, 4014 has had to take it's place in the queue. I suspect that major dismantling work will start in the new year. There is a facebook group dedicated to it and Trains.com has a blog about it but I'm not sure if that part is subscriber only. certainly if I see anything I'll post it on here. Their target date is May 2019 for the 150th anniversary of the Golden Spike so I supect that it will be out on the mainline for test purposes in 2018. Jamie 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Premium jamie92208 Posted December 14, 2014 RMweb Premium Share Posted December 14, 2014 (edited) Just a quick update. According to an article in Trains magazine the steam crew have been busy retubing 844 during this year. It Should be out on the main line in time for it's usual summer season in time for Cheyenne Frontier days in July. As a matter of interest 2014 is the only year in it's 152 year existence that UP hasn't had an operating steam locomotive out on the rails. Jamie Edited December 14, 2014 by jamie92208 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Premium jamie92208 Posted April 14, 2015 RMweb Premium Share Posted April 14, 2015 Just found a new video on You Tube that gives some idea of the work that is ongoing. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U3FaJqWmnaM Ed Dickens gives a lot of detail about the inspections that that they are doing. In the backgoround you can see that the suspended ceiling is being removed. In another clip elsewhere he was stating that the upper aprt of the building was full of pigeons and their associated deposits. They've apparently been doing a lot of work in that area prior to installing new overhead cranes. A large amount of work and 20 years of guano to remove. Jamie 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Premium jamie92208 Posted April 15, 2015 RMweb Premium Share Posted April 15, 2015 I've just 'wasted another hour watching a fascinating set of videos of a long and dtailed presentation by Ed Dickens. They detail the decison to restore a Big Boy, the palanning and preparation for the move, the move itself and the early work on restoration of the Big Boy and the Steam Shop. In part 4 there is a lovely segment about when the drop table failed with a Big Boy Driving wheel on it and 450 tons of loco above it. Video 1 Video 2 Video 3 Video 4 Jamie 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
LNER4479 Posted November 4, 2015 Share Posted November 4, 2015 Just skimmed through the article in latest Railway Magazine - UP now talking '5-7 years' (which probably means at least 10) so looks like 2019 has gone for a ball of chalk... Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Horsetan Posted November 4, 2015 Share Posted November 4, 2015 It'll take as long as it takes. I unearthed a copy of the magazine describing the restoration of "King" 6024. The preservation group at one stage thought they could get it back into working order within 5 to 7 years. In the event, it took them another 16.... Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chameleon Posted April 15, 2016 Share Posted April 15, 2016 You can never tell how long a job that big will take until you dismantle it and see what state it's in. Look at flying Scotsman, they didn't know the state of the cylinders mounts and frames until they took them off and ended up replacing the whole front end of the frames. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
brianusa Posted April 15, 2016 Share Posted April 15, 2016 The only problem in the USA is running it. While UP isn't averse to have one of its steamers on its tracks, generally the cost factor is prohibitive. US railways aren't fond of anything interfering with their freight trains especially steamers with their ability to set fire to the surroundings. The cost of running a passenger train with wages, fuel and insurance means very high fares plus few places to run puts a damper on the proceedings. No open access here! Brian. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
DavidB-AU Posted August 12, 2016 Share Posted August 12, 2016 Steam Update: Big Boy No. 4014 Restoration Beginshttp://www.up.com/aboutup/community/inside_track/august-steam-8-11-2016.htm 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold PaulRhB Posted August 12, 2016 RMweb Gold Share Posted August 12, 2016 (edited) I was only looking for updates last week and wondering if they'd had a problem it had gone so quiet. Major work on 844 seemed to be the reason so let's hope no nasty surprises on 4014 Edited August 12, 2016 by PaulRhB Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold roundhouse Posted August 12, 2016 Author RMweb Gold Share Posted August 12, 2016 iI am hoping mine will be steaming sooner than that, if I ever get round to fitting the two smoke units in my Trix one - maybe for Armitage Freemo 2 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chris Turnbull Posted August 12, 2016 Share Posted August 12, 2016 Having been inspired by this thread I bought one: Chris Turnbull 9 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold roundhouse Posted August 12, 2016 Author RMweb Gold Share Posted August 12, 2016 Superb!! Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Zomboid Posted August 12, 2016 Share Posted August 12, 2016 What is that, O scale? Monster... Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chris Turnbull Posted August 12, 2016 Share Posted August 12, 2016 What is that, O scale? Monster... It's gauge 1, 1/32 scale. Set up for gas firing at the moment but can also be coal fired. Chris Turnbull 4 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chris Turnbull Posted August 19, 2016 Share Posted August 19, 2016 Just discovered this on Youtube. The Big Boy is at 1.55. Chris Turnbull Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Premium jamie92208 Posted October 13, 2016 RMweb Premium Share Posted October 13, 2016 A new video on YouTube has just been posted. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JIjhPQsfN_Q It's interesting to see how much work has been done. Also the cab supports look just like a pair of wheelbarrow handles, anyone fancy picking up the rear end. Jamie 3 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Premium jamie92208 Posted February 1, 2017 RMweb Premium Share Posted February 1, 2017 Some more info and some pictures of the work in progress has just been posted on You Tube and also on the UP website. http://www.up.com/aboutup/community/inside_track/steam-update-2-1-2017.htm They've obviously taken the boiler off the engine units and then separated the units. Good to see some real progress. Jamie 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Premium jamie92208 Posted March 16, 2017 RMweb Premium Share Posted March 16, 2017 UP have just posted another update on YouTube. Jamie 3 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
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