Union Pacific 4014 Summer Tour
Departing Cheyenne June 7 and returning July 3
The “Big Boy” UP 4000 series were not the largest steam locomotives in the United States. That said, they were among the largest and, arguable, the most successful.
Their design was tailored specifically to the grades and curve radius's of the UP tracks from Cheyenne to Ogden, Utah.
Cheyenne
Worth a visit is the railroad depot.
On rare occasions Steam Shop tours can be taken. None are currently scheduled.
A few years ago I was able to take the tour.
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Diesel Electric Locomotives
They are not sexy. They are efficient. Steam locomotives are high maintenance. WWII slowed the availability of Diesel Electrics as the power plants, mainly produced by Fairbanks-Morse, were needed for submarines.
The UP and other railroads tried using other kinds of
locomotives with marginal success. A/C diesel locomotives are bottom line
better. As an example, Amtrak uses D/C locomotives. Reliability is not good and
often you see Amtrak with one or more A/C locomotives as back up.
Wednesday, June 7, 2023
You will find me somewhere in the vicinity of:
41°15’13.90”N 104°07’23.15”W
As always, YMMV
9 comments:
I call shotgun!
Or I'll drive, your choice!
We may organize something with Sisty.
This one is doing PR stuff too. I hope they turn it loose for cross country stuff:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Santa_Fe_2926
One of these days I'll get up there for that museum... sigh
GB
The 2900 class were not articulated as were the Big Boys and were used primarily for passenger trains. They were also, arguable, had a higher top speed. The UP mainly used their Challenger series for passenger trains.
I had the opportunity to see a Challenger pulling the very last Ringling Bros circus train and took some mediocre pictures.
Old NFO
Growing up along the D&RG tracks I get a lot out of that museum.
It will be in Norfolk June 8 and, oddly enough, so will I. Thanks very much for the heads up, now I can plan to arrive in time to see it pull in.
An uncle was an operating engineer for Wabash back in the days when steam was king. Wish I'd asked him more questions.
W.W.W
Glad to help. Much different route this year than in the past.
From Gering to North Platte, the line basically runs the Oregon Trail.
amazing landscapes that have so much history in the populating of the West and quite beautiful on their own.
Sisty
You are right. I find it interesting the route this year. The spur from Egbert to Gering is seldom used and 4014 will be huffing and puffing on some of the grades.
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