4-8-8-4

[Blackout16]

ok guys i just read an internet article on facebook and here is the article i read just read it its worth it

BREAKING NEWS... From today's Trains News Wire:


"Union Pacific looking to restore 4-8-8-4 Big Boy #4014 for excursion service


Published: December 7, 2012


CHEYENNE, Wyo. – Union Pacific Railroad has had conversations with the Southern California Chapter of the Railway & Locomotive Historical Society to purchase and restore its ex-UP 4-8-8-4 Big Boy, No. 4014. The museum's board is scheduled to meet Dec. 8 and plans to vote on the proposal from the railroad to buy the locomotive, says a source familiar with the matter.


Alco built 25 Big Boys for UP in 1941. No. 4014 resides at the chapter's museum on the grounds of the Los Angeles County Fairgrounds in Pomona, Calif., and is one of eight surviving Big Boys. UP donated the locomotive to the chapter in 1962.


Trains News Wire has contacted Union Pacific for comment and is currently wait for a reply."

 

[haddock56]

Can you please provide some more evidence that this is actually true? I do not trust anything off of Facebook. If this is true, this would be a huge groundswell among railfans.

 

[Blackout16]

well you bring a good point but the museum is voting on the proposal tomarro whether or not to allow up to buy and restore it

 

[haddock56]

They're voting tomorrow? I hope they will allow it, this would be hugely popular!!!!

 

[bendorsey]

Interestimg that the UP has always said it wasn't feasible to convert it to oil (which would be necessay of course) yet they had no problems converting the 4-6-6-4 did they. Could it be UP just wasn't interested? Also - as I understand it the only two places the loco can be turned are around 40 miles apart. Not much of an excursion if you ask me. Don't get me wrong folks - if true its fantastic but where can they operate it (and I don't mean that in a mean-spirited manner) I just don't know.

EDIT: Ignore the part about where will they run it. I just noticed the other thread on this subject and apparently this is all happening in California. I assume there are places out they it can be turned (they used to turn 4-8-8-2, lol).

Ben

 

[haddock56]

The only two places that the turntables were big enough was Green River and Cheyenne. I would think they would use a wye, which if the 3985 can be turned in such a manner then the 4014 would be able to do so as well. I'm sure there are a lot of those around for turning engines, and it would give them a wdier route availability.

 

[bendorsey]

I was thinking of the UP restoring it but hopefully there are a lot of wyes in southern california, lol. No matter what or where will be fantastic.

Ben

 

[Blackout16]

just found another article on trains magazine website the museum wants a replacement piece, so if up can offer a replacment piece the museum will agree to sell it to up sounds liek they want to expand the steam fleet

 

[Blackout16]

http://trn.trains.com/en/Railroad N...to restore Big Boy for excursion service.aspx