Big Boy 4014 on the move

[Stagefright]

As you may be aware, Big Boy #4014 is being moved to Cheyenne, Wyoming for a 3-5 year rebuild. It stopped in Salt Lake City over the weekend. I was there Saturday; the crowds were huge! I'd conservatively estimate 3 - 4,000 just when I was there.

Exciting stuff for steam lovers!

Darrel

 

[JCitron]

This is really cool! It's hard to imagine this many people coming out to see a steam locomotive. It shows how much trains are still loved by the public even if the politicians think otherwise.

John

 

[JIb228]

I saw it when it was in Vegas.

 

[bendorsey]

Be interesting to learn what preparations were made before the move. I don't mean the obvious like grease/oil the appropriate bearings but what else? Also how is it being moved? Speed limit, daylight only, and so on.

Its not exactly your everyday consist, lol.

Ben

 

[nicky9499]

I read somewhere the top speed was around 20mph. Moving parts greased up, of course, and pistons cut away with a blowtorch. Consist was led by UP SD70M diesels #4014 up front and #4884 - very symbolic - behind followed by a bunch of UP heritage coaches (dubbed the Hospital Train, don't know why).

 

[bendorsey]

Are you sure they cut the pistons away with a blowtorch? Wouldn't it have made more sense just to disconnect or remove the connecting rods? That's what they did locally to move a 0-8-0.

Clever pulling it with another loco numbered 4014.

20 MPH sounds reasonable. I'd guess 30 max.

From the video we now know there is at least one bridge that can take the weight of a BigBoy and one more from the static photos (neither of which I made so that explains that, lol).

Thanks for the video - probably the only way I'll ever see it moving

Here's a pair of thoughts for discussion:
1. For years the UP said poo to the idea of restoring a BigBoy citing myriad excuses most if not all of which Trainzers could easily refute. Why (seemingly) all of a sudden did they change their minds?
2. Could it visit your home town?

No idea as to number 1.
My answer to number 2 is no but it could possibly get to West Palm Beach, Florida via the Seaboard Coastline tracks. Couldn't use the Florida East Coast tracks due to at east 4 curves within 20 miles of me that are almost certainly far too sharp.

Ben

 

[nicky9499]

They did the exactly opposite of what you said, it seems. In the below video it appears most of the Walschaerts valve gear have been removed leaving only the big connecting rods.

 

[amigacooke]

Well I hope it moves again under its own steam. Static exhibits are great, working steam engines are an education and a phenomenon.

30mph max? How about 90mph.

 

[nicky9499]

I believe Ben was referring to the maximum speed of 4014's move from Pomona to Cheyenne - in her "not yet restored" condition.

Steamers doing great speed are really quite fascinating. Just earlier today I was reading up on the Races To The North.

 

[kws4000]

The pistons were NOT torched off. They had to use a good sized hammer to knock out the keyed wedge holding it together; similar to a Morse taper on drill press.
However, one other 4000 had their pistons cut when they seized during the move to a museum, schedule was pressing and time was urgent.

This move's speed was restricted to 20mph, never exceeded 25. I was actually surprised that they moved so fast, honestly never expected more than 10-12mph.
As for real max, designed for 80mph, not intentionally ran above 70 in regular service. Some folks say one of them hit 83 on a troop train. Normal operating speed 35-50mph. So for the future? Whatever the FRA permits on the track rating, I presume.

Ben:
1. IDK you tell me.
2. Big Boy could navigate 20 degree curves, more of a problem with overhang than radius.
2b. Not mine, no place to put it.

 

[bendorsey]

Removing the actual valve gear works too. All they really want is for the pistons inside the cylinders not to move. Yes they could in theory just open the drain cocks but would you really want that much air whistling in and out of the cylinders as it moved? Normally the drain cocks are closed between 3 and 5 MPH. Plus - there wouldn't be any lubrication inside the cylinders since that was normally done by injecting a (very) small amount of oil into them as steam entered.

30 MPH refers to the speed at which the loco is being towed to the fixit shops. Not what it can do after restoration. 90 seems a td high but 70 for sure and I wouldn't be too surprised by 80.

Ben

 

[JIb228]

From what I saw, the pistons looked completely removed.

 

[nicky9499]

Can you imagine...? That small circular area not much larger than the palm of your hand is essentially what powers 5 million pounds of locomotive and much more train, barreling along at 70mph.

 

[kws4000]

jib228 yer right, all 4 are sitting in the coal bunker of the tender
and nicky, the maximum force sustained by the actual piston rods along the major axis is right around =(pi)*(23.75^2)/4*300 lbf, or 132,904.1 pounds per cylinder. Using HSLA steel, we only need 2-3 sq in cross section to take that load, with safety factor included.

 

[Pendolino]

Here's a pair of thoughts for discussion:
1. For years the UP said poo to the idea of restoring a BigBoy citing myriad excuses most if not all of which Trainzers could easily refute. Why (seemingly) all of a sudden did they change their minds?
2. Could it visit your home town?

1. UP says restoration will take 3 to 5 years... that's just in time to celebrate the 150th anniversary of the transcontinental railroad on May 10, 2019

2. Unfortunately, no :'(

 

[jjanmarine3]

Wow...this is so nice to see . Thanks for the pics and vids guys.