UP 4014 and 844 round the curve at Point of Rocks, Wyo., on the afternoon of May 5.
TRAINS: Jim Wrinn
Nos. 844 and 4014 tie down to a hero’s welcome in Rock Springs, Wyo., Sunday afternoon. The steam doubleheader continues to draw huge crowds along its route.
TRAINS: Jim Wrinn
ROCK SPRINGS, Wyo. – Union Pacific Big Boy No. 4014 strode across southern Wyoming Saturday with a bit more confidence Sunday, the second day of its journey to Ogden, Utah, and the 150th anniversary of the Golden Spike. The crew opened up the engine a bit more as it surpassed the 300-mile mark with no significant troubles.
The locomotive, whose restoration only concluded in time for a test run on Thursday, turned in a remarkable performance, cruising along at 35 mph for long periods of time Sunday, with a diesel in full dynamic braking, 4-8-4 No. 844, and nine passenger cars on the drawbar. The 7,000-hp steam locomotive didn’t even notice.
Once again, thousands turned out to view the engine, whether it was children on their way to Sunday school or travelers from across the continent and around the globe to witness the first Big Boy locomotive in steam and on the main line in 60 years. “It wasn’t supposed to happen,” said one fan. “We never thought we’d see this day.”
The locomotive arrived in Rock Springs to a hero’s welcome. It will spend the night here. On Monday, the special is scheduled to leave at 4 a.m. to get around a maintenance-of-way work window. It is scheduled to arrive in Evanston, Wyo., at 8:45 a.m. — although the first two days have slid well off the schedule — and will lay over in Evanston on Tuesday before making a triumphant entrance into Ogden, Utah, on Wednesday via spectacular Echo and Weber Canyons.
Trains will live stream the westward journey, and is collecting material for a special issue, Big Boy Back in Steam, and a special 2-hour DVD, both available from Kalmbach Hobby Store online. Our live streaming is sponsored by Nevada Northern Railway and RailfanDepot.com.
Greatly appreciate your fine work, keep it coming! Do you think a 2 hour DVD will be enough?
Outstanding job by Steve to allow railfans follow the exploits of #4014 on line. Could we see Big Boy in revenue service pulling a mile long double stack at some point?
It may be sacriledge to say so, but a two-hour DVD may be a bit too much. There’s an old show business saying that goes “Always leave them wanting more!”
It’s always struck me that with a lot of rail videos and DVDs that within a good two-hour video is a GREAT one hour video trying to get out! How many run-by shots do you need? Of anything?
I’d do it like this: 30 minutes devoted to the restoration, 30 minutes for the run to Ogden. Should be more than enough for anyone.
Just saying, you know?
Thanks Robert for the information. I have ridden on trains pulled by the 844 three times. Hats off to the UP for preserving a small piece of the past.
@Paul Smith
What is the reason for the diesel locomotive? By using a diesel setup in dynamic braking, they can simulate a much longer/heavier train without having the actual train cars. Also if something goes wrong they have a way get out of they way.
One little thing I notice about your excellent reporting, Jim, and appreciate, is that you have not assigned a gender to the locomotive, as some do, referring to it as “she” or “her.”
Awesome loco and also that the world railfan community is totally focused and linked on this totally historic occasion. Thanks Jim, I hope that you will visit us in Australia sometime soon.
The Trains team has done an outstanding job with the live stream..
George Pins
That’s an interesting observation, considering, like ships, they’ve been referred to as she’s from way back when.
Keep up the great work, Jim and team! I, too, followed 4014/844 from Laramie to Rawlins yesterday and Wamsutter to Rock Springs today! Fantastic photos/video clips and so great to watch the UP team service the locomotives in RS. And I even got to chat with the man who takes care of the boiler water chemistry for the Union Pacific steam locomotives, the same job I do for the 611 crew. What a fantastic day!!! ??????
A newbie to the Trains Mag world (although I HAVE picked one up on occasion), I just HAD to give y’all kudos for the excellent work you’re doing to make sure those of us not able to make the trek to Wyoming still know what is happening.
Your efforts are GREATLY appreciated!
Great!!! I see smoke now. And no black plume means good combustion.
Keep up the good work Trains! What a moment in American history.
What is the reason for the diesel locomotive?