CARTER, Wyo. – Carter, population 10 – in 2010 – increased its head count at least eight times Monday as Union Pacific Big Boy No. 4014 rolled onto a track through this small unincorporated place east of Evanston, Wyo.
Trains’ video team arrived before sunrise Monday to find the perfect spot and saw first-hand the natural and relatively calm surroundings of the town. High desert birds, sheep, and antelope all came into full view before being joined by about 80 railfans and locals, including six state police cruisers and officers.
The extra law enforcement helped urge the camera toting crowd and traffic keep off the grade crossing where Big Boy unexpectedly stopped for more than 10 minutes.
Valves and pipes, checked, the steam crew whistled off and departed Carter in time to meet an eastbound Union Pacific train.
For more on the Golden Spike celebration, pick up our special issue Journey to Promontory and its companion DVDs, available now. Coming in June: Big Boy – Back In Steam special issue and companion DVD.
That was a good trip and I had my friends there in Evanston when the train came in they live right next to the tracks.
The freight was far from a “hot” train. Run of the mill RVNP. The perishable trains vanished a while back.
Watching the rest of the video, the aforementioned rod packing definitely needs some attention. Nothing catastrophic, but not ideal.
The packing on the front left cylinder does seem to be letting a fair amount of steam past.
25 years ago, UP 3985 made the trek from Cheyenne to Ogden for the 125th Golden Spike Anniversary. The Challenger was unassisted with a 22-car excursion train, ran at track speed most of the time and made the trip in two days, overnighting in Rock Springs.
A bit like ‘Bad Day at Black Rock’?
So why am I only seeing the Trains logo blocking the video? I thought subscribers were able to see them. Thanks.
I think was to give the fans more to see. Glad you were there. What is the que of chasers like?
We have to remember that this is a “break-in” run for 4014. The crew is going to stop if they have the least reason to check things out and make sure that everything is still OK. Or they stopped for the rail fans. Or, most likely, they stopped for the approaching hotshot freight. All pretty normal stuff on any railroad but special only because of Big Boy.
Looks like it to me. I don’t remember ever seeing this on a steam loco before.
Was that eastbound freight the Rail Ex perishable train? Would like to have seen it also. This is the future of the industry.
Cool, one crossing in the whole area and they manage to block it. Looks like the could have stopped short of the crossing and got there inspection done. I guess they do that in so many other areas of their system that they figured who would notice in Carter, WY.
When the 4014 starts up, I am noting steam (condensate cloud) around the piston rod of the front engine’s cylinder but note the back engine’s cylinder. Is this abnormal and indicative of a bad packing seal?
Somebody lose a contact lens in the cab?
OK — that was really cool!