Union Pacific has cancelled all planned steam activities in 2020, citing the uncertainty surrounding the COVID-19 virus and social distancing measures.
Senior Vice President and Chief Administrative Officer Scott Moore said in a video message to members of Union Pacific’s Steam Club that the railroad is committed to operating in 2021. “We saw last year how much America loves the Big Boy, and what it can do as the giant, rolling ambassador of the Union Pacific.”
While the railroad had not announced an itinerary for this year, it was anticipated that the Big Boy would travel to the Pacific Northwest in late summer.
Moore’s full message, as well as one from Ed Dickens of the UP Steam Team about the status of Big Boy No. 4014, is available on YouTube.
Looks like that the editor of this publication is going to have more time on his hands,Things balance out sometimes.We are learning the most important thing is not a 600 ton bullet racing down the tracks.
George: that last sentence in my comment has nothing to do with the sentences preceding it, but rather was tied into a section that “somehow” did not make it to the post. But I know it was there before I hit the send button.
Mr. Bauer and all: Absolutely correct. UP posted a video telling its story in this health crisis a month ago on Youtube and so far has only 5700 or so views. It is good enough, and still relevant enough, to be shown as is on national TV and would garner millions of views. I don’t know how they can be so proud of the rolling ambassador and not care to tell this more important story to everyone.
Well evidently the “Rolling Ambassador” didn’t do much to make America aware of railroads and their role in moving goods. Everything I have seen on TV, in printed media, and have heard on radio makes it sound as if trucks are the only mode of moving goods out there. That, to me, would show more class.
Mr Landey. The difference was the airshow was in the air and people were spread out keeping their distance. The funeral was a (from the NY Times), “estimated 2,500 ultra-Orthodox Jewish men had arrived to mourn Rabbi Chaim Mertz, packing together shoulder-to-shoulder on the street”.
The Mayor is taking a lot of heat for ordering the police to disperse people. Rightly or wrongly he was out in front of this, and taking the blame. Not leaving it to others.
https://www.nytimes.com/2020/04/29/nyregion/coronavirus-jews-hasidic-de-blasio.html?action=click&module=Spotlight&pgtype=Homepage
‘GIVE WITH BING”
New York’s “air show” consisted of the Blue Angels and the Thunderbirds doing a couple of fly overs. Not exactly a shoulder to shoulder public event.
ANNA – New York City had an air show this week, the same week NYPD was sent to break up a funeral.
Get to save a few dollars too.
It is disappointing but also, given the present situation the right thing to do. This is not the time for the gathering of any kind of crowd.
I don’t expect to see Big Boy or 844 to run again.
@Jim Norton, how do you KNOW that? Sure, we all hope what you say turns out to be true, but none of us know that, nor do we have reasonable evidence to say so. I’m personally very bullish on how everything will turn out, but even I won’t venture that far.
The whole point is uncertainty. Right now, nobody is planning large gatherings pretty much for the rest of the year. Only sports and other pre-existing events *might* and up to now, most things are cancelled into the fall.
This sure looks like a prudent move by UP to take the safe course and prepare for 2021.
With the Covid-19 issues and most importantly the impact of the decline in business it’s really not a surprise the UP made this decision.
In the fall, this virus panic will all be a distant memory. Just another instance of railroads eager to run fewer and fewer trains.