Inside the Cab of Big Boy No. 4014
By Angela Cotey | November 25, 2013
| Last updated on November 25, 2020
Join Trains Associate Editor Steve Sweeney on a guided tour of Big Boy No. 4014 - from the cab! Narration provided by Union Pacific's senior manager of heritage operations, Ed Dickens Jr.
As a Locomotive Engineer fourth Generation Railway man,PC,Conrail, and finally CN, Now Retired, I had the Pleasure of Riding on a Steam Locomotive when I was a little fellow! with my Grandpa! 30 miles through Canada into Buffalo NY. Love to See them Run Again!
HI, I am n agreement with Steve Endres, and David Collins, I would like tho have captioning also as I cannot understand spoken words. please help us out.
All though I never had the opportunity to work for the Railroads, I grew up in Altoona, PA which was home for the PRR. I have always had a thing for steam engines and was very excited to have been part of putting the K-4s back on the tracks. But as you know that is anoter story in itself. I am glad to hear about the "Big Boy" #4014 being brought back to life. Hope sometime I will get to see her running other than on the net. Keep up the good work for once again keeping steam alive and THANK YOU for all the work that will be involved over the coming years.
Hi there… I watch video is very interesting but one plm is need Caption for the deaf people need to understand.. Deaf peoples love to see & watch Video with caption & deaf people love see history of Big Boy fan run of life… Please can you help to put on Caption on for all over world Deaf peoples & deaf people will be very please with ur Big Boy fan Club… Thank you from Steve
Delighted to see this tour of the Big Boy cab! Would have been much better if spoken word could have been coordinated with the device being described. Thanks to both UP and TRAINS.
I think that besides the Union Pacific, the railfan community must give a great deal of thanks to the museum that agreed to give up the 4014. I know they are getting a UP Diesel and some other piece of rolling stock in return, but a Big Boy is a Big Boy while any diesel is just a diesel.
Thank You U.P. for keeping Steam alive, keep up the good work.
I am so pleased to see a corpartion doing this.
Thank You Union Pacific for bringing this engine back to life.
I'm getting up in years and I hope I'll be able to see this run
down the tracks.
many thanks for all the updates just wonder when it gets to the shop will there be a viewing place just to stop by and watch the guys take her apart and will probably feel like dead grass growing watching with so many parts.
I liked the video s lot and will probably visit it again. However, at 82, my hearing is not quite 100%, although I seldom wish I had a hearing aid, since normal conversation and lectures are OK for me. But I found the background music a distraction and made me stain to understand every word. I do not object in the least to the introductory music, but just wish the spoken word did not have any interference. That is the only reason I am giving it a 4 instead of a 5.
Thanks for keeping us all informed. My family lived in Pine Bluff Wyoming in 1956. I went down and watched the locomotives take on coal and water, before continuing on their journey. I can still remember the thrill of watching these magnificent machines start out after being serviced. I still chase the Challenger when its in the area. What memories!!
A great project that UP has taken on, to which hopefully the Big Boy will steam once again for the delight of all who sees her.
Great video giving us the chance to get an idea of things to come. I have visited BB 4006 in St. Louis twice and enjoyed tremendously sitting inside the cab. – A big Thank You to UP for this project and to Trains for providing information and video for free. Still, I agree with David L. Klepper and many others that the background music is a distraction and I too would wish to hear the spoken word without any interference. Sadly, background music interfering with spoken words has become an annoying custom on many TV-stations.
I add my thanks to UP and Trains for keeping us informed on this project. All I can say is more, more, more. As a mechanical engineer with a rail background, I really like the technical details.
I had a chance to work with the Omaha folks in the Mechanical Department – Locomotive in the '70s and they were a first class bunch. Some had worked on the 4000s and their pride was obvious.
Thanks to the Union Pacific for bringing back history…..wish I could be in Evanston, Wyoming when she goes through…..as a kid I spent many hours at the curve on the edge of town watching them as they lumbered up the hill from Utah heading towards Cheyenne stopping in Evanston to change crews fuel and water up at the coal chute……
At 55 I'm not old enough to have seen steam running the rails. I've always been absolutely fascinated with steam. I am truly excited at the prospect of watching the Big Boy operate.
Thanks for the update
It would have been nice if the camera had been on the controls as he mentioned them.
Great Video.
It's nice of Ed to take the time to keep us informed of such a once in a life time event.
I spent Sunday 8 Dec. 2013 in Owosso, Michigan, riding behind Pere Marquette 1225 on the North Pole Express with some of my grandchildren.
The look on the face of these kids when the 1225 pulled up and blew her whistle was worth the price of admission.
The kids, young and old enjoyed seeing 1225 back after a 4 year rebuild.
It really amazes me to see so many people turn out to see a steam locomotive in operation, something I seen everyday as a kid growing up next to the Grand Trunk Western Yards in Port Huron, Michigan.
I've have been to Ohio and ridden behind the GTW 6325 also.
I salute the Union Pacific Railroad for bringing the 4014 back and look forward to the day when I can ride behind her.
You are going to have lines of people waiting to ride.
My thanks to all involved in this project.
Steam Rules.
Gary R. Hock
Port Huron, Michigan 48060
Ed I want to thank you for keeping the railfan community updated on the restoration project of the 4014. I also want to thank the union pacific railroad for putting you in charge of the Heritage program as you project tremendous knowledge of the projects but share this knowledge in a humble and friendly manner. thanks Dale Van Der Steeg
Two years ago I was at the fair grounds and didn't know the BIG BOY was there. Now I will have to go to Wyoming to see it. Hope to do that some day soon.
Thanks Ed for putting us in touch with the Heart and Soul of the 4014. Your love of big steam comes thru very clear when you talk about 4014. Thanks agaim
Looks more complex then I expected. My Rail Driver only get me to scratch the surface of what goes on operating the great "Big Boy" in the real world.
I am jealous. We have no such big locomotivs in Belgium.
Don't complain about this video, Just thank TRAINS AND UNION PACIFIC for all of us that never had the first opportunity when BIG BOYS were running…maybe the second time we will be lucky …to some, have your hearing checked……