View allAll Photos Tagged 4014's
24 disc drivers, rotating thanks to the force applied from thousands of pounds of connected reciprocating steel rods, propel the world's largest steam locomotive, Union Pacific's famed 4-8-8-4 Big Boy #4014, into virgin territory, saluting the Gateway City while tiptoeing down the grade off the Mississippi River crossing of a bridge named for a man who rose to prominence around the same time the large beast was constructed: General Douglas MacArthur. 1941-vintage, stretching 132-feet from tip of the pilot to end of the tender, tipping scales at well over a cool million pounds; there is perhaps no more fitting a moniker ever dubbed for an industrial machine as the one reportedly scribbled on the smokebox of this class of behemoths while under construction on the floors of Schenectady back in World War II. To see a hot, living and breathing Big Boy pounding the high iron again, 60 years after their reign in revenue service ceased in favor of the efficiencies of internal combustion, once was merely a pipe dream. Improbable as it may still seem, fate--and Union Pacific--had other plans. Passing through on a lengthy tour of the Midwest, the spectacle has drawn hundreds downtown to witness 4014's first steps into St. Louis, the shadows of said onlookers rather conspicuous along the streets lining the tracks leading off the McArthur. Seen from a fresh vantage point, the excavator in the empty lot an indicator of recent work to remove the long-disused steel road decking of the MacArthur Bridge that had sat abandoned since 1981.
Chalk this one up to having done a few black and white conversions the other night. Anybody can convert a digital image to B&W, but once in a while I do it when the composition, lighting, or lack of color elements lends itself well to an overall scene. That, and I didn't take any monochrome print film with me that trip. We didn't show up here expecting to get the shot of the trip, we just wanted to be first to watch them charge into town.
Anyway, here's UP Train PCYRW1 04 behind a steam doubleheader consisting of Big Boy 4-8-8-4 #4014 and FEF-3 4-8-4 #844 coming up the main to the 4014's dedication ceremony at the Cheyenne Depot before heading to Utah for the Spike 150 clebration commemorating the Transcontinental Railroad Sesquicentennial of May 10, 1869.
Locomotives: UP 4014, UP 844, UP 8937
5-4-19
Cheyenne, WY
Yesterday, May 22, 2024, UP's Big Boy 4014 emerged from the Cheyenne shop for a test run on Laramie Subdivision Track 3 between Cheyenne and Lynch, Wyoming, a distance of 24 miles. The heritage crew had installed a PTC system on 4014's tender and the purpose of the run was to test it before the big engine departed on its westward tour in July. The PTC is mounted in a cabinet on the side of the tender with an antenna on top. The 4014 will no longer need a PTC-equipped diesel behind the steamer for that reason.
In this scene, the 4014 starts west after a test stop just outside Cheyenne—photo by Joe McMillan with Erik Lindgren.
A big southbound Union Pacific local is in the siding at Valley to meet a stack train on this clear spring desert morning. Four SD40Ns all rebuilt from SD40-2s bought new by the UP in eight 1978 or 1980 look mighty fine here on the old Los Angeles and Salt Lake Route near MP 342 on what is modern day UP's Caliente Sub. The Sheep Range rises in the distance toward the northwest beyond the outer edges of the vast urban sprawl of the city.
I was here waiting with dozens of other people from all over the world who were chasing the triumphant homecoming of Union Pacific Big Boy 4014 being transported from Los Angeles to Cheyenne to begin its five year restoration in time for the sesquicentennial celebration of the completion of the transcontinental railroad in 1869.
While this shot was a nice bonus, what I remember most about this moment was visiting with Jim Wrinn right here. To most of you that is a name that should need no introduction and I can still hear his thick Carolina drawl and see his wide brimmed hat and see that infectious grin. I know he's missed by many as he was taken from this world for too early just this year. But how many thousands of us have photos just like this that we'll always associate with him?
While this moment was the first time I'd ever met Jim face to face it wouldn't be the last as I would be fortunate to have a few more opportunities over the years including a visit five years later up in Echo Canyon watching 4014's magnificent inaugural run. Alas those visits were too few, and I dearly lament that they'll never be another freindly tackside chat with a true legend amongst our fraternity or railroaders and fans. So here's to you Jim my friend....
North Las Vegas, Nevada
Thursday May 1, 2014
When I first saw Mike Danneman's shot of a train crossing the causeway on UP's Lucin Cutoff 8 years ago, I knew I had to make the pilgrimage to Lakeside, UT for the experience. For years, I've occasionally looked at not just his shots at Lakeside, but others as well. I also studied road routes, topo maps, rail traffic, and weather patterns unique to the Great Salt Lake to get an idea of what I would encounter should the day ever come.
When UP 4014's trip was announced for Ogden, the timing was perfect to set a day aside to grab a shot of a train crossing the lake.
With help from Mr. Shine, I was able to get an idea of what trains were planned to show up. Not much was projected, two westbounds, and one eastbound were planned for the entire afternoon. Info in hand, I drove the 2.5 hours from Salt Lake to Lakeside on roads not meant for my Camry. As the radio tower neared, I made the assent, only to be met with a roadblock. Well, on foot I go.
When I reached the top, I took several minutes to take it all in. The high and dry air, the perfect weather, and of course, the views that seem to stretch to infinity. It's true what some say, you could almost see the curvature of Earth if you look to the West. All wasn't perfect however; lake flies, or gnats or whatever the hell they were somehow found me irresistible, and made my wait for the westbound freight unbearable. Still, the waiting game continued.
As the radio crackled to life, the westbound I waited on copied a track warrant to cross the lake from Promontory Point to Lakeside. It was pretty amazing, almost surreal even, to see it slowly cross the lake for what seemed to be a good half hour before getting it on glass at the end of TWC in Lakeside.
Bucket list shot complete. 12/10 would come back for more.
#westisbest
-------------
UP 6792
MOGRV-11
Lakeside, UT
Seeing the schedule of 4014's run, I knew broadsides were the name of the game after Carroll. After shooting the 844 here 7 years ago at just an hour or so earlier, I figured this would be my secret spot, as only Stewart Buck and I were here for that chase. I was wrong that Jeff and I would be among a very few, but I was absolutely right that this was THE spot to hit it. Steam-era bridge pilings still stand in the river and Google Maps' measurement tool did not fail me. Old-school knowledge meets new-school tech in location scouting.
With the train now clear of the 10MPH slow order for the bridge over Lake Buffalo, UP 4014's engineer opens up the throttle to get the train back up to track speed, much to the joy of the several dozen photographers and curious locals positioned on this bridge just east of Packwaukee, Wisconsin.
I intercepted the San Antonio-Houston leg of 4014's Southwest tour here at W Luling, just before its scheduled service stop where, literally, the entire town came out to see it. 11/6/2019
The 0400 run of the "Great Race to Ogden" excursion from Rock Springs to Evanston, WY proved to be one of the most dramatic days, photography wise, during UP 4014's journey. My plan was to grab it at Peru Hill just outside Green River. With a bit of luck, my hope was the ambient light was enough for a "clean" shot. Sure enough, at about 0600, UP 4014 charges up Peru Hill, leaving a plume of steam in its wake bound for its next service stop in Granger.
UP 4014's "Heartland of America Tour" in 2024 brought the Big Boy to the Bayou City for the 3rd time in 5 years.
After an event for UP employees at Settegast Yard in northeast Houston, the Big Boy headed out to prepare for public display at the Amtrak Station the following day. Due to the complicated nature of the route back to the Amtrak depot, UP opted to just have 4014 shove backwards for nearly the entire route.
Here, UP 4014 shoves westward between Belt Jct and Tower 76 on the Houston East Belt. The train will hang a left at Belt Jct in the distance in order to take the West Belt towards Downtown.
PHOHO 05 (Passenger- Houston Settegast Yard to Houston Amtrak Station)
UP 4-8-8-4 #4014
Houston, TX
October 5th, 2024
[14-12-2016] Vandaag reed de Eurostar een testrit naar Tilburg. Omdat ik op tijd uit was besloot ik ervoor naar Den Bosch te gaan, met als doel de welbekende brug aan de zuidkant van het station. Om de een of andere reden besloot ik daar niet heen te gaan en het treinstel op het station op te wachten, wat achteraf een slechte keuze was omdat ik anders een prachtig plaatje had gehad. In Utrecht heb ik het treinstel daarom nog maar even opgewacht, voor ik richting huis ging.
[Station, 's-Hertogenbosch, 14:22]
Eurostar Velaro E320 4013 en 4014 als trein 91535 Diemen Zuid - Tilburg Industrie.
This is the best shot I ended up getting displaying the 4014's articulated nature. The fading light was just sweet enough, and the bridge where I was standing was full of admiring fans and photographers.
For UP 4014's "Heartland of America Tour" in 2024, the train's first stop after arriving into Houston was the railroad's Settegast Yard for an employee-only event. Following that event, the train moved to the Amtrak station for public display the following day.
Due to the complicated nature of the route back to the Amtrak depot, UP opted to just have 4014 shove backwards for nearly the entire route. Here, UP 4014 is completing its 13-mile shove at Chaney Jct. The mix of 1940's steam, 1970's searchlights, and 2020's Vaders make for a fascinating chronological combination.
After clearing the control point here, the Big Boy will pull forward on the Passenger Main to my left to access the Amtrak station for display.
The searchlights here would come down in June of 2025.
PHOHO 05 (Passenger- Houston Settegast Yard to Houston Amtrak Station)
UP 4-8-8-4 #4014
Houston, TX
October 5th, 2024
For UP 4014's "Heartland of America Tour" in 2024, the train's first stop after arriving into Houston was the railroad's Settegast Yard for an employee-only event. Following that event, the train moved to the Amtrak station for public display the following day.
Due to the complicated nature of the route back to the Amtrak depot, UP opted to just have 4014 shove backwards for nearly the entire route. Here, UP 4014 is completing its 13-mile shove at Chaney Jct. The mix of 1940's steam, 1970's searchlights, and 2020's Vaders make for a fascinating chronological combination.
After clearing the control point here, the Big Boy will pull forward on the Passenger Main to my left to access the Amtrak station for display.
The former SP searchlights here would come down in June of 2025.
PHOHO 05 (Passenger- Houston Settegast Yard to Houston Amtrak Station)
UP 4-8-8-4 #4014
Houston, TX
October 5th, 2024
Two now famous numbers in steam railroading sit side by side Inside the UP Steam Shop belonging to their operating locomotives, FEF-3 #844 and 4-8-8-4 Big Boy #4014. The 4-8-4 is winterized and the 4000 is undergoing winter maintenance and fine tuning before this year's trips. You wouldn't know at 50 MPH, but 4014's number plate today is about an inch larger than the original.
Locomotives: UP 4014, UP 844
1-22-20
Cheyenne, WY
After laying over in UP's Brazos Yard near Hearne, TX for two weeks, the UP steam crew has completed their boiler wash and other maintenance activities after the first 2,000 or so miles of the Big Boy's Heartland of America Tour.
Now it's time for the rest of UP 4014's journey, as it heads down to Houston and then back north to Cheyenne. The day started with an unusual move, as the crew decided to remove the diesel helper (UP 4015) from the train. The Big Boy would run by itself on the trip to the Bayou City.
After the SD70 was removed, UP 4014 shoved out the north end of Brazos Yard, stopping here at the Muse Rd grade crossing. There were big crowds, but some tight composition managed to isolate just the Big Boy and the road. In a few moments the dispatcher in Spring will click a few times, the switches & signals will line, and UP 4014 will be off to the races.
PBZHO 04 (Passenger- Brazos Yard to Houston, TX)
UP 4-8-8-4 #4014
Tatsie, TX
October 4th, 2024
There was much uncertainty surrounding UP 4014's departure from North Platte, NE because of flooding around Kearny. By the evening of July 10, the general consensus seemed to be the train would depart at 10AM, two hours later than scheduled. I spent the majority of that evening along the triple track between Gothenburg and North Platte, scouting out where I would attempt to catch this historic move.
The evening hours brought me to this perch above Buttermilk Curve outside of Brady. I had chased this westbound manifest from Gothenburg to this spot and was quite pleased with how it looked. I ended up returning to this location the next day in an attempt to catch 4014, but a westbound coal train decided to pass by first!
Since the 2024 steam schedule was just announced, I present this photo from UP 4014's last visit to Texas.
Steaming over the rolling hills northwest of Houston as part of its 2021 excursion, UP 4014 passes the control point at Binford on the Eureka Sub, the former SP between Houston and Dallas.
PHEHO 16 (Passenger- Hearne to Houston, TX)
UP 4-8-8-4 #4014
UP SD70M #4015
Waller, TX
August 16th, 2021
Union Pacific Big Boy 4014's 'Great Race Across the Southwest' steams through Mona, Utah on the road to Milford on Oct. 4, 2019.
The passenger car is one of only two stainless steel sided railcars in UP's passenger fleet. It was built in 1949 by Budd as a 10-6 sleeper for UP, named the "Pacific Domain".
It was rebuilt into its current configuration as a crew car in 1973, featuring a dinging room/lounge, large kitchen, and four bedrooms. In 1980 it received the name "Cabarton" for Cabarton, ID, the home of UP's then VP of Operations RL Richmond. In 2009 the car received its name "Willie James", in honor of long-time business car Chef Willie James, who has worked for UP since 1984.
Here, the car is serving its modern purpose of supporting the staff for special train operations as UP 4014's Heartland of America Tour rolls south through Texas.
UPP Mechanical Staff Car #202 "Willie James"
More info about the "Willie James" can be found here:
www.up.com/cs/groups/public/documents/up_pdf_nativedocs/p...
Tatsie, TX
October 4th, 2024
The head engineer for UP 4014 poses for a picture with the mayor and other officials near the end of 4014's stop over in Opelousas.
When it was built in 1941, Union Pacific 'Big Boy' 4014's job was to haul freight across the Wasatch Mountains. As a restored artifact in the 21st Century, its purpose is as a corporate public relations tool. The locomotive is seen here fulfilling that role as it attracts attention at Dexter, MO on August 28, 2021.
UP 4014's engineer leans out of the cab as the locomotive leans into a curve at Des Plaines, Illinois.
Tuesday, July 16, 2019 was a mixed bag of weather for the 4014's trip segment between Boone and Mason City, Iowa. Sunny and humid in the morning and some pretty heavy rain squalls in the early afternoon. Here, in a driving downpour, 4014 is hitting the home signal at Clear Lake Jct and about to cross the Iowa Traction on the way into the Mason City. Note that the "Big Boy" moniker has been washed off the smoke box front.
UP 4014's train cruises down the Geneva Sub at Cortland, Illinois, heading for its next stop at Rochelle. Every conceivable trackside location seemed to have a crowd of some kind, like the one visible on the Peace Road bridge in the distance. Also visible back there is the Dekalb coaling tower, where another eager group was waiting.
'S-HERTOGENBOSCH - De beproevingen met de Eurostar zijn weer begonnen. Gisteren kwam het treinstel naar Nederland, om vandaag ATB proefritten te maken.
De tweede slag vanuit Amsterdam ging naar Tilburg. Hier zien we net buiten station 's-Hertogenbosch de lengte van de E320 nog eens goed. Mazzel met de zon deze keer!
On a whim, with almost no planning; I was able to venture south from Sturgis Bike Week to Lodgepole, Nebraska to catch the tail end of the UP 4014's journey to Sidney, Nebraska.
Quite likely the only time I'll get to see this engine operating under its own power, so it seemed like a no-brainer to sacrifice a day of motorcycle riding to go get photos of it.
While DM&IR 332 is the only steam locomotive at the Lake Superior Railroad Museum in running condition right now, the three locomotives on the right (Duluth & Northern Minnesota 14, United States Steel 7, and Soo Line 2719) have all operated at the museum over the years. They were brought outside for display during 4014's all-too-brief visit.
In the Summer of 2019, the UP took the Big Boy on a tour of the upper Midwest, traveling through Minnesota, Wisconsin, Illinois, and Iowa in the process. During the 4014's visit to the Chicago area, it was staged on a spur at the Larry S. Provo Training Center for the public to observe. It would be on exhibit for a couple days before traveling west to Cedar Rapids.
4014 and 844 cruise downgrade engulfed by the 4014's steam on a truly historic cool and wet morning on the Wasatch.
Our first look at an operating Big Boy comes as UP Train PCYRW1 04 shoves down P4 of the UP Sidney Sub. for CP W508. There the doubleheader will cross all the way over to Main Track 1 to pull west to the depot and the 4014's christening ceremony.
Locomotives: UP 4014, UP 844, UP 8937
5-4-19
Cheyenne, WY
We made it down to Butler about an hour before the 4014's departure. To entertain us, the UP ran the local about 0720 with this sharp looking GP40M-2. According to the website Diesel Shop, the 1480 started life as a straight GP40, the B&O 3711. It would have been great to see it in B&O blue, but this old girl wears the Armour yellow pretty well, too.
Union Pacific 4-8-8-4 "Big Boy" #4005 is displayed at the Forney Transportation Museum in Denver, CO. #4005 is the oldest of the preserved Big Boys and (until 4014's recent conversion) was the only one converted to burn oil. Done as an experiment during a coal strike, the conversion was not successful and the 4005 was converted back to coal. 4005 also has the dubious distinction of being the only one of its class to be seriously wrecked. In the early 1950s, a miscommunication amongst a track gang mistakenly lined 4005 and its train into a siding. The train, which was traveling near 50 mph, had no time to slow down and derailed on the sharp curve into the siding. The entire head end crew was killed when the engine rolled onto its side. 4005 still has scars on its flanks from where it plowed into the ground.
Interested in purchasing a high-quality digital download of this photo, suitable for printing and framing? Let me know and I will add it to my Etsy Shop, MittenRailandMarine! Follow this link to see what images are currently listed for sale: www.etsy.com/shop/MittenRailandMarine
If you are interested in specific locomotives, trains, or freighters, please contact me. I have been photographing trains and ships for over 15 years and have accumulated an extensive library!
It was a year ago today that we ventured north to Wisconsin to catch the show of the year, Union Pacific's 4014's tour of the railroad. And as you can see from the standing room only crowd, we were not alone. We enjoyed being back where we had spent 12 years working and living, and the weather was mostly decent, too. I'm glad we made the journey because I'm pretty sure this will never happen again. This scene was just north of Friesland, whose population swelled for the day from 400 to about 4000.
UP 4014's train passes a waiting Chicago-bound manifest between La Fox and Elburn, Illinois on its way west.
With 4014's arrival back in southern California in less than 30 days. many have been trying to figure out the best locations to photograph the Big Boy. So as a little "warm-up", here is UP 3985 westbound at Cozy Dell in Cajon Pass on July 28, 2000. Headed to Los Angeles for the 2000 DNC Convention. I would imagine the number of vehicles on adjacent old Highway 66 and I-15 will be staggering, not like the few pictured here. Pick your spots, because unless you plan on following for several days, traffic will limit how many of your choice locations you might actually be able to get to.
Steam trips today always have a backup plan. And this SD70M is still under warranty. Needs a little paint refresh, though. The nose is looking a bit weary.
UP Engineer Ed Dickens leans out of 4014's cab as she and 844 round a curve not far from Rock Springs WY.
4014's giant tender and aux water cars get topped off by the local FD after stopping at McAlester for the day.
-Union Pacific 4-8-8-4 Big Boy #4014
-UP (ex-MKT) Cherokee Sub, MP U564.1
-E Krebs Crossing, McAlester, OK
-August 12, 2021
TT1_2677_edited-1
Here's Ed Dickens, the engineer on the UP 4014, the Big Boy 4-8-8-4 steam locomotive. He must be getting tired of having his picture taken and is probably the most photographed man in America today. Ed is also the head of Union Pacific's steam program and has come under a lot of criticism for exactly what, I do not know. I'm not familiar with the circumstances so I won't condemn or defend him. I just imagine he's a lot happier up in 4014's cab than he is back in Omaha. In this scene, he has the 4014 right on time coming into Friesland, WI.
On an incredibly pleasant July morning, the Union Pacific "Big Boy" 4014 hauls southward over the Kettle River in Sandstone, Minnesota. A couple days make all the difference here: during the 4014's trip to Duluth, it was overcast. This time around, however, we got lucky, and it was an incredible way to end our trip to Minnesota. More photos are to come...
On a cool, blue morning in July the low moan of a steam whistle rings out through town announcing UP 4014's on time departure after a weekend spent in the twin ports. For 2 of 3 serious photos I tried of the Big Boy I tried to pick places where I might be the first, if not the only photographer there (there were always townspeople). It worked again at Central Avenue in South Superior this morning as Ed Dickens slows down for the switch off of the coal runner and eases himself onto BNSF's Lakes Subdivision in the company of Great Northern era code line and signals. And I almost beat the damn wires.....
Louisiana Trip August 19-23, 2021
The Great 4014 Train Chase
Time to wake up the alligators in the Louisiana bayous as the fireman pours on the coal, (oil in the 4014's case) and the engineer sets the throttle to the 8th notch sending the World's largest operational Iron Horse galloping down the road made of steel.
Louisiana 1, between Plaquemine and Bayou Goula in Iberville Parish, Louisiana. 10:05, August 20, 2021.
P2021-0820T100554
Canon EOS Rebel T6i
Last update 9/22/2021, 7:03 PM