Steam & Excursion > 2015 UP calendar features 4014 on cover

Just received our allotment of 2015 UP calendars and the cover features UP 4014 plus twelve typical UP scenes featured monthly

Dick Samuels
Oregon Pacific Railroad

Well, there you go. The "steam program" isn't dead,,,,,,,,,yet!

Of course 4014 is on the cover. They're deep into the "justify spending all that money" phase.

Fascinating how none of the history experts managed to
figure out that as configured, it should be displaying
white classification lights, not green.

Displaying green signals on an extra would have been a
major rules violation in steam days.

Takes 2 or 3 seconds per light to make it right.

But maybe they think green is prettier.

The color of the lights may have been a photographer decision.

My dad worked in aviation, many years of that in a shop that, among other things, finished out business aircraft. On the back wall of the reception area, was a 'whole wall' print of a photo of one of the aircraft, on the tarmac, at night. The ramp had been hosed down with water to give it that glossy look. The background was a clear, star lit night. Obviously the ramp being wet isn't 'authentic' but it sure looked nice.

Seems kinda petty to hammer ed/up over the color of the lights when there are apparently massive REAL problems..

That is a beautiful photo, but --
Why give the OK to mis-educating the public?
What happened to pride in accuracy? If being
faithful to the historical accuracy of the poor
4014's appearance really does not matter, why
not paint it plaid with polka dots? It would sure
attract a LOT of attention that way, and isn't lots
of attention what is wanted?
[snark off!]

EDIT
That red sweatshirt has got to go. It makes the
guy with the lantern stick out, and really detracts
from the photo as a whole. The photo would be
much better in B & W.



Edited 2 time(s). Last edit at 09/28/14 21:14 by Margaret_SP_fan.

Realist Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Fascinating how none of the history experts
> managed to
> figure out that as configured, it should be
> displaying
> white classification lights, not green.
>
> Displaying green signals on an extra would have
> been a
> major rules violation in steam days.
>
> Takes 2 or 3 seconds per light to make it right.
>
>
> But maybe they think green is prettier.


4014 has been displaying green signals for the last 20 years if not longer. UP didn't change them before moving the locomotive.
And since the current rulebook doesn't even mention classification lights, what's the problem?

PHall Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Realist Wrote:
> --------------------------------------------------
> -----
> > Fascinating how none of the history experts
> > managed to
> > figure out that as configured, it should be
> > displaying
> > white classification lights, not green.
> >
> > Displaying green signals on an extra would have
> > been a
> > major rules violation in steam days.
> >
> > Takes 2 or 3 seconds per light to make it right.
>
> >
> >
> > But maybe they think green is prettier.
>
>
> 4014 has been displaying green signals for the
> last 20 years if not longer. UP didn't change them
> before moving the locomotive.
> And since the current rulebook doesn't even
> mention classification lights, what's the problem?


What's the problem? Well, in my opinion, it looks stupid and toy train like! Green class lights ALWAYS indicated "second section following", so again, in my opinion the class lights should have been white to indicate "extra".

It looks stupid because it is stupid.

It was stupid when the loco was on display, and don't
think for a moment that old head employees and retirees
won't notice when they receive their calendars and think
the same thing.

As for why jump on Ed about it? He's an operating guy,
and repeatedly has said publicly (on YouTube, as one
example) that he's a perfectionist. He should know
better. He's paid to know better. And if he can't
get the details right, how can anyone expect him to get
the big stuff right?

Now, all that said, the last time I saw 4023 in Omaha
at night, it was the same way. There's no excuse for that,
either.



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 09/28/14 10:06 by Realist.

HotWater Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Well, there you go. The "steam program" isn't
> dead,,,,,,,,,yet!


That's a BIG Y E T too!

Here's the photo in question. Photographer's credit is in the lower right.

Like someone else said, this is probably the closest you'll see this engine in what appears to be operating condition!

---

Just amazing how no matter what UP does about steam, like putting a great steam locomotive on the company calendar in the 21st Century, you still find a way to criticize it. This whole UP steam bashing thread is getting old. You guys are like a bunch of 10-year-olds that haven't gotten your way. Perhaps if you are that unhappy with everything, you should find another hobby interest.

Steve55126 Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
Perhaps if you are that unhappy with
> everything, you should find another hobby
> interest.

Hobby, did you really state HOBBY?

Do you REALLY think that the former UP Steam Crew EMPLOYEES, that are so upset with what has happened the last 3+ years, did all that work as a "HOBBY"???? Don't you have any idea WHY they are STILL upset?

Well, if they are no longer employed, I guess it would be their hobby now wouldn't it?

My point is that these posts are becoming increasingly filed with bitterness and bile and serve no useful purpose, as the calendar post proves. All this ranting and raving is childish. When new management takes over a company department, they don't keep the old people around. And it's okay to offer constructive criticism when this occurs, IMHO. But on this board it has simply devolved into childish rants that serve no useful purpose. I'm sure the former employees you speak of would love to see Ed go. But as you no doubt know, there are folks in UP management who would just as soon see the whole program go away. In talking with several folks associated with mainline steam on the 261 trips over the weekend, we talked about the TO Posts about UP steam. Several of them said they felt it was harming the overall steam industry. Not Ed Dickens - the jury is still out on him of course - but that UP managers read these posts, and it gives the anti-steam types more ammo to torpedo the whole thing.

So while you rave on about Ed, bear in mind that it's quite possible you are hurting the program in much the same way you feel Ed is. So if it all goes away, and you will be so busy talking about how Ed killed the program, some of the fault will quite possibly lie here as well.

Steve55126 Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------

> So while you rave on about Ed, bear in mind that
> it's quite possible you are hurting the program in
> much the same way you feel Ed is. So if it all
> goes away, and you will be so busy talking about
> how Ed killed the program, some of the fault will
> quite possibly lie here as well.

You really believe we share in the blame if the UP Steam Program goes away? I mean really? Wow

That photo was taken at Rail Giants before Ed got a hold of 4014! He deserves no credit for it either way! I saw it right after they anounced the 4014 trade.

on the credit it shows 2013 as well! staged at Rail Giants! give them all the credit/criticism!

Steve55126 Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Well, if they are no longer employed, I guess it
> would be their hobby now wouldn't it?
>
> My point is that these posts are becoming
> increasingly filed with bitterness and bile and
> serve no useful purpose, as the calendar post
> proves. All this ranting and raving is childish.
> When new management takes over a company
> department, they don't keep the old people around.
> And it's okay to offer constructive criticism when
> this occurs, IMHO. But on this board it has simply
> devolved into childish rants that serve no useful
> purpose. I'm sure the former employees you speak
> of would love to see Ed go. But as you no doubt
> know, there are folks in UP management who would
> just as soon see the whole program go away. In
> talking with several folks associated with
> mainline steam on the 261 trips over the weekend,
> we talked about the TO Posts about UP steam.
> Several of them said they felt it was harming the
> overall steam industry. Not Ed Dickens - the jury
> is still out on him of course - but that UP
> managers read these posts, and it gives the
> anti-steam types more ammo to torpedo the whole
> thing.
>
> So while you rave on about Ed, bear in mind that
> it's quite possible you are hurting the program in
> much the same way you feel Ed is. So if it all
> goes away, and you will be so busy talking about
> how Ed killed the program, some of the fault will
> quite possibly lie here as well.

So, it would be better for it to continue on the current path to slow, painful, self-inflicted death than for Omaha, assuming they care about it at all, to read a little bit about what's actually happening so they can compare that to what they are being spoon fed?

Here's a news flash for you: There have ALWAYS been people within UP who want to kill the entire heritage thing. There are now. There always will be. I, for one, do not feel an overpowering need to let one incompetent individual on the bottom rung of the management help these people achieve their goal.

That photo would have never made it past Kenefick or Davidson.

And yet, when 4014 appears on the cover of the company calendar, you still find a way to criticize it. If your goal is to make sure the program keeps going and not allow it to die a slow death, I would think you would applaud the fact that a locomotive from the Heritage program is on the cover.

And that's what I'm saying. Legitimate, thoughtful criticism has its place. Criticism for criticism sake does not.