Steam & Excursion > 4014 Got Out and About Today

As ToadHaul wrote below, 4014 did indeed move toward the far east end of the yard at West Colton. As 4014 moved on to the balloon track, radio chatter indicated that the crew didn't want to risk moving ahead any further and so the Big Boy was returned to its place in the yard. Thanks to a timely head's up from RSD5, I got to the Pepper Avenue overpass just in time to record part of this move.

Thanks for looking,
GK

1. 4014, pulled by 7885, is heading slowly back into the West Colton yard. I would estimate that 4014 travelled approx. 500' further to the east on the balloon track from its position shown in this pic.

2. The steam crew confers with the yard crew regarding the next move.

3. Having passed beneath Pepper Ave., 4014 and 7885 continue their reverse movement west toward the shop.



Edited 3 time(s). Last edit at 04/01/14 18:12 by TheNavigator.

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Great photos.

Martin

Agreed, well done!




LoggerHogger Wrote:
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> Great photos.
>
> Martin

Posted from Android

Al Seever
Phoenix, AZ

Nice shots. Thanks for sharing!

Ditto!

John Bush
Omaha

Very nice shots, Gary. Thanks for getting out and taking these.

~Ryan

Posted from iPhone

Makes the six axle unit towing her look small! Thanks for taking the shots!

Nice catch! To me, this move is the final thing before they start their journey, meaning all the work Ed wanted done is done and now it's just a matter of time!
~wko

I was wondering if she was having trouble in the balloon loop. Good news

Posted from iPhone

Didn't want to take it around the balloon? SISSYS!!!

Excellent photos, thank you. Good to see things progressing.

Glad to see the progress. Question, what is the curve radius of the balloon track and what is the minimum radius that 4014 can accommodate? Thank you.

Jim

Thanks for the update.
Something has been puzzling me...
Reading thru various posts about the 844 and Challenger, I get the sense that UP either doesn't have the money or the inclination to keep those two units up to snuff.
If that is indeed the case, why would they take on the financial challenge (no pun intended) of restoring a Big Boy?
Obviously, I am missing something...
What am I missing?

Chooch Wrote:
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> Glad to see the progress. Question, what is the
> curve radius of the balloon track and what is the
> minimum radius that 4014 can accommodate? Thank
> you.
>
> Jim

Regardless of what has previously been stated recently, the UP found over all the years of service of their "Big Three", more modern steam locomotives, i.e. the 800s, the 3900s, and the 4000s, that the curve negotiation capabilities of each are as follows:

1) 800 class = 14 degrees

2) 3900 class = 17 degrees

3) 4000 class = 16 degrees


Above is in FORWARD direction! In REVERSE, all three are limited to 12 degrees!

Was Ed in the central control room of the 4014 to make sure all went well, hand on the steering wheel and such. :)

MarkMeoff Wrote:
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> Didn't want to take it around the balloon?

I believe it does not need the balloon loop, only the adjacent east to north curve left from the yard over the 10 fwy.



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 04/02/14 07:01 by Spikes.

Way ta go, STEAM CREW! Keep up the good work.

dcfbalcoS1 Wrote:
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> Was Ed in the central control room of the 4014 to
> make sure all went well, hand on the steering
> wheel and such. :)


I'm sure he was since he is the quote "only steam qualified engineer on the UP". I doubt it, this was a break in or break down run to see if all the tinkering with engine the dear leader has done is going to work. Its back sitting over at its resting place as of yesterday evening.

CS

Looks like lots of hoses and such drapped all over. Are these air lines or a combination of services?

VERY NICE...!! Thanks for sharing.