Steam & Excursion > At This Late Date No One Would've Expected To Find One Of These!

By 1969 steam had been stricken from the rosters of all mainline railroads in the U.S.. Only a few loggers and shortlines could still be found in North America with any steam power.

Thus, imagine the surprise of the railfan that peered inside the Union Pacific shops in Cheyene, Wyoming in September 1969 to find staring back at him this steam giant!

Sure enough, there she was, an honest to goodness Big Boy still owned by UP and still in the shops where she once received servicing. UP #4005 was the last Big Boy to be held for donation. She would stay in the Cheyene shops until June 1970 when she would finally be donated to the Forney Museum in Denver, Colorado.

What a pleasant surprise to find in 1969.

Martin



Edited 3 time(s). Last edit at 03/21/18 04:53 by LoggerHogger.

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Boiler tube ladder nice. To think 40 years later and one is sitting in that shop again. Another surprise

HB90MACH Wrote:
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> Boiler tube ladder nice.

Looks more like superheater tubing.

To think 40 years
> later and one is sitting in that shop again.
> Another surprise

LoggerHogger Wrote:
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> UP #4005 was
> the last Big Boy to be held for donation. She
> would stay in the Cheyene shops until June 1970
> when she would finally be donated to the Forney
> Museum in Denver, Colorado.


I love the photo, Martin. Minor nit to pick: Wasn't the 4023 in UP's possession longer before eventual donation?

Scott Griggs
Louisville, KY

>
> I love the photo, Martin. Minor nit to pick:
> Wasn't the 4023 in UP's possession longer before
> eventual donation?
>
> Scott Griggs
> Louisville, KY


Actually #2023 was not being held for donation. UP kept her and #3985 and later put them on their own display.

Martin

Actually I think the 4023 was finally given to the people of Omaha when it was moved from the front of the shops to the first Kenefick park along Abbott Dr. I know it was held longest for maybe someday to run again with 4005 as a parts source which explains why the 4005 was held so long in Cheyenne.
Steve

LoggerHogger Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> >
> > I love the photo, Martin. Minor nit to pick:
> > Wasn't the 4023 in UP's possession longer
> before
> > eventual donation?
> >
> > Scott Griggs
> > Louisville, KY
>
>
> Actually #2023 was not being held for donation.
> UP kept her and #3985 and later put them on their
> own display.
>
> Martin

Maybe even more surprising was in 1972 when wandering through the place I found that they still had a ten wheeler
and an ancient Consolidation, neither made as much sense as still having a Northern, or two.

Out

I know the 5511 is the last example of the valve gear on it is why Steve said it was important. Mrs. Lewis wanted the 1243 restored to opperation and they had to try filling the boiler with water to get Drew to give up on the idea.
Steve

callum_out Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Maybe even more surprising was in 1972 when
> wandering through the place I found that they
> still had a ten wheeler
> and an ancient Consolidation, neither made as much
> sense as still having a Northern, or two.
>
> Out