Steam & Excursion > Info on UP Big Boy 4000

I'm trying to get some info on the original Big Boy such as what year it was retired and what year and where it was scrapped. If anyone has any other info on it or any pics of it after it was retired feel free to include that to.    

                                                                        A big thank you to everyone that responds

According to the book "Big Boy Portraits', by John E. Bush and James L. Ehernberger:

 #4000 vacated at Cheyenne and "official" scrap date of November 17, 1961.

 

> I'm trying to get some info on the original Big
> Boy such as what year it was retired and what year
> and where it was scrapped. 

It pulled its last revenue train during the fall rush of '57, so it probably ran its last miles around Nov of that year.

Take care,

Mark

lots of up enhine were melted down at Geniva.

Has the original number plate (UP shield) or builders plates for the 4000 ever turned up?

sgriggs Wrote:
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> Has the original number plate (UP shield) or
> builders plates for the 4000 ever turned up?

That's the same thing I've wondered for awhile. I feel like someone could've not only removed them but kept them. On the flip side of that, it seems like they woul'dve turned up somewhere in the 50+ years since it's scrapping.  

apollo17 Wrote:
> That's the same thing I've wondered for awhile. I
> feel like someone could've not only removed them
> but kept them. On the flip side of that, it seems
> like they woul'dve turned up somewhere in the 50+
> years since it's scrapping.  

They're in a box next to the artwork stolen from the Gardner museum in Boston Mass in 1980. :-)

Next Q: drawings for the number plates have been published over the years ... how would one determine an original vs. reproduced item that was weathered, etc?

prr4828 Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> apollo17 Wrote:
> > That's the same thing I've wondered for awhile.
> I
> > feel like someone could've not only removed
> them
> > but kept them. On the flip side of that, it
> seems
> > like they woul'dve turned up somewhere in the
> 50+
> > years since it's scrapping.  
>
> They're in a box next to the artwork stolen from
> the Gardner museum in Boston Mass in 1980. :-)
>
> Next Q: drawings for the number plates have been
> published over the years ... how would one
> determine an original vs. reproduced item that was
> weathered, etc?


The number plate drawing is in the scanned Big Boy drawing CD available through the UP Historical Society.  A comparison of a physical plate with the drawing would be a good way to do it.