Steam & Excursion > The UP Steam Program

has been important to a lot of folks since 1961....

Lightning_Slinger Wrote:
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> has been important to a lot of folks since
> 1961....

That is very profound.

Just when you thought something was going to get stirred up.... 

If you are interested please jump over and read my post and comments.

Additionally, if you are interested, please identify yourself.

I always welcome phone calls as well - call me directly if you like.

307-214-3547, I’ve had this exact same number since 2005.

Thanks

Ed

Posted from iPhone

Ed, I've had your cell phone number for many years. My better half is sitting on the couch beside me chomping at the bit to respond. Have a nice day!

Thank you for the response and That’s nice to hear.

Ed

Posted from iPhone

Strange post but yes it has been important to everyone.  So much history, especially with 844.  Ed says he will be working on 844 soon which is hopeful.  Not sure what else there is to rebuild since it has already been stripped down and rebuilt but maybe we'll see it again soon.  I would hate for all that history to go out the window but I understand UP wanting 4014 out in front for a long time.  Why it can't be both or at least take 844 around the block once in awhile is beyond me but its not my program, it's the UP's.  I know there are heavy monetary and work hour costs associated with running a steam locomotive even for short distances. Steve Lee had mentioned they couldn't restore a big boy mostly because of limitations of where it could run and other obstacles.  I wonder if he knew all along it could be done but had the foresight to discourage it because he could see UP would be so pre occupied with a Big Boy for PR that 844 may be in Jeopardy of staying around and thus that history could be lost.  Just a thought.



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 08/25/24 04:04 by CO1309.

Just a guess..
But, if I was UP, I'd claim all related expenses of Big Boy as 'advertising expense',
and deduct ALL the costs from my annual taxable 'income'.

They DO have an existing, sizable advertising budget, a legitimate deductible expense,
as do most smart corporations.
And they have large categories of other deductible expenses.  

You pay taxes on your "profit", so most corporations admit to 'profits' 
after they've used every trick in the books to shield as much income 
from the "taxable category".  Stockholder's meetings, media advertisements,
employee income tax withholdings, etc. ( the payroll withholding cash is due every
90-days), are types of deductible expenses..... millions of dolllars.

​W.

CO1309 Wrote:

Steve Lee had
> mentioned they couldn't restore a big boy mostly
> because of limitations of where it could run and
> other obstacles.  I wonder if he knew all along
> it could be done

If you are referring to the interview in the early 1990s when he mentioned the limitations factor, keep in mind this was prior to the CNW and SP merger after which had made a very large network to run on. As far as his comment regarding being kept off a lot of bridges, I still don't understand that, especially seeing some of the wood bridges the 4014 has traveled across.
By the way, back in the early 2000s it came within days of Steve Lee and. Company going to Omaha to get 4023 and tow it back to cheyenne but at the last minute upper management decided against it and donated it for display up on the hill.

CO1309 Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
 Steve Lee had
> mentioned they couldn't restore a big boy mostly
> because of limitations of where it could run and
> other obstacles.  I wonder if he knew all along
> it could be done but had the foresight to
> discourage it because he could see UP would be so
> pre occupied with a Big Boy for PR that 844 may be
> in Jeopardy of staying around and thus that
> history could be lost.  Just a thought.

Hmmm, so he knew it couldn't be done yet somehow was worried that they would do it, and tried to discourage it? Doesn't make any sense...

And how would anyone know whether or not UP would be "preoccupied" with it at the exclusion of the others? And who says UP is even truly preoccupied with 4014? They can't let one shine for a minute or two and get back to the other? The conspiracy theorists never quit...

JG

bankshotone Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> By the way, back in the early 2000s it came within
> days of Steve Lee and. Company going to Omaha to
> get 4023 and tow it back to cheyenne but at the
> last minute upper management decided against it
> and donated it for display up on the hill.

Yup:

https://www.trainorders.com/discussion/read.php?10,3520578,3520752#3520752
https://www.trainorders.com/discussion/read.php?10,3701116

Realist could have been more sour grapes about it, but he wasn't. Instead, HotWater and Copy19 are the ones who elaborated on "what could have been."
 

rantoul Wrote:
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> remember UP employee family outings to Las Vegas?

Surprised they don't bring those back after buying into a hotel / casino to recoup a chunk of their payroll...

Mary McPherson
Dongola, IL
Diverging Clear Productions

bankshotone Wrote:

> By the way, back in the early 2000s it came within
> days of Steve Lee and. Company going to Omaha to
> get 4023 and tow it back to cheyenne but at the
> last minute upper management decided against it
> and donated it for display up on the hill.

Yes, both Steve and John Bromley were looking at this option before the 4023 was placed on the hill per management decision. Pretty sure they both would have liked to have seen the final production run of this series out on the rails with minimal mileage. It's all okay. The new guy came in to save Cheyenne and the UP flag and there's a 4-8-8-4 steamer working the system as a show pony per carrier instructions. Everyone will be happy. No Rebuttal necessary. Leave it alone, trolls...



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 08/28/24 08:49 by IC1038west.

Going back and reading through those two posts referenced about and comparing then to now are different as night and day.
There will always be something to bitch about it seems.

Redwater Wrote:
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> Ed, I've had your cell phone number for many
> years. My better half is sitting on the couch
> beside me chomping at the bit to respond. Have a
> nice day!

By all means, have her call me or send a PM if that is your preference. Great times and memories in the souvenir car!

Thank you

Ed

Posted from iPhone

bankshotone Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> CO1309 Wrote:
>
> Steve Lee had
> > mentioned they couldn't restore a big boy
> mostly
> > because of limitations of where it could run
> and
> > other obstacles.  I wonder if he knew all
> along
> > it could be done
>
> If you are referring to the interview in the early
> 1990s when he mentioned the limitations factor,
> keep in mind this was prior to the CNW and SP
> merger after which had made a very large network
> to run on...

I heard him say it at a meeting in Cheyenne, well after the early 1990s. I think it was the UP Historical Society or something like that. I certainly don't think he was trying to mislead. I think it thought it was the case, and was in error. No biggie, everyone makes mistakes.

Dear Ed,
Greetings from England!
Please see message below which I sent to the UPHS,
I was very glad to see your contact details on your post on Trainorders.com where I am a member.. Living in the UK I  am not fully up to speed on the ins and outs relating to 4014.
I have a couple of questions:
1. Do you run excursions which allow individuals to travel on the consist between destinations?
2. How can one bid for a footplate ride, the slots seem to sell out before one can bid!
May I offer my massive congratulations for everything you have achieved regarding 4014 and the UP Steam Program in general.
Susan would like to fix up something for 2025 well in advance so she can book up her time in Cheyenne next year around Big Boy's planned schedule!!
This is the email I sent to the UPHS::
I attach a photo see took as you left Cheyenne on August 28th. You were putting on quite a show!!!
"....Hello
I am a member of the UPHS and I hope you might be able to help me!

My wife,Susan, is a US citizen and a veteran [26 years in the US Air Force]. She is currently in Cheyenne and was blown away to see 4014 Big Boy depart Cheyenne on the 28th August.

She will be staying in the area at a ranch until the 15th of September.

She also was for several years the Managing Director of one of the largest preserved steam railways here in the UK. This is the West Somerset Steam Railway.
She has become very involved in the UK railway preservation scene.

I am hoping that Mr Dickens might be around during that time so they could meet up.

However to explore this possibility I would be so grateful if you can obtain/provide an email address for Mr Dickens?

Thanks so much

Charles Doble...."
Best regards, Ed,
Charles

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