Steam & Excursion > UP 4014 Montpelier to Rock Springs

My last day chasing the eastbound Big Boy tour in the west was July 23 from Montpelier Idaho to almost Rock Springs Wyoming. Once again there were many great photo opportunities. A big thank you to Union Pacific for allowing the Big Boy to run on the mainline. It was a thrill for the thousands that came out to see it all along the route.

If you haven’t already, you might want to see my previous postings showing three days in Nevada from Fallon to Lucin July 16-17-19:
https://www.trainorders.com/discussion/read.php?10,5899236
 
And from Ogden to Montpelier July 22:
https://www.trainorders.com/discussion/read.php?10,5906686
 
Attached here are my best of July 23 from Montpelier to Rock Springs.

1. Departing from the yard in Montpelier

2. Four and a half miles east of Montpelier at mile 110.75 there is a slight curve in the track. This may be my favorite picture from the whole five days of chasing.

3. Just east of Pegram about mile 97.4


cp1400

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4. There is a 10 mile stretch along Twin Creek where the railway and highway twist and turn through a little canyon. I liked this s-curve at mile 57.3

5. At Fossil the track climbs up along the hill below Fossil Butte.

6. After a service stop in Kemmerer the tracks follow Meadow Creek through a series of s-curves east of town.

cp1400

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7. Having completed the trip over the Granger cutoff the Big Boy is now on the Overland route just east of Granger and crossing a filled in Hwy 30 underpass. The train stopped just under the newer Hwy 30 overpass that I was standing on and waited for three eastbound trains to pass before heading to Peru Hill and Green River.

8. Steaming up near the top of Peru Hill.

9. A wider view of 4014 climbing Peru Hill.

cp1400

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10. With congestion ahead, the train stopped at Peru allowing me to get in position as they slowly started downhill to Green River.

11. A view of Ed Dickens and crew in the cab leaving Peru.

12. A Big Boy in home territory arriving at Green River under the watchful eye of Castle Rock.
Edit: Thanks to member "moose" for the correction. I had incorretly called it Pilot Butte.

cp1400



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 09/01/24 13:24 by cp1400.

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13. Stopped in front of the Green River depot. I wonder how many times in history 4014 has passed this iconic station.

14. East of Green River at mile 810 near station name Kanda.

15. My farewell shot of 4014 going away at Kanda.

For me it was an epic and intense five days of chasing the largest steam engine in the world across the wild west of Nevada, Utah, Idaho and Wyoming. It was hot and dusty every day between 96 and 102 degrees but it was well worth it. I hope everyone enjoys my favorite pictures posted from this trip.


cp1400
 

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Your UP 4014 images rate four stars !  Thank you for your efforts and for sharing them. 

Best work on TO!  Thanks  for sharing.

You've got a lot of nice ones.  Thanks for the post.

Excellent series!!

Larry

Excellent choice of locations to pursue the 4014. Great results.

Beautiful shots, your efforts really paid off!

Excellent series, #2 is my favorite. Thanks for sharing with us.

Tom

Exellent, I like em all!
I'm Kinda partial to #2 and then #5 the far away with the ranch houses too, in that one I can hear the whistle in the distance.

Jim Baker
Riverside, CA



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 08/25/24 13:56 by RailRat.

Fine group of images from a productive trip! Nice western scenery, too. #2 and #14 are my faves.
GK

Agreed, beautiful images!
SR2

Nice work, and thank you for sharing.

As I zoom in on the cab detail, you can see the MU controller in dynamic braking.

Ed

Posted from iPhone

Really nice photos! Well done.

Number 14 is my favorite.  Thanks for sharing these with us.  Dan Tracy

Great pics!!

Hope they get rid of the WP engine before it gets to me. upkpfan