Steam & Excursion > 4014 train has diesel leaving east from North Platte

4-8-8-4 4014's train again has a diesel in the cosist, in this case UP 4015.



Edited 2 time(s). Last edit at 09/01/24 10:31 by LTCerny.

the  4015

It will always have at least one diesel, and, probably two.  They are there for the dynamic brakes, since the shoes for the Big Boy 4014 are custom made, at a cost of $5,000.00 for each.  So, a set, of two per wheel, and with 16 wheels, is very expensive.  So, they use the brakes of the Big Boy, as little as possible.   Ther diesel will have it's dynamic brakes on at all times, but, if the train is going down a grade, it will be increased. Even on a climb, they will be on.  I can speak from expereice, since I was ridilng behlind him, from Barstow to W. Colton, and had my radio to listen to Ed, and the rest of the crew, and heard him tell the two diesel engineers, to what leve he wanted, when they left the station, and, after stopping at Summit, fo routine maintance, that he wanted in increased, on the down hill side of Cajon  Pass.  Once we were back on the more level ground, he had them reduce the amount of dynimc braking that he wanted.  David

jdavida10 Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> It will always have at least one diesel, and,
> probably two.  They are there for the dynamic
> brakes, since the shoes for the Big Boy 4014 are
> custom made, at a cost of $5,000.00 for each. 
> So, a set, of two per wheel, and with 16 wheels,
> is very expensive.  So, they use the brakes of
> the Big Boy, as little as possible.   Ther
> diesel will have it's dynamic brakes on at all
> times, but, if the train is going down a grade, it
> will be increased. Even on a climb, they will be
> on.  I can speak from expereice, since I was
> ridilng behlind him, from Barstow to W. Colton,
> and had my radio to listen to Ed, and the rest of
> the crew, and heard him tell the two diesel
> engineers, to what leve he wanted, when they left
> the station, and, after stopping at Summit, fo
> routine maintance, that he wanted in increased, on
> the down hill side of Cajon  Pass.  Once we were
> back on the more level ground, he had them reduce
> the amount of dynimc braking that he wanted. 
> David

Well, the "grades" east of the Missouri and Mississippi rivers would NOT require any dynamic brake assist. Also, the brake shoes on the locomotive, ANY locomotive, are not used unless the locomotive is moving without cars, i.e. light.