Steam & Excursion > Big Boy Cab Rides

In case you missed it the UP auctioned off 4 Big Boy 90 minute cab rides. The first two are being done today on the way into Omaha and the second two on Wed. on the way into Boone Iowa.  The 4 rides attracted winning bids of :

    $ 6,000.00, $ 6,100.00, $ 7,600.00 and $ 10,100.00

    The 10.1 K winner said he was prepared to go to $ 20K if needed.  Therefore $ 29,800.00 was raised for good causes. 

     Certainly a testimony to steams enduring value with the public. Just think what this could fetch if offered out of a major population center such as Alexandria, Va. Hoboken NJ etc.

     Onward and upward. Ross Rowland 

What's next, Big Boy throttle time?    $50,000, $75,000, $100k?

Tominde Wrote:
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> What's next, Big Boy throttle time?    $50,000,
> $75,000, $100k?

Somehow, I don't think either UP nor the FRA, would allow THAT.

HotWater Wrote:
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> Tominde Wrote:
> --------------------------------------------------
> -----
> > What's next, Big Boy throttle time?   
> $50,000,
> > $75,000, $100k?
>
> Somehow, I don't think either UP nor the FRA,
> would allow THAT.

Didn't they do a "guest engineer" a while back? I know it's not the same as throttle time, just a special name for a guest I would imagine. I dont remember what the details were, assuming I'm remembering the right railroad.

HotWater Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Tominde Wrote:
> --------------------------------------------------
> -----
> > What's next, Big Boy throttle time?   
> $50,000,
> > $75,000, $100k?
>
> Somehow, I don't think either UP nor the FRA,
> would allow THAT.

Agree UP may not permit it, but FRA has no problem if properly done.  611, 765 and a host of others do it.   

Tominde Wrote:
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> HotWater Wrote:
> --------------------------------------------------
> -----
> > Tominde Wrote:
> >
> --------------------------------------------------
>
> > -----
> > > What's next, Big Boy throttle time?   
> > $50,000,
> > > $75,000, $100k?
> >
> > Somehow, I don't think either UP nor the FRA,
> > would allow THAT.
>
> Agree UP may not permit it, but FRA has no problem
> if properly done.  611, 765 and a host of others
> do it.   

They may "do it" on short line railroads but certainly NOT on a class 1 with PTC. Having "throttle time" on the Strasburg Rail Road is one thing, but not on a class 1 main line.



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 09/03/24 07:40 by HotWater.

HotWater Wrote:
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> Tominde Wrote:
> --------------------------------------------------
> -----
> > HotWater Wrote:
> >
> --------------------------------------------------
>
> > -----
> > > Tominde Wrote:
> > >
> >
> --------------------------------------------------
>
> >
> > > -----
> > > > What's next, Big Boy throttle time?   
> > > $50,000,
> > > > $75,000, $100k?
> > >
> > > Somehow, I don't think either UP nor the FRA,
> > > would allow THAT.
> >
> > Agree UP may not permit it, but FRA has no
> problem
> > if properly done.  611, 765 and a host of
> others
> > do it.   
>
> May they "do it" on short line railroads but
> certainly NOT on a class 1 with PTC. Having
> "throttle time" on the Strasburg Rail Road is one
> thing, but not on a class 1 main line.

Seems some one is always has to cry about how much someone paid for that opportunity get over it grow up.  Like I have said before am not rich but when I wanted a few war bird rides scraped it up and had a once in a lifetime never forget ones.

BAB Wrote:
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> Seems some one is always has to cry about how much
> someone paid for that opportunity get over it grow
> up.  Like I have said before am not rich but when
> I wanted a few war bird rides scraped it up and
> had a once in a lifetime never forget ones.

Just curious what the warbird rides cost? 

Personally, I wouldn't pay that much for a couple-hour-long cabride but to each their own.

Jesse6669 Wrote:
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> Just curious what the warbird rides cost? 

Our local B-29 "Doc" is anywhere from $600-$1500 for a 30 minute flight depending on which seat you want on the aircraft

Fifi's last trip in here was $1500 for a 45 minute ride B25 was in the 600-900 range but a B29 ride
is a pretty rare opportunityy.

Out 

I paid $350 for a roam-around seat in the B-17 "909" twenty plus years ago, 350 bucks I really didn't have at the time but you know what? It was an hour I'll never forget, and as it turned out, the Pilot was a 37 mission ET B-17 Veteran who had just been multi-engine recertified so he could pilot the plane when it came thru town. Buy the ticket, take the ride...

Cheers, Dave

Jay Leno was one of the winners for the cab ride.

Yep.

Regards

Posted from iPhone

yay for J

at least this steam engine did not burn him

it will be featured on jay leno's garage



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 09/04/24 20:24 by dan.

I am working with the Museum of the American Railroad in Frisco to host a similar event - we are moving our Big Boy and plan to auction on a few rides if anyone is interested. 

BAB Wrote:
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> HotWater Wrote:
> --------------------------------------------------
> -----
> > Tominde Wrote:
> >
> --------------------------------------------------
>
> > -----
> > > HotWater Wrote:
> > >
> >
> --------------------------------------------------
>
> >
> > > -----
> > > > Tominde Wrote:
> > > >
> > >
> >
> --------------------------------------------------
>
> >
> > >
> > > > -----
> > > > > What's next, Big Boy throttle time?   
> > > > $50,000,
> > > > > $75,000, $100k?
> > > >
> > > > Somehow, I don't think either UP nor the
> FRA,
> > > > would allow THAT.
> > >
> > > Agree UP may not permit it, but FRA has no
> > problem
> > > if properly done.  611, 765 and a host of
> > others
> > > do it.   
> >
> > May they "do it" on short line railroads but
> > certainly NOT on a class 1 with PTC. Having
> > "throttle time" on the Strasburg Rail Road is
> one
> > thing, but not on a class 1 main line.
>
> Seems some one is always has to cry about how much
> someone paid for that opportunity get over it grow
> up.  Like I have said before am not rich but when
> I wanted a few war bird rides scraped it up and
> had a once in a lifetime never forget ones.

I agree when it comes to cab rides.  But then there's riding around Indy in a 2-seat Indycar with a pro at the wheel.  $650 for a couple of laps is well worth it,  at least to the three of us.  That first 200mph left turn is something to experience.  And our son got to ride with Sarah Fisher.

Prices have gone up for FiFi B-29 Superfortress as of August 2024.  Top seat price was $1995-!  Lowest seat price was $750 if I recall correctly.

Photo - FiFi taxied at Rocky Mountain Metro Airport, Broomfield, Colorado, August 25, 2024.


Milw_E70 Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Jesse6669 Wrote:
> --------------------------------------------------
> -----
> > Just curious what the warbird rides cost? 
>
> Our local B-29 "Doc" is anywhere from $600-$1500
> for a 30 minute flight depending on which seat you
> want on the aircraft

---

One expense historic locos don't face is having to buy all new
tires, after a few landings.

That must be really costly, to keep FiFi in new tires & 
I guess they're buying aviation gasoline at the going price,
too. Isn't there also, mandatory engine tear-down and rebuild,
after a certain number of hours?

I like B-29s, maybe someday  FiFI will visit us at  near-by ,
Dover, AFB.   Which, by the way, has a marvelous museum 
and large collection of former transports and large 'planes...
accessible by public access, off commercial highways.
Definitely a must-see, if you're close to tiny Delaware.

I was in USAF 1960-64, at Malmstrom AFB, Great Falls,
MT.  At that time, it was as home to old Boeing KC-97s,
4 prop-engine, mid-air refueling planes.... later replaced.
by KC 135s, jet powered refueling air planes....

Both are represented at the Museum's collection.

​W.
 



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 09/05/24 15:38 by wcamp1472.

Some of my most favorite things in my large collection of weird stuff cost me quite a bit. But, over the years, I can only remember the cost of a few of those things. I happpen to think some of those things are better than money, and I enjoy them every day. I have an old KeenKutter hardware sign on the wall, and around their logo it says "The Recollection of Quality Remains, Long after the Cost is Forgotten". I think that is so true in so many ways.

wcamp1472 Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> One expense historic locos don't face is having to
> buy all new
> tires, after a few landings.
>
> That must be really costly, to keep FiFi in new
> tires & 
> I guess they're buying aviation gasoline at the
> going price,
> too. Isn't there also, mandatory engine tear-down
> and rebuild,
> after a certain number of hours?
>
> I like B-29s, maybe someday  FiFI will visit us
> at  near-by ,
> Dover, AFB.   Which, by the way, has a marvelous
> museum 
> and large collection of former transports and
> large 'planes...
> accessible by public access, off commercial
> highways.
> Definitely a must-see, if you're close to tiny
> Delaware.
>
> I was in USAF 1960-64, at Malmstrom AFB, Great
> Falls,
> MT.  At that time, it was as home to old Boeing
> KC-97s,
> 4 prop-engine, mid-air refueling planes.... later
> replaced.
> by KC 135s, jet powered refueling air planes....
>
> Both are represented at the Museum's collection.
>
> ​W.
>  

There is a recommended time for Major Overhaul....lots of planes exceed it by some amount...but that said....