Steam & Excursion > Something new with UP 4014

So apparently UP Big Boy 4014 is now equipped with Smoke Deflectors (Elephant Ears). Wondering if the upcoming small trip to Denver and back will be a test run to see if they work well. People are asking if 4014 would be renumbered to 4019, as this was the only Big Boy that had Deflectors. More than likely not. Seeing mixed reviews on this. 

Marc L

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they can be added and removed easily, gets in the way a little for the train crew, so i would wager it is just an accessory to be trotted out here and there

CR6377 Wrote:
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> So apparently UP Big Boy 4014 is now equipped with
> Smoke Deflectors (Elephant Ears). Wondering if the
> upcoming small trip to Denver and back will be a
> test run to see if they work well. People are
> asking if 4014 would be renumbered to 4019, as
> this was the only Big Boy that had Deflectors.
> More than likely not. Seeing mixed reviews on
> this. 
>
> Marc L

Proper Union Pacific terminology is "Wind Wings".

Don't care one way or the other, it's just great to see any big steam engine operated all over the country on a class one mainline these days.
I think the added deflectors are a nice change, and yes maybe Ed is testing them for functionality.
Thanks for posting the photo.

Jim Baker
Riverside, CA

Suprised it took this long to make it over to TO. It was all over my Facebook feed yesterday, multiple view angles as well. 

They actually look great on him, anyone know why they have a constant drainage next to the cab though, to me that doesn't make sense!

ProAmtrak Wrote:
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> They actually look great on him, anyone know why
> they have a constant drainage next to the cab
> though, to me that doesn't make sense!

See the recent thread entitled “Wilson "Sludge Remover" modifications in 2011 - 2016.”

Posted from iPhone

Ok thanks!

So I wonder if the low smoke high heat firing technique will be abandoned to test these.... otherwise seems counter productive unless we are just going for looks in which case they do look nice.

They'll work well at 70 mph.

Out 

callum_out Wrote:
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> They'll work well at 70 mph.
>
> Out 

Exactly!

Copied from Facebook for my friends here on TO-

Question: What is the purpose of the Elephant Ears, Wind or Smoke Wings/Lifters?

My detailed answer:

UP designed wind or smoke wings, elephant ears etc were not designed to “lift smoke” per se. The concept is quite simple, they create a visual path between the plate and the smoke box that is clear(er) as the locomotive is drifting often times with unfavorable crosswinds on the vast openess of Wyoming and Nebraska. I have experienced this numerous times over the years particularly in cooler weather while drifting downgrade when the lower exhaust pressures in a drifting condition are inadequate to carry the smoke and steam vapor upward - it therefore will continuously wrap around and downward swirling around quite effectively obscuring the view of the engine crew.

As many people have likely observed over the past several years of operating the 4014, the smoke is carried high with sufficient exhaust pressure to carry the smoke upward - another handy use for that MU’d dynamic brake as I’ve mentioned over the years, hold the train back and permit higher drifting throttle operation to give the fireman more exhaust to work with for both Elesco TP503 exhaust steam injector and on the UP 844 the wonderful Worthington SA - 5. Both of these feedwater devices utilize exhaust steam and the higher exhaust pressures result in improved operation while drifting.

As with everything that was designed and installed on the major classes of UP Steam, they were based on trial and testing, and they were there because they served an important function.

Additionally, these devices were typically applied to locomotives assigned to passenger service, while the Big Boys did pull such trains on several occasions over the years, they were simply too much power and too big (just like today, only use what we need to pull tonnage) for such service and were considered to be wasteful and therfore utilized where they could earn their keep pulling full freight tonnage.

Thanks for reading.

Ed

Posted from iPhone

callum_out Wrote:
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> They'll work well at 70 mph.
>
> Out 


I'd buy a ticket trackside anywhere to see it go by at 70.

bankshotone Wrote:
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> callum_out Wrote:
> --------------------------------------------------
> -----
> > They'll work well at 70 mph.
> >
> > Out 
>
>
> I'd buy a ticket trackside anywhere to see it go
> by at 70.

To my knowledge participation trackside is free of charge, come on out and enjoy the show, I have experience running the 4014 at 60, it handles quite well, and I prefer 45-50 - you may already know this - while in service they ran around a max speed of 55. Give me a call. Maybe we can set up a special tour somewhere along the line based on your schedule.

Best regards.

Ed.

Posted from iPhone



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 09/28/25 21:20 by EdDickens.

That is really cool that they added these, I like it!! Showing a piece of the steam history on the UPRR on Bigboy. The spirit of UP Bigboy 4019 will be there for this upcoming run. Great job Ed and crew!!

Posted from iPhone



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 09/29/25 05:52 by GNRocky.