Is Big Boy 4014 still running?
Is Big Boy 4014 still running? Twenty-five Big Boy locomotives were built for Union Pacific to haul freight over the steep grade of the Wasatch Mountain Range in Utah during World War II. Eight were preserved after the locomotive was retired six decades ago, but only Big Boy No. 4014 is still in operation.
What is the largest steam locomotive still operating?
Big Boy No. After a multi-year restoration effort, Union Pacific No. 4014 is the world's largest operating steam locomotive.
Why the Big Boy 4014 is such a badass train?
Its girth requires a 4-8-8-4 wheel configuration to keep it rock-steady on the rails. With a puny 7,000 horsepower, Big Boys had a maximum tractive power of 135,375 pounds, all to pull huge loads of freight across steep grades in Utah's Wasatch Mountains and the Rockies.
How many cars could a Big Boy pull?
The Big Boys were built for power. They did the work of three smaller engines, pulling 120-car, 3800 ton freight trains at forty miles per hour in the mountains of Utah and Wyoming. With power, though, comes weight - larger cylinders, pistons, drive rods, boiler and firebox.
What is the biggest locomotive in the world?
Big Boy No. 4014 is the world's largest operating steam locomotive.
How much did it cost to restore 4014?
4014 restoration cost, but Wrinn estimated at least $4 million based on similar restorations.
Will Big Boy run in 2023?
2023 Schedule In 2023, Big Boy No. 4014 visited Omaha on the Home Run Express during June. To be notified of future steam schedule updates, join the Official Union Pacific Steam Club at http://up.com/SteamClub !
How much does a Big Boy locomotive cost?
Each one cost approximately $265,000 to build, or about $4.4 million in today's money. In the railroad world, the Big Boys were known as 4-8-8-4 articulated type locomotives.
Will up 3985 ever run again?
A group of Union Pacific employees volunteered their services to restore the locomotive to running condition in 1981. In 2022, Union Pacific donated Challenger No. 3985 to the non-profit Railroading Heritage of Midwest America (RRHMA) who plans to restore it back to operating condition.
How long did it take to restore Big Boy 4014?
The Big Boy No. 4014 steam locomotive rolled out of a Union Pacific restoration shop in Cheyenne for a big debut after five years of restoration. It then headed toward Utah as part of a yearlong tour to commemorate the Transcontinental Railroad's 150th anniversary.
How many Big Boy locomotives are left?
Of the eight remaining Big Boys in existence, No. 4014 is the only one operating today. The Big Boys were about 133 feet long and weigh 1.2 million pounds. Because of their great length, the frames of the Big Boys are “hinged,” or articulated, to allow them to negotiate curves.