I have always been a bit of a train buff. My dad had a HO train set on a 4x8 plywood table in the garage. We fan Fleischmann trains on it that we got when we visited relatives in Europe. We always took trains within Europe. I remember taking the TGV from Paris to Madrid (I think). My dad was thrilled to be going on the high speed TGV. I vaguely remember it.

Any way, I have always liked them and when I heard that Big Biy was coming to town, I had to go see it. Friend of mine and I went to see it on static display n Fri and today, it left town for Oklahoma. I went on line and found its route then wen on google maps to pick a place to see it go by. Turns out the spot was perfect. Had lots of shade to rest while we waited and we had a goo look down the tracks.

Big Boy is the biggest steam locomotive in the world. Only a handful were made. I believe 25 were made in the early 40's, 8 remain and 4014 is the only remaining one in operation. She is a 4x8x8x4, weighs in at 1.2m lbs. Carries 6,500 gallons of #5 fuel and 25,000 gallons of H2O. 132' long and about 17' tall. Torque, about avg for a oil burned.....135,000 lbf.

I was about 30 ft from the track and I could feel the earth move as she passed. Absolutely incredible.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BJL6MekCcuQ

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Sent from an agnostic abacus

2014 C250 21,XXX my new DD ** 2013 GLK 350 18,000 Wife's new DD**

- With out god, life is everything.
- God is an ever receding pocket of scientific ignorance that's getting smaller and smaller as time moves on..." Neil DeGrasse Tyson
- You can pray for me, I'll think for you.
- When you understand why you dismiss all the other possible gods, you will understand why I dismiss yours.

Cool-I'm jealous. My office at work years ago was on a long, sweeping bend on the UP line coming out of the Sierra's. I was able to see the 4-6-6-4 Challenger also as well as 844.

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Tony H
W111 280SE 3.5 Coupe
Manual transmission

Past cars:
Porsche 914 2.0
'64 Jaguar XKE Roadster
'57 Oval Window VW
'71 Toyota Hilux Pickup Truck-Dad bought new
'73 Toyota Celica GT

Cool. I'm sure that was a site to behold.

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Jim

Jealous! I could not make the time to catch it.

For train buffs, if you are ever in the Detroit area, the Henry Ford museum has a similar engine in static display, IIRC it’s a 4-6-6-4 that pulled coal train out of the Allegheny mountains. Link: https://www.thehenryford.org/visit/henry-ford-museum/exhibits/railroads/ They have cars too….

I dont know...once you have see Big Boy in action....what else is there.

__________________
Sent from an agnostic abacus

2014 C250 21,XXX my new DD ** 2013 GLK 350 18,000 Wife's new DD**

- With out god, life is everything.
- God is an ever receding pocket of scientific ignorance that's getting smaller and smaller as time moves on..." Neil DeGrasse Tyson
- You can pray for me, I'll think for you.
- When you understand why you dismiss all the other possible gods, you will understand why I dismiss yours.

Yeah, I suppose you’re pretty much ruined for life now…

There is a transportation museum in Denver that has one you can walk around in the cab.

These things ate so much coal no human could keep up with feeding it. So there is a screw type feeder that runs from the coal car, under the cab, and stright into the firebox.

There is also a great video on this with Jay Leno driving this when it passed through Council Bluffs, Iowa.

When the Sacramento Train Museum opened both the Challenger and 844 were there.

__________________
Tony H
W111 280SE 3.5 Coupe
Manual transmission

Past cars:
Porsche 914 2.0
'64 Jaguar XKE Roadster
'57 Oval Window VW
'71 Toyota Hilux Pickup Truck-Dad bought new
'73 Toyota Celica GT

I went to the Ford museum when about 10 or 11, they had an engine there about the same size but a bit smaller. I loved it and crawled into it when nobody was looking.

Cool! It was called the Allegheny I believe.

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[SIGPIC] Diesel loving autocrossing grandpa Architect. 08 Dodge 3/4 ton with Cummins & six speed; I have had about 35 benzes. I have a 39 Studebaker Coupe Express pickup in which I have had installed a 617 turbo and a five speed manual.[SIGPIC]

..I also have a 427 Cobra replica with an aluminum chassis.

I suggest anyone that loves cars should go spend a couple days at The Henry Ford Museum.

If you google Union Pacific Steam schedule you can see where Big Boy will be traveling around at.

We recently rode out to Grand Teton, Yellowstone (Sunspot?) and Glacier Nat'l Park. On way and per Idle recommendation we stopped at the Golden Spike Tower in North Platte. Unfortunately it was before they opened for the day. The place is still a site to behold.

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Jim

I went to the HFM when I was like 5 years old and remember it being something.
Spent 2 weeks between Jackson Hole area, Grand Tetons, Cody and Yellowstone a while back. We went early Sept and the crowds were gone but some park services were closed-like gas stations. We drove farther than I had ever gone with the gas empty icon lit through very desolate and remote areas. It even snowed on us. I thought they would find us in spring.

__________________
Tony H
W111 280SE 3.5 Coupe
Manual transmission

Past cars:
Porsche 914 2.0
'64 Jaguar XKE Roadster
'57 Oval Window VW
'71 Toyota Hilux Pickup Truck-Dad bought new
'73 Toyota Celica GT

Cool!

See any bears?

that place where they drove the gold spike was very interesting. I drove around and explored the abandoned rail right of ways.

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[SIGPIC] Diesel loving autocrossing grandpa Architect. 08 Dodge 3/4 ton with Cummins & six speed; I have had about 35 benzes. I have a 39 Studebaker Coupe Express pickup in which I have had installed a 617 turbo and a five speed manual.[SIGPIC]

..I also have a 427 Cobra replica with an aluminum chassis.

We saw bears, wolves and eagle at the bear and wolf resource center in W Yellowstone.

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Jim

There is live video streamed from the yard. But it cannot capture the scale of a rail yard seven miles long. And the cameras are fixed so you can't follow any acton.

Still, it's interesting to look at. There is also a live feed from the fifth street crossing in Kearney, NE if you want to see a train passing rather close to you.