2slim, they were going to call the 4-8-8-4 the Wasatach after the Mountains they would be climbing up over, but the news papers got hold of a photo of the chalked Big Boy and the nick name stuck. The Challengers worked so well, the 4-8-8-4 was specifically designed to work with Challengers where ever needed. Only the 4-8-8-4 had that haunting ghostly moan sounding whistle that just ran shivers down your spine! I somehow could be heard almost as far away as the mountain wildcat whistles that shreeked and echoed off the canyon walls over a mile away. Soe people said you hear one up to three miles under the right conditions!
<BLOCKQUOTE>quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by Will Clark: Very nice pics guys, John, you'r 100% correct on the name of the Big Boy, but actually when they were building the Big Boy a worker working on one decided to chalk up the name "Big Boy" on the boiler (almost like you said). Since then the name has stuck with the Big Boys', all 25 of em were running until diesel came & that was the end of the steam era for these giants.<HR></BLOCKQUOTE> I never saw a Big Boy in steam but I have had the privilege of seeing the video "Last of the Giants". It's got some great shots of these beasts in action. My buddy in Texas, who owned the video, told me if they were first built in the South, they would have been called Big Ol' Boys I envy those of you who actually saw them run- may you keep sharing those memories...
It was an un-nerving sight to see one of the articulateds coming straight at you then see the front engine swing to one side going through a switch, yet that huge boiler is still coming right out over your head! I really doesn't, but that is what it looks and feels like while the ground is shaking and all the steam billowing out the pet cocks, and the noise, and I'll guarantee you in that position, if he blows that whistle, you will pee your pants the first time!
Watash, I'd be like "GIMME MORE"!!!!! Oh yeah..... If it breathes fire and exhales smoke and shakes the ground you know its alive and well "Live on the fire breathing DRAGONS" [ 28 April 2001: Message edited by: 7600EM_1 ]
My SLR is on the fritz but here are some shots I grabbed with a point and shoot while running SOO 6613 in Melbourne. Pulling a real short IM train (two wells and two 89' flats) And resting at the roundhouse
Of all the engines I have built over the years this is my favorite. It is a Santa Fe SD90MAC (yes it is a hypothetical piece) and I have won numerous awards with it. Shell is Railpower, motor/trucks are Athearn and a slew of details from various sources. If the image doesn't pull up just cut and paste the URL to access it directly. http://www.geocities.com/trainart/el15.jpg [ 24 May 2001: Message edited by: Trainart ] [ 24 May 2001: Message edited by: Trainart ] [ 24 May 2001: Message edited by: Trainart ] [ 24 May 2001: Message edited by: Trainart ] [ 24 May 2001: Message edited by: Trainart ]
Great work, the SD 90 and the GE unit both look great. Is the GE unit a Dash 9? It certainly looks wonderful. My father did a similiar project in UP with a Dash 8. The SD90 looks very good, if only I would also love to see a BN version done in the traditionn cascade green and black. Welcome to trainboard.
Thank you! Glad to be here! The GE is a Dash9, I have nicknamed it the "Mako". It was a fun conversion to do. Kind of tough but the end result was worth it. The Santa Fe SD90BAC is a much easier conversion.
Courtesy of some borrowed Bandwidth here are my completed shots of my U23B in Family Lines colors. Let me know what you think? Have a good one, Justin May [ 15 June 2001: Message edited by: Justin May ]
Nice work Justin!!!! Keep up the great work! If you are into the Family Lines (Seaboard System) and such I have some decals you may be interested in that I used one set of the decals and have the rest untouched. If you need some let me know, at my e-mail address at: yellowstone10@hotmail.com At the moment i'm in need of some blue stripes for a CSX SD-45 i'm painting, I would gladly trade all the Family Lines (Seaboard System) decals for the stripes I need if anyones interested...
Baltimore And Ohio, EM-1 Yellowstone #7600 And this is the B&O, EM-1 #7600, that I customized before I learned that the proto-type that I wanted had graphite on the smoke box front and on ther boiler front. So this is a picture before I redo the boiler front I will post an after picture once I redo it to what I wanted to make it before hand.... [ 16 June 2001: Message edited by: 7600EM_1 ]
