1. SleeperN06

    SleeperN06 TrainBoard Member

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    Is there an exact date for its departure from Colton? I want to take a trip to see it going over the Cajon Pass or maybe in Barstow.
     
  2. r_i_straw

    r_i_straw Mostly N Scale Staff Member

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    Perhaps if you keep checking this schedule page, UP will eventually updated it farther out than February 9th.

    http://www.up.com/aboutup/special_trains/steam/details.shtml


    On another page they say,
     
  3. wm-webb

    wm-webb TrainBoard Member

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    A little off topic, but watching the video, the camera panned with the engine going by. Did I see daylight through the driver axles? Are the axles hollow?

    [video=youtube;zf7aZKkg-dU]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zf7aZKkg-dU[/video]
     
  4. BoxcabE50

    BoxcabE50 HOn30 & N Scales Staff Member TrainBoard Supporter

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    Wow. Very, very cool. Love hearing that steamboat deep throated hooter whistle!
     
  5. r_i_straw

    r_i_straw Mostly N Scale Staff Member

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    It sure does appear that the axles are hollow. Saw where you could look through the hub in a few places.
     
  6. r_i_straw

    r_i_straw Mostly N Scale Staff Member

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  7. SleeperN06

    SleeperN06 TrainBoard Member

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    Wow I didn’t know that about the chalk. That's pretty cool, thanks for the info.

    I’m a little disappointed that the few times I actually went to the Pomona Fairgrounds, I didn’t even know the Big Boy was there in all this time and now it’s gone.
     
  8. SleeperN06

    SleeperN06 TrainBoard Member

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    Here is another video showing the chalk
    [video=youtube;Zlly9EY-4wk]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Zlly9EY-4wk[/video]
     
  9. PaulBeinert

    PaulBeinert TrainBoard Supporter

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    Thanks for posting that video Johnny, I got chills watching!
     
  10. AlJo

    AlJo TrainBoard Member

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    I'm not sure either should I take it as a insult or not after seeing Southern Pacific Heritage (#1996) pulling one of the Union Pacific treasured Big Boy. Base on the history between Southern Pacific (Central Pacific) vs Union Pacific... shouldn't it be other locomotive instead? What about the #4014 diesel in UP roster to be the one that either lead or pull out Big Boy? I'm not sure where or why not using #4014 diesel locomotive. Somewhere on UP website, they said/promise to use #4014... instead it was Southern Pacific representative heritage locomotive to pull out Big Boy.

    This is just speaking from raw SP fan. I know in the end if SP wasn't merged into UP, they wouldn't want to help out UP pulling out big boy for em. Unless both side end up in equal agreement term. Again, this is part of the unforeseeable future aspect which become reality.

    Is there any other raw SP fan which share same sentimental feeling or are we all grandy dandy with UP after all?

    By the way, don't get me wrong, I LOVE Big Boy, and I am proud to be born in CA to give away #4014 (steam) away for a restoration. Knowing that it was chosen here in CA because of many great reasons, is good enough for me to be proud to be part of it. I am extremely happy to know that UP is taking up the challenge to restore one of the biggest steam engine. After seeing this huge wonderful steam engine in person, I cannot wait to see it under its own steam anytime soon. Big Boys, Challengers, Turbine engines, and many other unique engines is what I love about UP. But that's it. Southern Pacific has their own fair of unique engines as well (Cab Forwards, Tunnel Motors, GS4s, and many others). The only catch is... Southern Pacific was a proud railroad company of their own. To see their heritage unit pulling UP prized treasure is a insult... or so I think/believe.

    Here's another thing part of Southern Pacific support from me... Ive heard rumors of biggest excitement about restoring... A sole CAB FORWARD that is resting in Sacramento museum!! I would LOVE, like absolutely LOVE to see the sole survivor Cab Forward #4294 being restored. Base on Wikipedia information, it is estimated to be between 1 million - 1.5 million dollar worth of restoration and a negotiation/policies between UP and BNSF for its operation. If UP is willing to respect SP railroad and restore Cab Forward after Big Boy project... I think I will be able to rest at peace. Then again, we are talking about UP vs SP... I don't know if I really trust UP for handling SP situations or unique projects. After all, its not like of SP to preserve many of their unique locomotives... beside the famous #4449 which was independently helped by Doyle McCormack. Doyle is a retired UP engineer and a collector. I've not ever heard anything from UP side about restoring anything related to SP, though beside Doyle. This is also lead up to reason why I felt insulted seeing #1996 pulling out Big Boy. Maybe that is UP way of saying 'Hey, we are willing to show you that SP inside of us are willing to keep going forward'? If that's the case, would Cab Forward be next project? Or will Doyle pick it up, although at the slimiest chance?

    What does other think or believe? I think I bleed a little too hard for a Southern Pacific fan... but I dunno. I don't really want to spark a argument nor to trash UP's name in any ways. I just want/wish to respect Southern Pacific's name more than UP (after all, UP is the only railroad that is still going strong).
     
    Last edited by a moderator: Feb 3, 2014
  11. Metro Red Line

    Metro Red Line TrainBoard Member

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    Fellow native Californian and SP fan here. I used to REALLY REALLY hate the UP right after the '96 merger. I model modern era, and was horrified at the prospect of having to model UP...

    ...but I got over it :)

    I think UP 1996 was chosen only because it's the only Heritage Fleet loco at West Colton, and since UP keeps the heritage locos looking nice and clean all the time, it's probably the most presentable (especially with all the media, rail buffs and amateurs taking video and photos). They obviously wouldn't want a dirty GEVO or ACE with a faded flag or some graffiti on it to help escort the biggest steam locomotive in the world.
     
  12. GP30

    GP30 TrainBoard Member

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    Insulted at what is pulling 4014? Who cares! At least folks out on the west coast have a major Class I carrier who is interested in funding such projects. CSX will never take the effort or $$$ to get any steam up and running again and as for NS.... we all know where N&W 1218 is setting.
     
  13. LegomanBill

    LegomanBill TrainBoard Member

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    Wow! I am simply stunned.
     
  14. r_i_straw

    r_i_straw Mostly N Scale Staff Member

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    I don't feel at all slighted by any of it. I was very upset with UP back when the whole fiasco about trademark licensing concerning model railroad manufacturing went down. However, when they finally got their priorities straight and backed off on that, I forgave them. They are still the only class one railroad with an active steam roster. Yeah, NS is giving support for the 611 restoration but it is not their show. BNSF borrows steam every now and then but it is not the same. The UP had the foresight to keep the 844 active and never got rid of it. Adding the 3985 and now the 4014 back to the roster is just awesome. As far as the UP heritage locomotives, they did not have to do that at all but chose to paint them in honor of the major fallen flags they absorbed and the people who used to work for them. There are still a few them now working for UP. I prefer the approach NS did in that area but I still respect the UP for doing what they did. The 1996 is still a UP locomotive that just happens to wear a "modern" interpretation of the classic Daylight paint scheme. That they chose it was kind of classy I though. After all it was a whole lot more appropriate than the C&NW, MoP, Katy, WP, D&RG or 4141 would have been. SP has a big association with LA where the others do not.
     
  15. WPZephyrFan

    WPZephyrFan TrainBoard Member

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    Russell, I totally agree! I was angry about the trademark thing, too. But then, I saw what the UP is doing with steam and it's Heritage Program, I changed my tune. I like the fact that UP is honoring it's past!
     
  16. BoxcabE50

    BoxcabE50 HOn30 & N Scales Staff Member TrainBoard Supporter

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    I've said it before, and will yet again. Union Pacific understands what the word public truly represents, when speaking of "public relations." A task in which most railroads fall at least far short, if not completely, miserably failing. And then they wonder of public resenting their trains which roar through towns, never stopping today, no person at hand as a face for the railroad, (no agency), nobody within miles who even works for the company....
     
  17. AlJo

    AlJo TrainBoard Member

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    After hearing all of you guys thoughts, I have concluded that Union Pacific is a fair railroad after all. It is true that they honored both fallen flags AND locomotives. I would've accepted the fact that 1996 was the only nearby heritage locomotive as a sole reason (beside being a clean locomotive).

    But yes, I really think that Union Pacific has a strong public relationship than others. I mean, how much more personal can you get with Big Boy than any other steam engine out there? Beside private company. After all, I do feel much more appreciated with Union Pacific. Thank you, folks, for sharing thoughts with me.
     
  18. r_i_straw

    r_i_straw Mostly N Scale Staff Member

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    The latest plan.
    http://www.up.com/aboutup/special_trains/steam/details.shtml
     
  19. SleeperN06

    SleeperN06 TrainBoard Member

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    Thanks for the update.:)
    I guess I’ll be taking a couple of days off work.:cool:
     
  20. BoxcabE50

    BoxcabE50 HOn30 & N Scales Staff Member TrainBoard Supporter

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    We'll be hoping for some photo updates, along the way.
     

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