@@ThomasJM so they’d just do a swap. If I recall, 3985’s tender was easier to swap in for 4014 rather than restore its own tender. Has 4014’s since been restored, or would UP still need to complete that work to make it ready to use again?
@@ChrisJones-gx7fcI think the folks at Silvis is going to restore 4014’s tender and send it back to the Union Pacific which of course UP will send 3985’s tender to Silvis
Great video. I never would have dreamed a few years ago that we would someday see a Big Boy running under its own steam. That is one big piece of hardware.
So awesome they found a way to install the PTC system on 4014. Having that modern diesel running with her just to be compliant with the PTC requirements was a waste of resource for the diesel engine and took away from how powerful the Big Boy is on her own. Kudos to all involved for making this happen!
4014 will still need a diesel locomotive for the actual run in order to minimize use of its brakes. However now that 4014 has its own PTC this now means that any diesel will be allowed to be used behind the Big Boy.
The caboose is the most underrated, forgotten safety appliance in American railroading. Having crew on both head-end and rear-end of a long freight train should be required today.
Cabooses can be pretty dangerous on long freight trains actually. All that slack action will throw a crew member around and even back in the day there were plenty of injuries due to them. If you want someone on the rear just have them occupy the trailing locomotives, it’s much safer that way.
@@Retired88M you’d need to put those couplers on almost every piece of equipment on the train for it to function as intended. They can only do so much when the train is already doing 5mph when it finally grabs the end.
I've never liked the diesel in the consist but I understood it. 4014 has been pampered and babied since being restored and incase of failure, the diesel was there for breaks and bale. I got it. But it's nice to see him finally under his own power. Now I can put away those doubts that this Big Boy ever needed a helper. Awesome footage. Complete with a caboose. It doesn't get better than this in 2024.
Some time between June 30th, when I watched him leave Cheyenne, where I live. To July 4th, a video I saw last night. The Diesel Engine was back. I believe one of two things happened. The Diesel is needed for Dynamic Braking, or the PTC unit malfunctioned or failed. And who knows, if they cant stage water and fuel every 50 miles or so. The Diesel might be used to increase range. Back in the days of Steam Engines, there where stops for water and coal every 50 miles. Even if the Railroad had to build a "Town" and then ship in water and coal.
It is my understanding from RU-vid videos that one of the main things that was being done on this run of Union Pacific Big Boy 4014 without the Diesel Locomotive was to test the new Positive Train Control System that Union Pacific installed on Big Boy 4014. It must have required a lot engineering and special parts to install Positive Train Control on Big Boy 4014. This is because Union Pacific Railroad had to install a 21st century electronic computer based system on an old steam locomotive. In years past I thought that such a thing would be impossible to do. One of the changes is that on top of the locomotive are 3 dynamos instead of the previous 2 dynamos to supply extra electrical power. Also on the side of the tender car there is a cabinet that contains all the computer style electronics to make this system work. I hope Union Pacific presents a report on how they installed a Positive Train Control on Big Boy 4014.
I believe that they have posted some reports, and I personally suspect that they are in communication (at least indirectly) with the A1 Trust in Britain, who are working on the same thing-getting a steam locomotive to run on a 21st Century railroad. They also added an extra dynamo (and up-rated the old one) and found a spare locker for the electronics.
This is the second form of the Positive Train Control System that Union Pacific installed on Big Boy 4014. This latest form does not require the diesel helper locomotive. The first form of Positive Train Control installed on Big Boy 4014 in 2021 had a lot of the PTC equipment in the diesel helper locomotive and was connected to a video terminal in the cab of Big Boy 4014.
It's great to see 4014 out and running with ptc keeping it safe for everybody I wish it would come back east I live half hour where it was built in Schenectady ny
Don’t forget C&O 2716, currently being restored by Kentucky Steam Heritage Corp. I know that having a diesel helper provides dynamic braking that helps reduce wear on the steam locomotive’s brakes, and it also provides power for the coaches. I wonder if all these steam locomotives getting PTC would still retain a diesel for at least the former, if not maybe the latter as well.
I doubt they'll have it pull mainline freight, they don't want to stress 4014 too much, I imagine they don't have a shop full of spares and even if they do those spares are pricey
If you've never seen a big boy in person you won't belive it. It is a massive hunk of iron and steel and pipes and wheels and axles and chambers and fitting. Its amazing it can even move . I worked for CP years ago at Scranton and sometimes we had to switch cars onto the steam town lead. 4012 is in there. Amazing piece of work😊
@@bov634 Steam locomotives can still be run hard regardless of how much they’re hauling. The only other time I’ve heard 4014 have such loud stack talk was with the 146-car freight train last year.
@@bov634this is about 1/5 of the rated tonnage on line 3 for a 4000. However, rated tonnage means drag speeds of 10-15 mph, so at 1/5 of the rated tonnage, she can still be worked hard; the train will just attain a higher speed, which is seen here.
@@bov634No, the train isn’t remotely close to her tonnage rating, but she is making more noise than in any of the videos with a diesel, proving that the diesel, as Ed Dickens has plainly stated, is shouldering a good deal if the load. The engine can be made to work to capacity on acceleration, regardless of the trailing load. Once it reaches the desired cruising speed, it doesn’t need to work hard, unless the load is up to her design capability. She being worked hard during the starts in this video.
One has to take into account the fact that cars today are made of steel, and heavier than what they had in Big Boy's time. It remains to be seen whether or not Big Boy can pull 5.5 miles worth of modern freight.
One of the neat aspects of the Big Boy videos is the different rhythms of the exhaust of an articulated locomotive depending on the phasing of the two drive units and the current loading.
The same was true of the 1218 and the 3985. Except, in the 1218’s case the exhaust from the two engines would tend to synchronize faster and more often. I have read that that was because the exhaust from both engines exited a single stack and that would pull them to synchronize, as opposed to twin stacks on the Big Boy and Challenger don’t know if that’s true. All I know is that 1218 would be in synchronization much more than the 3985.
To think, even if all the modern day electronics were suddenly wiped out, lost or disabled a steam locomotive could still serve its intended purpose. Nice seeing it work and pull a load of cars (small) like it was designed for.
I remember Ed Dickens explaining the purpose of having the diesel: it was to save the wheels on Big Boy while braking, it was easier to repair the wheels of the diesel. Hauling was an easy job for Big Boy, hauling the diesel as well as the short train following.
Just two suggestions. Please get a wind cover for your microphone and place it down closer to the tracks. It will defeat the wind and camera clicking noises and just give your fans the pure rail sounds they all hope to get. That said, the approach angle on this video is just outstanding.
To be clear, it never had "assistance" from the diesel it was there to provide the digital signals for the crossings and tracking systems and brake pressure for the cars. 4014 was doing all the actually hauling of the consist and the diesel was just along for the ride.
A). Loved the whistle doppler effect at 7:20, and B). Nice to see the old boy run without the gaggle of giggly railfans jockeying for position on roadways alongside.
A van? Are you eating poutine while watching this? 😂 We call them, hacks, crummies, cabin cars and cabooses, but never vans. I did see a crapload of vans when I was at Bayview, in Hamilton in 1986. Didn’t see one single caboose there. 😂
4014 almost never needed diesel assistance for pulling it's light trains. They were used for braking, PTC, etc. Too bad a diesel in the consist causes such confusion. Btw if you think it's working hard, I'd bet it's using less than 50% of it's power!
This is a light train too. Those are empties. The consist was probably built to simulate the passenger car consist. The passenger cars are based in Omaha and the engine is based in Cheyenne. No sense in dragging the passenger cars out there for a test run. The fact that she is making more noise than usual, coupled with the obvious sounds of the diesel in other videos tells you, as Ed Dickens has stated on numerous occasions, that the diesel is assisting both in starting the train and at cruising speed to conserve fuel and water. The heavy exhausts here are what the engine sounds like starting a moderate weight consist on a grade without assistance.
Agreed, 4014 is definitely not being taxed by this light train lol. The Big Boys were rated for 6,000 tons (drag freights) over the Harriman Cutoff (track 3) and around 4,800 tons for fast freights over the same line.
yes let the big iron drafthorse run as intended, with a good heavy load so it works like its intended to, and unfettered by a diesle, though the dynamics do help stop and save fuel, but by doing this its helping advance the use of steam for another several decades should it take to the mainline again, as the song roll on big boy goes to show the power of steam in modern times even though wrote off to progress . still just look at the smoke show at around 5 minutes from the most powerful combustion powered engine on the rails today, notice I said combustion, there are strict electrics that got more tractive effort but they dont make their own power, but this is nice its just like it was when it was in service the first time.
Cool to see, although you should still expect a diesel to be present when she's traveling with the full excursion set. On excursions the diesel's there to provide dynamic braking as well as be the train's valet.
I thought 🤔 You Did Such A Good Job Catching Up To This Train Even Though A Maroon Car Slowed You Down When You Almost Caught Up To It. 🤓👍😁😎 James From Joelton TN
A True Historic Moment! The 4014 Shows That Steam Is Still Useful! This Is What The Big Boys Used To Do! Haul Heavy Freight From Cheyenne To Utah From The 1940’s To The Late 1950’s!
Probably not but never say never. When the 3985 pulled that stack train back in 1990, I believe the shippers (APL) requested a steam engine and because of how heavy that train was, UP assigned 3985 to the job.
I hate to burst every ones bubble. But some time between June 30th when it left Cheyenne, and July 4th, not sure where it was. But the Diesel Engine was back. Now this is due to 1 or more things. 1. And maybe the biggest reason. To help with Dynamic Braking. They may not have added enough cars. But from July 4th onward it had a Diesel Engine. 2. Maybe the Big Boy need a tad of help on the long sections between fuel and water stops. But, using Semi's with Tankers. They could have staged fuel and what when ever it was needed. 3. And maybe the worst reason, The PTC maybe has malfunctioned or failed completely. Since I live in Cheyenne, when the Big Boy returns on July 26th, I shall en-dever to find out what happened.
The UP can bring back the Big Boy, but if only they could bring back the depots, agents, train order operators, and a caboose on every revenue freight train...at least hand up train orders to the Big Boy crew just so folks would know what that part of railroading was like...
Beautiful footage but I have questions. 1) Were the hopper revenue freight or for the testing of PTC? 2) Did this run have 2 chase cars? 1 for UP and the other for just monitoring the PTC. I agree that if the hoppers were freight revenue, then UP does NOT have any excuse not to use the 4014 for time to time revenue hauling or movement of cars from one part of the system to another. Finally, there were shots of her at speed and slowly moving. I am guessing this was testing the PTC. Glad to see her out on her own. Thanks.
Some nice train-chasing shots there, and great sounds! Is that you in the blue truck in the footage of this on Hyce's "The Big Boy DOESN'T NEED a DIESEL HELPER?" video at 4:22?
I see many comments from the foamers who want to see 4014 pull revenue freight. Why is that? I don't know as it was not restored for that purpose. UP has plenty of diesel locomotives active and in storage for that purpose.
Someone correct me if I'm wrong, but I thought the diesel was to power the a/c &c. in the usually pretty long train of passenger cars. I can't imagine a Big Boy would need any help. It glorious to see one under steam.
The power for the coaches comes from a diesel generator in a dedicated “power car”. The diesel locomotives UP has do not have any ability to provide power for coaches
I've always thought it takes away from the experience seeing the modern diesel in the consist, even though I know it's purpose. The hopper cars are only there to provide braking. I've always wondered what's in the cars behind the two tender cars? I'd sure like to ride in the caboose.
The center work / tool car looks like it has a big fuel tank on it, and a large radiator / heat exchanger. What is that car ? Is there a generator in there ? Is there a grid heater for braking in there ? What is the center work / tool car for ? What does it have in it ? :o
Why was the caboose so heavily modified? Standard bay window cabooses have covered platforms on both ends. This caboose has no roof line extending over the platforms at either end. The UP should have refurbished a period outside-braced caboose lettered appropriately to move with the Big Boy. What were they thinking?
