The mighty engine seems to be recalling her coal-fired days as she heels into a curve on the former SP route as the grand tour approaches San Antonio. As most everywhere else the whole population... (more)
Tuesday afternoon, I was able to get out for a little bit to catch the Big Boy rolling into Topeka on its jaunt west from KC. These photos were taken from MP 67 on the Kansas Sub, otherwise known ... (more)
This close-up shows where the 4014's eccentric rod connects to the eccentric crank. Such terms all but disappeared from American's engineering vocabulary when diesels knocked steam off the rails.
With the rails well greased, the Big Boy slowly backs around the north leg of the Van Buren wye in North Little Rock, and shows the articulation of the locomotive.
UP 4014 is making up time after a late departure from Prescott due to two manifest trains running around it.
Senior Engineer Ed Dickens has the Big Boy racing towards Hope, Arkansas, the next scheduled stop on it's trip through Arkansas.
The UP 4014 Big Boy sits next to the Prescott Depot and caboose on a very cold, 18 degree morning.
The name says it all.
4014 sits quiet in Topeka for the night. She was staged next to a patched SP unit making for the fun photo op.
Union Pacific's famed "Big Boy" steam locomotive is on the last week of a two month tour around the system as it rolls past the intermediate block signals at MP 57.8 between Lawrence and... (more)
Steam, water, and fuel piping underneath 4014's cab. Note the emergency fuel shut-off.
A proud father takes his little son's photo in front of 4014's drivers.
The crew of the 4014 prepare to free a stuck bell due to the below freezing temperatures as they finish inspecting the train for the days excursion.
Union Pacific 5614 leads a westbound manifest train past the Big Boy at the Jenks Locomotive Shops. The UPY 647 is part of a long line of stored locomotives.
Lots of grease around the chain lubricator on the UP 4014.