96 replies to this topic

[MSwiss]

The refurbed Big Boy 4014 is coming through Chicago's western suburbs, any minute.

When I worked at a hobby shop, in the early 70's, the train guys talked about the Big Boy, with reverent tones.

[Matt Sheldon]

Rail geeks!

 

I worked as a brakeman for the Grand Trunk Railroad for 4 years while going to college. It was not uncommon to see rail buffs with their camera's and recorders going. It was the best non self employed job I have ever had. I really enjoyed the work aspect of it and understanding the switching yards. I almost quit college to make it my career as the majority at that time were making $70k - $120k a year depending on position and how many grievence write ups you could get paid for, lol.

[John Streisguth]

Steamtown in Scranton PA has a non-operating Big Boy. I've stood next to it, it's positively massive!

 

I would not be surprised if this is the first time one has operated in the Chicago area, as they pretty much operated strictly in the West on Union Pacific roads. 

[MSwiss]

Super cool!!

[Bill from NH]

Looks the same as a bird-watching club. When I was a kid in the late 50's, my dad worked for a grain company on the Maine  Central Railroad's Portland.line. In those days, I saw plenty of steam engines. To an eight yr.-old. they were just a big black thing that didn't smell good.

[John Streisguth]

Yeah, I bet the ground shook!

[Dave Crevie]

I got some video at that same crossing, but no audio. Taken with an old digital camera. Tried to chase it, hoping to

get some pacing shots. But there were just too many people driving in too many directions, with no idea where they

were going, only that they needed to get there first. If I am up for it, I might drive out to West Chicago early enough

to catch it leaving on Tuesday. Should be much less crowded. 

[Ecurie Martini]

Train watching with my father in the mid 50's - we would often go to the local station on Sundays to watch an express passenger train (the 4:40 from the time it came through)  One Sunday it didn't come.  We waited a bit and shortly saw a pair of double-headed 4-8-4s (known as "Northerns" on some routes but I believe the New York Central name was "Niagara") pulling a single odd looking car and a caboose.  It was traveling well above the stations 40mph speed limit.  I've always wondered what was in that car.

 

EM

[Phil Hackett]

Rail geeks!

 

I worked as a brakeman for the Grand Trunk Railroad for 4 years while going to college. It was not uncommon to see rail buffs with their camera's and recorders going. It was the best non self employed job I have ever had. I really enjoyed the work aspect of it and understanding the switching yards. I almost quit college to make it my career as the majority at that time were making $70k - $120k a year depending on position and how many grievence write ups you could get paid for, lol.

 

If you worked for the railroad you probably have heard the term "foamers".

 

There's a series of videos on YouTube about the rebuilding of this locomotive.

[SpeedyNH]

I remember taking my dad to the Red Bank, NJ station for a trip to NYC in the middle 50's, and seeing a big (for me at least) steam engine come in to pick him up. I never forgot that beast. it was probably a Pacific.

[Mark Mattei]

[Zippity]

There's something about steam trains that brings out the boy in most men

[MSwiss]

There's something about steam trains that brings out the boy in most men

 

Yep.

 

 

I love the audio at 0:25.

[Mark Mattei]

Wasnt sure if my unscripted exclamation came through.

[MSwiss]

Where I was at, after it passed, all the people applauded.

I guess seeing something over a million lbs., (just the engine & tender) passing by, moves people.

[Ecurie Martini]

Brings back a lot of memories....

 

And some misstatements:  "Train watching with my father in the mid 50's" - I meant the mid 40's  Back then, with the exception of the PRR GG-1 electrics and the electric switchers that shunted passenger trains from Harmon through the tunnels to Grand Central, most everything was steam.  I lamented the change to diesel power and took some delight when, after a very bad winter storm, the N Y Central had to call up some steam power because the diesels could not make it through.

 

Speaking of diesels, in the videos above there is a diesel locomotive 2 cars behind the Big Boy ???

 

EM

[MSwiss]

It's probably there in case the Big Boy breaks down.

It arrived later than expected, because it had an issue a suburb before, and it was stopped for awhile(30 minutes???)

[John Streisguth]

Speaking of GG-1s...last year I attended a swing dance at the PA railroad museum...it was pretty amazing dancing in between all the great engines and car on display. 

 

[Dave Crevie]

Good shot, Mark. Glad you got it uploaded. It looks like it had slowed down a bunch by the time it got to you. When it passed us, 

it was haulin' A. Thankfully, there are still a lot of those "boys in men's cloths" out there. It keeps the model railroad industry strong,

and encourages the railroads to do events like this.

 

The diesel is there only for PTC and CTC signalling. The prime mover is not running, only the APU to power the electronics. The

Big Boy does not have equipment for that.

 

The train was early getting into Proviso, and since it was probably scheduled to be held there anyway while the line was cleared,

they held it a little longer to get back on schedule. But they held it too long, and it was indeed half an hour late leaving. Which

made it that much harder to chase. Now that I see Mark's video, I understand how I almost caught it on Manchester Road. They

needed to slow down just a bit more for me to catch up.

 

Alan; The odd looking car could have been a dynomometer car or a Sperry Rail Service detector car. Sperry Rail Service devised a

system to detect flaws in the rails. The earliest cars were pulled by a locomotive. Later they built their own self powered cars.

 

This was all quite an experience for someone who worked on one of these, hoping that it could be brought back to life. Seeing

one back on the road was something that will live with me forever.   

[Dave Crevie]

National Railway Museum also has a GG-1, and it is another biggie. Since I was a steam guy, I didn't get involved with it, but

the guys working on it did a capital job. Back when they were running, there were always debates on which were more powerful,

steam or electric. A lot of railroads tried electric, but when the diesels came out, they killed them both.

 

The Milwaukee Road once staged a tug-of-war between one of their big box cab electrics and a 4-6-4. The electric won.

[MSwiss]

We made it out to the Union Pacific Training Facility, where it was on display.

 

It was just short of a madhouse.

 

 

 

One of the 17,000 lb. wheels.

[MattD]

How much did you pay that pretty lady and those kids to pose for you?

[JimF]

There's something about steam trains that brings out the boy in most men

 

100% true and not just that! I think it's nostalgia from days gone by. I remember going to an airshow one time years ago and while folks were ohhhing and ahhhing over the display planes like F-16s and F-18s and such, there was a much bigger crowd around a B-17. They were very quiet.

[MSwiss]

How much did you pay that pretty lady and those kids to pose for you?

Nothing, but she teach the (almost) 3 year old kid in the Spiderman hat, how to shake me down for a quarter, everytime I want a kiss on the cheek, from him. Lol

[SpeedyNH]

I like the peace signs on the t-shirt.