Big Boy Steam Locomotive

[Abby Normal]

The last operating Big Boy Steam engine is going to be in NOLa Sat 21, leaving Sun morning.behind the zoo at the Fly. The Union Pacific 4014 is the largest working steam engine. It has a 4-8-8-4 wheel arrangement with 68” tall drive wheels. If your not around NOLa, it’s going threw Luling and Donaldsonville going back home Sunday. And you can see it pass just by stoping (safely)next to the tracks. This is one I have to see.

https://www.up.com/heritage/steam/schedule/index.htm

 

[Trailboss]

I drove an hour and a half to catch the train at 2 places near Plaquemine. North of town traveling around 60-70 mph (it will shake your foundation), and again in Plaquemine at 25 mph. Other than an excursion train in VA in the 70's, it's the only operating steam train I've seen since the mid-60's. Try to go see it - you probably won't ever get to see another in your lifetime.

 

[john17427]

Went down to Donaldsonville yesterday to see it come through. Impressive machine. Interesting to watch the maintenance they have to do to it on a continuous basis.

 

[buttanic]

Passing through Luling yesterday. If you are ever in Omaha visit the Union Pacific train station converted to a museum and the Union Pacific museum in Council Bluffs.

 

[drill sgt]

Some years ago a steam locomotive that had been restored was making a tour of Louisiana. As it came thru Denham Springs west bound towards Baton Rouge it was a massive sight to see and hear that "LIVE Steam Engine" breathing. Took 2 quarters(coins) and layed on the train track rails which were "smushed" by the weight of the train. After the tracks were clear I gave the two coins to 2 young boys who were there with their mother. ......................... drill sgt.

 

[T-Rigger]

Friday evening - watched Big Boy 4014 backed into Audubon Park - where RR track crosses Jefferson Hwy - between Ocshner Hosp & Orleans Parish Line. I wanted to see it moving as well as displayed at rest. It had steam, blasted whistle and made several lateral, low to the ground steam releases, but was not under its own power. There was a diesel locomotive, with two huge diesel fuel tank cars, coupled behind the coal car, that was powering the entourage. Makes sense. I wondered how they could possibly carry and stoke enough coal to power this beast. Although not under power, just seeing the reciprocating drive action and rotation of the 16 - 68" diameter wheels was very impressive. Steam Punk to the max!

I was told that 4014 leaves the Fly in Audubon Sunday around 10:00 am, headed toward Luling ,via the Huey P. Long Bridge, going home.


Learned of the Louisiana Steam Train Association 1501 Jefferson Hwy, NOLA 7021-2429; Office 504.539.4600. >https://lsta.org< Members were handling security and traffic at the crossing and passing out lapel pins.

They are rebuilding Southern Pacific Steam Locomotive 745 (SP745), near the Ocshner Helo Pad, on the Lake side of Jefferson Hwy. They are planning to make a historic run on the New Orleans and Gulf Coast Railway (NOGC). Donations needed.

>https://www.gofundme.co/sp745<

 

[buttanic]

The two cars are water cars not diesel. Some explanation why the diesel is there

https://ogrforum.ogaugerr.com/topic...swer-from-ed-himself?reply=156701992704782109

https://www.facebook.com/unionpacific/videos/238424964522741/

 

[Abby Normal]

I’m not a diesel geek but the big ones that UP have one million lb traction power. The Big Boy weights more than 1 million lb. I guess that Diesel is just for reliability/backup insurance or ease of slow speed maneuvers.

 

[buttanic]

From UP facebook page

"Ever wonder how the Steam Crew gets SO much water to the *Big Boy*
Obviously there are no longer any Water Tanks along the way… so as we have seen, they must carry enough water to last an entire day of operation.
25,000 gallons in UP 4014’s tender (Black), and 28,000 gallons in EACH of the two Auxilliery (Yellow) Water Tenders for a whopping 81,000 gallons!
However, how do they get enough suitable water to fill the tenders?!?!?
Short answer, a LOT of hard work that keeps the crew busy LONG after the crowd of spectators have gone home!
For the stop in NOLA… 900 feet of hose was needed to connect two ports of the hydrant, to the Pump Truck, and run ALL the way to the Tool Car for water treatment, THEN it can finally flow to fill the tenders.
Depending on the pressure the Municipal Water hydrant is capable of providing, how much water is needed to top off the tenders, and how much treatment is required, this process can take SEVERAL hours!
Many thanks to all the *Behind the Scenes* work accomplished from EVERYONE at Union Pacific, in order to provide us with the *Big Boy* Tour."

 

[buttanic]

I’m not a diesel geek but the big ones that UP have one million lb traction power. The Big Boy weights more than 1 million lb. I guess that Diesel is just for reliability/backup insurance or ease of slow speed maneuvers.

Diesel is used for down grade braking and helping to get moving from stopped to save wear and tear on the brake shoes and traction wheels.

 

[Magdump]

Passing through Luling yesterday. If you are ever in Omaha visit the Union Pacific train station converted to a museum and the Union Pacific museum in Council Bluffs.

Interesting how it’s pulling a Diesel/electric (just in case?).
Last steam engine I rode was powered by a propane heated boiler. I’m assuming this big boy is also cooking with gas.

 

[T-Rigger]

The two cars are water cars not diesel. Some explanation why the diesel is there

https://ogrforum.ogaugerr.com/topic...swer-from-ed-himself?reply=156701992704782109

https://www.facebook.com/unionpacific/videos/238424964522741/

Thanks for posting these links - glad to learn. I apologize for the mis-direction - I was opining, in ignorance, from visual observation, about the cars ahead of the diesel locomotive being diesel fuel. It seemed obvious to me that the train was being backed into Audubon solely under diesel power. Don't know where fuel is carried for long treks. There was some sort of what seemed to be a "generator" car - with "something" audibily running near the rear of the train. Was that the electrical power source for the A/C and communications?

 

[buttanic]

Thanks for posting these links - glad to learn. I apologize for the mis-direction - I was opining, in ignorance, from visual observation, about the cars ahead of the diesel locomotive being diesel fuel. It seemed obvious to me that the train was being backed into Audubon solely under diesel power. Don't know where fuel is carried for long treks. There was some sort of what seemed to be a "generator" car - with "something" audibily running near the rear of the train. Was that the electrical power source for the A/C and communications?

Passenger cars have their own generator car and that is what you heard. The engine was converted from coal to fuel oil,, carried along with water, in the tender car. Fuel oil is gravity fed to the engine and because of that about 1000 gallons in the tender is unusable. Why they chose to not use a pump I don't know. Fuel oil is easy to get, a tank truck brings it to the trains location. Water is more of a problem as there no longer any water stations like in the past. In New Orleans they set out 900 feet of hose from a fire hydrant to fill the tender and the two water cars.

 

[buttanic]

Interesting how it’s pulling a Diesel/electric (just in case?).
Last steam engine I rode was powered by a propane heated boiler. I’m assuming this big boy is also cooking with gas.

It was converted from coal to oil fired. The diesel is to help with downhill breaking and helping the engine to start moving from a stop to reduce wear on the brake shoes and engine drive wheels to extend their life before replacement. Parts are either in short supply or have to be custom built, it's to reduce operating costs. It was common practice to drop sand on the rails to increase traction when starting. You can imagine how that affected drive wheel live life.

 

[T-Rigger]

Passenger cars have their own generator car and that is what you heard. The engine was converted from coal to fuel oil,, carried along with water, in the tender car. Fuel oil is gravity fed to the engine and because of that about 1000 gallons in the tender is unusable. Why they chose to not use a pump I don't know. Fuel oil is easy to get, a tank truck brings it to the trains location. Water is more of a problem as there no longer any water stations like in the past. In New Orleans they set out 900 feet of hose from a fire hydrant to fill the tender and the two water cars.

Thanks for all your info. Are you a RR man?

 

[T-Rigger]

It was converted from coal to oil fired. The diesel is to help with downhill breaking and helping the engine to start moving from a stop to reduce wear on the brake shoes and engine drive wheels to extend their life before replacement. Parts are either in short supply or have to be custom built, it's to reduce operating costs. It was common practice to drop sand on the rails to increase traction when starting. You can imagine how that affected drive wheel live life.

I read somewhere that modern trains spray oil onto the inside vertical face of the rail to reduce friction wear. Did the steam locos do that as well?

 

[buttanic]

I read somewhere that modern trains spray oil onto the inside vertical face of the rail to reduce friction wear. Did the steam locos do that as well?

Yes, there are several methods, some mounted on the rails and some on the locomotive.

 

[buttanic]

Thanks for all your info. Are you a RR man?

No, I was born in 1944 and the Y&MV RR (Yazoo & Mississippi Valley RR) tracks passed 100 yards behind our house and they were still using steam engines so I have memories of them. In 1950 we moved and by happen stance the Kanas City Southern (KCS) track was also 100 yards behind my new house but they had already switched to diesel-electrics. The family took the Southerner (Amtrak)from NOLA to NYC in 1955 and we even took the train to LSU games in BR for a couple of years. Because of that I have always liked trains.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yazoo_and_Mississippi_Valley_Railroad

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Southerner_(U.S._train)

 

[T-Rigger]

No, I was born in 1944 and the Y&MV RR (Yazoo & Mississippi Valley RR) tracks passed 100 yards behind our house and they were still using steam engines so I have memories of them. In 1950 we moved and by happen stance the Kanas City Southern (KCS) track was also 100 yards behind my new house but they had already switched to diesel-electrics. The family took the Southerner (Amtrak)from NOLA to NYC in 1955 and we even took the train to LSU games in BR for a couple of years. Because of that I have always liked trains.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yazoo_and_Mississippi_Valley_Railroad

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Southerner_(U.S._train)

Brings back memories. I was born in 1943 in the East end ofPine Bluff AR. Grew up about 4 blocks from the Cotton Belt Shop and Yard where my grandfather was a machinist - worked on the SSW 819 while still operating. Loved trips to the roundhouse and shop w/ G-Pa. The Cotton Belt and Missouri Pacific ran parallel East-West, 1 block apart, with the closer Mopac about 200 yards away, across an open horse pasture from our home. I've always been a train buff too. Have several picture books of old trains. Rode the Amtrak to Jackson couple years ago -- great ride. In 1949 we moved to the West side of PB - ironically, within 1.5 blocks from of CB tracks headed SSW toward Texarkana.

THANKS!

 

[TheMole68]

I caught him twice too. Once at Earhart and central and then at the Fly.

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