Why do Union Pacific's Steam Locomotives Always Travel With a Diesel Locomotive? - Big Boy 2024
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- Опубліковано 1 лип 2024
- Why do Union Pacific's Steam locomotives always go out with at least one diesel locomotive? And is that about to change? Hint. YES. NO DIESEL ON THIS TRIP.
Union Pacific, and most steam locomotives operating on class A railroads always go out with at least one diesel locomotive. There are good reasons for this. The source of much misinformation, the internet, seems to think that it is either because the steam locomotive is not actually pulling the train, or that the locomotive is there because the steam locomotive is so unreliable that a backup locomotive is needed. Nope and nope.
Check it out. The real reasons are dynamic braking, PTC, traction, and added horsepower when needed.
#modelrailroad #train #steamlocomotive
Just the fact that UP would go out their way to restore and maintain the 4014 is just extremely heartwarming. UP has always been one of the great railroad companies and a pioneer in the country. To see the Big Boy out and running again is truly amazing. Years ago I had the pleasure of watching the UP rail yard in Nebraska and it's a memory I treasure.
4014 is traveling now with No Diesel, and there are many videos showing it enroute to the West coast with no Diesel locomotive in the consist. The reason it was required first and foremost was for PTC. The Diesel had PTC which IS required for running on the main line. Braking is being taken care of now by having extra Freight cars that can be used to slow down and stop the train without heavy use of the locomotive brake.
Not required for Steam...the FRA actually issued that waiver, but the railroads wanted/want it for extra safety measures.
They added a diesel in Green River
When I worked for Electromotive Div, we had qualified steam crews that operated steam for the Illinois Railroad Club that ran short excursions on the BNSF. They required steam power be in perfect condition to operate on BNSF tracks. Railroads hate nothing more than disabled power blocking a line. I never saw diesel steam consist not to say it never happened.
Water was an issue. Club would arrange to have fire departments at various points refill the tender.
And it takes time to get the water onboard. That’s why 4014 has three tenders.
Great video, Dale...👍
Thanks 😊😊😊❤
I have the greatest respect for Union Pacific. Their Heritage fleet is absolutely amazing, and it goes beyond that. The fact that they retain, restore and maintain these old Locomotives and also make it possible for museums to display their equipment that has been retired for no other purpose but for the satisfaction of the public. They very well could have scrapped the whole works, and would have been time and money ahead by doing so. But they keep these majestic pieces of equipment around for future generations to enjoy as much as they did operating them. What a great railroad and a wonderful organization. Total respect.
Fantastic video, Toy Man. The Big Boy is an absolute work of art. It's beautiful. Wished it was coming to East Tennessee.
Well UP only. But come see it!
@ToyManTelevision wish I could due to physical and logistics problems. But do enjoy seeing 4014 In high Def though.
Another great video toy man Television keep it up and be safe out there while chasing the big boy and rail fanning please
Thanks for your updates Dale.
Hi! Thanks 😊😊
Thank you for explaining the use of the diesel locomotive. CPKC did the same for 2816 steam locomotive. They used two FP7 diesels and one of the newer locomotives.
Great point!
So far, the Big Boy is traveling by itself--no diesel! Check out the first videos of 2024 tour. Big Boy is alone and is pulling freight cars perhaps for braking.
They added one in Green River.
Just saw it today and it did infact have a diesel with it
A little extra power? Maybe 844 might, but 4014, I don't think so. 4014 is able to pull UP's entire passenger fleet, and a dead weight diesel, up Sherman Hill. no problem. Every other reason, Oh ya. Somewhere in the past I heard that at the beginning of "Steam excursion" the government didn't trust the grand old engines and so required that a suitable diesel loco be "in train" in case of a break down. That may still be in force, at times. I don't know, do you?
Great info presented today, have fun chasing 4014. ;-)
Never for a break down. The diesel would be lucky to get 3 feet. They can get real power out there in little time. It’s great to see 4014 out here on its own! ❤😊
Of the three tenders with X4014, what is the ratio of water and fuel oil for each of the three? You did a great public service of explaining the PTC gear and talking about the sand dome reloading. Yet, many of the older steam locomotives leaked water and failed to recapture or recondense steam, so these locomotives needed frequent rewatering stops. With most coaling or fueling towers, water towers and sand towers now lost to history, the mix between fuel versus water loading of tenders is different than in the past. In the past, water was the most common type of tower, followed by fuel and with sand being the least common type of tower along their routes.
Great vidio, great info on how all this is controled and the fact that this is the most effective way to do so. Thanks for the morning coffee...
Dale, you are a wealth of information. Great info. Excellent!
Dynamic breaking helps to save the breakshoes on the Engine.
Thanks for this. You answered a ton of my questions!
Well not anymore, With the addition of PTC to 4014, she can run excursions on her own
Don't you mean "he"?
@@railwayamerica744 🤷♂️🤷♂️
@@railwayamerica744 all locomotives are referred to as she
Does it matter?
@@JimmyProductionsnot unless you want to take it in the bathroom.
I always knew it was necessary/important for a steam Locomotive consist to have a diesel in the mix...but all I really knew the diesel was doing was providing dynamic braking and "hotel power". That's all I knew. All the other stuff you explained, that a diesel is needed for, both surprised and impressed me. I've always felt that a diesel engine in the steam consist ruined the look of the consist. The diesel looks out of place. But, I know it's necessary to have a diesel in the mix. I enjoyed watching your video, and learning a little more about trains. Oh, do I LOVE trains!!! ❤️🚂
And this trip makes me a lier I guess. No diesel! (I knew they were thinking of doing that). The key is installing the PTC in the tender. I’m thinking they will cut in a diesel in Roseville when they cut in the passenger cars.
Thank you for sharing this video and for addressing the presence of the diesel. :-)
To me, in Europe, the aspect of braking greatly appeals. (So I'm sorry for this effect of leaving the diesel out.) In this part of the world, much railway traffic runs on electric power provided by catenary. Many electric locomotives and train sets can feed the braking energy back to the system, notably if the network is AC (no, not air-conditioned).
trains here in the Netherlands run on DC are capable of regenerative breaking, but the power can currently only be used for its own electrical systems and to supply other trains in the area, since the power stations are afaik currently still unable to return energy to the grid (although they've been looking into the feasibility of making grid return possible)
I live along the route this beauty takes and take every chance to see it. This year I caught it while it was refueling. Last time I saw it it had the diesel locomotive and I was curious about it to thank you fir answering my questions.
It would be in if 4014 3985 and 844 can do a triple header someday ❤
They should do a national tour. It was built and nicknamed in NewYork after all . So sort of a national treasure.
Now that the 4014 has it's own onboard PTC system, located in the tender tool boxes Ed has said they won't put the diesel behind it until they reach California aka probably from Sparks, NV to Roseville, CA over the Sierra's.
@@zaklex3165 yup. That was the plan but not sure until the last minute. Great seeing it without the diesel!!
Big boy is Beautiful train wish it would come to wisconsin
They added diesel locomotive 6388 somewhere around Morgan, UT this trip (07/04/2024). Not sure why.
To bad I don't live out that way or work for UP. I work for NS or id be there. Any way great video thanks for sharing have a great week
Hey great video I like big boy 4014 can run solo now it’s better now you know to be I thought big boy 4014 be pulling more freight this year
Did you see the 3985 and the 800 double header in 81?
Informative and detailed narrative, however, the insertion of images during the over 9 minutes of titles would make this type of presentation significantly more interesting. Lastly, and personally, I would have preferred to hear the engine "working" at the end of the presentation rather than music and commentary asking me to subscribe. md
All this technology and we are back to hand loading sand into a steam locomotive. 😄
Are there any passengers on the train?
yes
i have 3d printed 2 of these engines one is at the meal center the other is here at home one is before it was converted the one i have at home is after conversion all on rr tracts, i don!t know what to do with the one i have at home
You have obviously not seen the videos over the past several days of the Big Boy running without the Diesel in the Consist.
@@BL-jt3qt you have obviously not noticed the date on the video. This was made the day before they left. And the goal was to show why they have a diesel (which is back) and explain that now with PTC in the tender they can make short trips without the diesel.
First!
I'd like a see a tug of war between UP4014 and an SD70ace
Big Boy would drag the SD70Ace. The Big Boy is heavier and has 16 drive wheels compared to the SD70Ace only having 12 wheels. The Big Boy's tractive effort would win.
most trains years ago most had helper engines 4 more power the longer the train 🚉 😊 the more power U need 2 pull it wasn't uncommon of a train 2 have 5 or more helper engines U need the big boy train could pull most trains by itself and did so that also includes freight trains that was the biggest steam train made 😊😊 OMG 7 2 2O24