In most countries, the freight train is shunted onto the right line with smaller engines before the main engine comes up. THIS is the America, home of the largest, strongest, heaviest, and toughest steam locomotives, where every locomotive is EPICALLY BEASTLY AWESOME enough to move their ENTIRE 50 TON TRAIN onto another track-BACKWARDS-NO SHUNTERS.
this sure brings back memories and I can't wait until 3985's restoration starts to bring her or him back to service by 2021 or 2022 to be alongside with 844 and 4014 and maybe get a triple-header as a celebration for its return. just like how union pacific has planned to have a doubleheader with 4014 and 844 sometime in May of 2019 and then a triple-header for 3985's return to service.
I can vaguely remember steam locomotives from my childhood. My father was a railway employee working on the track. I recall one afternoon I went to visit him at his depot & a steam train had arrived & waiting for another train to come from the opposite direction ie crossing on the loop. I can clearly remember my father telling me to become a guard at the rear of the train. My father died & never got to see me become a railway employee...not as a guard but as a locomotive engineer up the front.
This is totoally awesome! my dad loves trains and was watching it ove and over >> *over my sholder and soon after the first watch took the computer from me >>* i think this is the best! fav~
I'd love to see a Big Boy run again!! Heck, they kept a Challenger working fine all these years. Coal. Hm, well I guess the only logical way is shipping it in from out East to the UP. But in the end, all def worth it. Which Big Boy do you think is the best candidate for restoring back to working order?
The 4005 was the oil test locomotive with a standard Thomas oil burner. The single burner caused spot heating on the crown sheet which caused it to leak putting water into the firebox.
I watched as the last AT&SF steam engine was put to bed, at the Engine shops in Topeka, KS. 2 years later, not only was the engine gone, but so were all the other steam engines gone as well.
@SkipW They are being used as water tanks, but they were originally built as fuel tanks for the gas turbine electric locomotives used by UP from 1948 to the early 70s.
Excellent video ! I read that this was converted to burn oil ? How does this affect the train as far as performance VS coal? The 2 tenders behind the coal box are those full of water ? If so how is it transfered? Last but not least how reliable is this train? Thank you.
have a story to tell about this girl and her sister 844 when she visted st louis in 2009. me and my uncle tagged teamed in chasing after both engines he never seen 844 and i have never seen the 3985 before. so my uncle went chasing after the 844 while i went after the Challenger best memory i have ever had!
Why thank you :) I try not to go overboard, even with you, but man, some of your comments really did irk me. At times, made me like my work with these engines is meaningless. I can actually think of many other "machines" that deserve a scrappers torch well before steam locomotives. Cars are at the top of my list!! With all those junker cars out there, you could make millions selling that metal!! And the uses are nearly endless!!
@Trailltrader - She burned coal originally but was converted to oil firing in the early 1990s due to line-side grass fires ignited by flying coal sparks.
I noticed something that surprised me from 3:41 on : the choo-choos from the front and rear traction sets are sometimes in synchronisation, then get out-of sync, then get in anti-phase, then get closer, then get in sync again, and the cycle repeats. Which would mean that the traction wheels of one set are slightly smaller than those of the other set. I thought they were similar... I know that they cannot be manufactured to be EXACTLY similar, But I counted that the cycle repeats approximately every 15 to 16 wheel rotations, which means a diameter error of about 6.5% which, on 69" wheels, would mean a 4.485" difference. These figures, of course, are not precise to the last digit but, even including MY error in counting the repetition frequency, would be much more than the manufacturing tolerances. Was that made on purpose?
***** The "thing" on the last wheel going into the cylinder is called a pushrod (even though, half of the time, it actually is a "pull" rod. LOL). Now there is another pushrod (horizontal) that links this wheel to the other two of the same tractor group. This forces these three wheels to turn exactly the same number of turns else the horizontal rod would bend. Hence, if tractor wheels don't turn at the exact same speed, they cannot be in the same group. Implying that the wheels from either the front set or the rear set would be smaller. This is quite possible due to manufacturing errors, but by 6.5%??????
Well... surely, as the wheel turns, the cylinder pushrod will be tilted up then down! You will find this on every steam loco (except steam turbine locos).
They could be ever so slightly different, but the main reason for getting out of sync is a slight amount of slippage going on on either the front or rear set. That's what I've heard anyways.
It is, but it backed on to the mainline at the west side of town. waiting for the green signal eastbound, (FYI the center of Cheyenne,WY is the rail yards)
4014 is in good shape. i saw it a couple of years ago and it looked great and seems to be in good operating condition, but the 4023 was the last big boy i know of to get an overhaul (1957) and then be put in the roundhouse with the 3985. it was owned by the UP and sat in the roundshouse until 1975 then it got donated to omaha. i really wanna see that locomotive i heard it looks amazing. but i think they should restore the 4023.
When Will The Next Steam Locomotive Go Through Illinois Or Near Chicago area ? Do You Know If Not Please tell me who would know or a website i could Find any information on anything?
@CityFolk120 Skip is right water towers are just landmarks now. Because the water tower are not used these water tenders are placed behind #844 and #3985 on each trip. without the water tenders the locomotives will run out of steam.
how does the parts on thoses locomotive stay in place with out falling apart l but why do they have a extra engine or is it to help it push it along ? but for the steam when it comes out is it really hot or would it really hurt somone but was just cerious
@ravinago But the steam engine burns twice, or more, as much diesel as on diesel engine. The steam engine is about 8 percent efficient and the diesel is about 22 percent.
Before I begin, I would like to point out a few things. First off, my knowledge of the ACE3000 project comes from books, magazines, periodicals, etc. >How much did you invest? How much did you loose? I was only a baby at the time this project was actually going on.
Yup. I've seen the 4014. Cosmetically, its in great shape. The real question is what does she look like on the inside? I say if all the parts are there, clean her up and get her moving again!!! We'll worry about small technical details such as finding a turn-table big enough to turn them later on.
Ya im in the same boat with you with NS cutting the steam program. A friend of mine and myself have desided to work towards being the President and CEO of NS and restore the steam excursion program
If you say yes, then please explain to us the costs associated with maintaining these static steam locomotives. I worked at the B&O railroad museum for four years before I moved away from there. That was my job back in high school. So Ill be able to see if youre lying or not with your answer.
some other reasons for not restoring a Big Boy is that there's no place to turn them around. Most turn tables are long gone andd the ones' that are left couldn't support the weight or the darn things are too long. The wye's at most servicing facilities and balloon tracks are only capable for smaller four and six wheels trucks.
Unfortunately she has not run since 2010 but all hope is not lost! She was recently donated and her new owners have already promised to get her up and running once again! I think it may take another 6 to 7 years before we see her again because she’ll have to go through a full heavy Overhaul but challenger number 3985 will be back on the Rails where she belongs Once again!
The 4012 in steamtown is a rumor. 4014 in Pomona, CA is actually in near running shape. 4023 in Omaha, Nebraska is also servicable. 4018 is in the worst shape in Texas. She is suffering a lack of funding just like the Battleship Texas. UP has also stated that it wouldn't make sense for them to put a Big Boy in service....if they only knew the money they'd make on that!
Well so far my investments are ok, so no complaints there. And that's great you support railroads overall!! And it was your decision to leave UP. But since 99.9% of steam programs are privately funded, well, I guess that's pretty much self explanatory. Maybe steam will never come back in North America as the lead locomotive type. I just enjoy seeing them in a museum as much as I do working with the railroad I am involved with that runs some steamers. All the way around, everybody wins.
Wow, this can move that heavy weight backwards all by itself? I thought that was dangerous because the driver would not be able to see what's at the back.
And as we all know, the tourist railways/private railways are all funded by donations, grants, etc. Museums have virtually no costs maintaining trains on display, so that's kind of a freebie. To the best of my knowledge, the only North American railways that have "active" steam programs are the UP and the CP in Canada. Even if for some sad reason those programs ended, the trains wouldn't be scrapped. They would be preserved, either sent to a museum or private RR.
Largest running ? Cab forward in SAC was running when it was parked. they just wont move it again. id bet a dollar, bit of TLC GRANTED if the boiler isnt rotted... it would run..... i try to bride them every time i go... havent had any luck yet !!!! sure is nice to see that big ole thing running though.
I figured you were going to bring me down with your brilliant logic. Besides being a train nut, I am an avid history buff. Steam locomotives are just as big a part of American history as is the Declaration of Independence or the Statue of Liberty. But what if someone shredded the Declaration of Independence, claiming it was a useless document. Or disassembled the Statue of Liberty, claiming the metal is worth more in parts then as a whole statue.
The ACE3000 project was America's last known attempt to reserruct its steam program. It failed for two reasons: the lead investor I believe died, so his funding was cancelled, and the design that engineers were commissioned to work on made this "newer" steam locomotive too big for most city terminals to handle. And honestly, it all had nothing to do with inefficiency and high costs!! It probably would have worked!! But my answer to the future of the railroads? Hydrogen!!
I'd also like to point out that you have contradicted yourself in one of your views. One day ago you wrote this in one of your comments: "You like them, okay! I do too. You said that in regards to steam. Then you said this more recently, "I don't like steam locomotives."
An amazing locomotive. Love the section of the clip where you can hear the stack talk.
In most countries, the freight train is shunted onto the right line with smaller engines before the main engine comes up.
THIS is the America, home of the largest, strongest, heaviest, and toughest steam locomotives, where every locomotive is EPICALLY BEASTLY AWESOME enough to move their ENTIRE 50 TON TRAIN onto another track-BACKWARDS-NO SHUNTERS.
this sure brings back memories and I can't wait until 3985's restoration starts to bring her or him back to service by 2021 or 2022 to be alongside with 844 and 4014 and maybe get a triple-header as a celebration for its return. just like how union pacific has planned to have a doubleheader with 4014 and 844 sometime in May of 2019 and then a triple-header for 3985's return to service.
I can vaguely remember steam locomotives from my childhood.
My father was a railway employee working on the track.
I recall one afternoon I went to visit him at his depot & a steam train
had arrived & waiting for another train to come from the opposite direction ie crossing on the loop.
I can clearly remember my father telling me to become a guard at the rear of the train.
My father died & never got to see me become a railway employee...not as a guard but as a locomotive engineer up the front.
I think your father is seeing you there in the sky, proud of you
This is totoally awesome! my dad loves trains and was watching it ove and over >> *over my sholder and soon after the first watch took the computer from me >>* i think this is the best! fav~
I'd love to see a Big Boy run again!! Heck, they kept a Challenger working fine all these years. Coal. Hm, well I guess the only logical way is shipping it in from out East to the UP. But in the end, all def worth it. Which Big Boy do you think is the best candidate for restoring back to working order?
The 4005 was the oil test locomotive with a standard Thomas oil burner. The single burner caused spot heating on the crown sheet which caused it to leak putting water into the firebox.
I watched as the last AT&SF steam engine was put to bed, at the Engine shops in Topeka, KS. 2 years later, not only was the engine gone, but so were all the other steam engines gone as well.
@SkipW They are being used as water tanks, but they were originally built as fuel tanks for the gas turbine electric locomotives used by UP from 1948 to the early 70s.
Up 3985 está soprando o 2000s whistle igual a voz da cunhada Angelica
Excellent video ! I read that this was converted to burn oil ? How does this affect the train as far as performance VS coal? The 2 tenders behind the coal box are those full of water ? If so how is it transfered? Last but not least how reliable is this train? Thank you.
I sure miss the Big Boy! I hope to see again in my life!
santafemiket first of all that’s challenger not big boy. Second big boy 4014 just got restored! It’s ok though! I used to think that was big boy too!
@@Moltar_Railfan it’s a mini big boy! That’s what they always say about the challenger because of its difference
SkipW, these are beautiful. Thank you.
Holy crap this video was taken on my birthday!!!!
3985, not so much a locomotive but a work of art!
have a story to tell about this girl and her sister 844 when she visted st louis in 2009. me and my uncle tagged teamed in chasing after both engines he never seen 844 and i have never seen the 3985 before. so my uncle went chasing after the 844 while i went after the Challenger best memory i have ever had!
Why thank you :) I try not to go overboard, even with you, but man, some of your comments really did irk me. At times, made me like my work with these engines is meaningless. I can actually think of many other "machines" that deserve a scrappers torch well before steam locomotives. Cars are at the top of my list!! With all those junker cars out there, you could make millions selling that metal!! And the uses are nearly endless!!
@Trailltrader - She burned coal originally but was converted to oil firing in the early 1990s due to line-side grass fires ignited by flying coal sparks.
Amazing machines and really neat to see. Burning oil was better than coal which was better than wood. But they ARE maintenance nightmares.
You should see a 4-8-8-4 Big Boy in action, then.
5 to 6 miles of cargo, metal, and rock behind it.
2 of them once had a train almost 7 miles long.
The biggest British steam loco's are usually about the 220psi mark when the safety valves blow so I can't see this being much different to that.
I noticed something that surprised me from 3:41 on : the choo-choos from the front and rear traction sets are sometimes in synchronisation, then get out-of sync, then get in anti-phase, then get closer, then get in sync again, and the cycle repeats. Which would mean that the traction wheels of one set are slightly smaller than those of the other set. I thought they were similar...
I know that they cannot be manufactured to be EXACTLY similar, But I counted that the cycle repeats approximately every 15 to 16 wheel rotations, which means a diameter error of about 6.5% which, on 69" wheels, would mean a 4.485" difference. These figures, of course, are not precise to the last digit but, even including MY error in counting the repetition frequency, would be much more than the manufacturing tolerances. Was that made on purpose?
***** The "thing" on the last wheel going into the cylinder is called a pushrod (even though, half of the time, it actually is a "pull" rod. LOL).
Now there is another pushrod (horizontal) that links this wheel to the other two of the same tractor group. This forces these three wheels to turn exactly the same number of turns else the horizontal rod would bend.
Hence, if tractor wheels don't turn at the exact same speed, they cannot be in the same group. Implying that the wheels from either the front set or the rear set would be smaller. This is quite possible due to manufacturing errors, but by 6.5%??????
Well... surely, as the wheel turns, the cylinder pushrod will be tilted up then down! You will find this on every steam loco (except steam turbine locos).
They could be ever so slightly different, but the main reason for getting out of sync is a slight amount of slippage going on on either the front or rear set. That's what I've heard anyways.
It operated the largest steam locos but as for Steam Capitol. I would say Altoona, PA was with the Juniata Shops.
It is, but it backed on to the mainline at the west side of town. waiting for the green signal eastbound, (FYI the center of Cheyenne,WY is the rail yards)
Haven't seen this video on years!!! Memories
May 22nd, 2004 was the day Hallam NE was hit hard by an F4 tornado.
4014 is in good shape. i saw it a couple of years ago and it looked great and seems to be in good operating condition, but the 4023 was the last big boy i know of to get an overhaul (1957) and then be put in the roundhouse with the 3985. it was owned by the UP and sat in the roundshouse until 1975 then it got donated to omaha. i really wanna see that locomotive i heard it looks amazing. but i think they should restore the 4023.
When Will The Next Steam Locomotive Go Through Illinois Or Near Chicago area ? Do You Know If Not Please tell me who would know or a website i could Find any information on anything?
thank you so much for the fast forward =]
when I have caught them filling 2 tenders with water they used local Fire Depts using fire Hydrants. and 1 tender is for fuel oil so I hear
probably
@CityFolk120 Skip is right water towers are just landmarks now. Because the water tower are not used these water tenders are placed behind #844 and #3985 on each trip. without the water tenders the locomotives will run out of steam.
love her bark! when she backs the train up
how does the parts on thoses locomotive stay in place with out falling apart l but why do they have a extra engine or is it to help it push it along ? but for the steam when it comes out is it really hot or would it really hurt somone but was just cerious
Is there anywere on internet were i can find a blueprint or cross-section on this train?
@CGiordano464 Oregon to Missiouri still on for this year it also did a run to Texas in April ( 2010 )
My fault 3985 is a Challenger, not a Big Boy!
3985 will steam again soon! Overhaul will begin by the end of this year.
@@davidng2336 can't wait!!!
Me too i hope a tripleheader
@ravinago But the steam engine burns twice, or more, as much diesel as on diesel engine. The steam engine is about 8 percent efficient and the diesel is about 22 percent.
@Trailltrader it's called external combustion. Perhaps you comparing to trucks and such, which is much more efficient form of combustion.
03dktart have you ever been on the durando and silverton narrow gauge railroad
@dragonscape99 no its called "challenger" the "big boy" is 4-8-8-4 not 4-6-6-4
Before I begin, I would like to point out a few things. First off, my knowledge of the ACE3000 project comes from books, magazines, periodicals, etc.
>How much did you invest? How much did you loose?
I was only a baby at the time this project was actually going on.
you say oregon to missouri? What part of missouri will it be going through? Is there somewhere online where I can find a schedule?
Yup. I've seen the 4014. Cosmetically, its in great shape. The real question is what does she look like on the inside? I say if all the parts are there, clean her up and get her moving again!!! We'll worry about small technical details such as finding a turn-table big enough to turn them later on.
also is that the tender to the 838 out by the turntable.
4012 is in Scranton, Pennsylvania, isn't it?
Ya im in the same boat with you with NS cutting the steam program. A friend of mine and myself have desided to work towards being the President and CEO of NS and restore the steam excursion program
they have any trips planned? havent heard much about this thing laytly. it still runnin?
on the oregon trip, is she gonna role through portland?
It is probably one of the Nuclear Missle crews from FE Warren AFB headed off to a missle silo for a crew change
Up 3985 blows it's 2004 whistle
@CGiordano464 2011 schedule is to be released in early April on the website upexcursion
Those are what you call articulated locomotives, 3985 Big Boy And all of the other locomotives i have not mentioned
3985 is a Challenger, not a big boy
i know it is an articulated
@guitboxchicken the Santa Fe had like some really big atriculated steamer to. It was HUGE!
5 * and favorites, the big boys are really incredible
Is that the same horn as the N&W 611?
Up 3985 goes to Houston tx 2004
@Trailltrader It is an Oil Burner!
Thanks for sharing
I thought the train was eastbound in Cheyenne, how did we get west of Cheyenne?
How many PSI of steam is it at at before and after moving.
If you say yes, then please explain to us the costs associated with maintaining these static steam locomotives. I worked at the B&O railroad museum for four years before I moved away from there. That was my job back in high school. So Ill be able to see if youre lying or not with your answer.
What a beautiful monster.....got to be at least 10,000 HP. love the deep whistle.....
some other reasons for not restoring a Big Boy is that there's no place to turn them around. Most turn tables are long gone andd the ones' that are left couldn't support the weight or the darn things are too long. The wye's at most servicing facilities and balloon tracks are only capable for smaller four and six wheels trucks.
Nice video, are the two yellow tenders, filled with oil or water.
Water
They are called bowsers. The water towers are all gone now, so the steamers need to carry the water they will need for the trip.
@Trailltrader it isa oil burning locomotive it was converted to it
This good old steamer is an old reliable!!!
They usually put a treatment in it for the proper pH to keep scale and other crap out.
how much fuel does this train burn per hour?
very nice vid thanks for sharing !!
All I can say is AWSOME 3985 I hope lives forever !!!!
the 3985 was converted to oil in 1990 with parts from oil burner 3977
thats one big ass steam train engine.. looks awsome
Does 3985 still run? I haven't heard much about it lately.
Unfortunately she has not run since 2010 but all hope is not lost! She was recently donated and her new owners have already promised to get her up and running once again! I think it may take another 6 to 7 years before we see her again because she’ll have to go through a full heavy Overhaul but challenger number 3985 will be back on the Rails where she belongs Once again!
i go every year to visit 611 and 1218...they are very well preserved...as far as running again...who knows...
Uh, is this excursion or freight work?
The 4012 in steamtown is a rumor. 4014 in Pomona, CA is actually in near running shape. 4023 in Omaha, Nebraska is also servicable. 4018 is in the worst shape in Texas. She is suffering a lack of funding just like the Battleship Texas. UP has also stated that it wouldn't make sense for them to put a Big Boy in service....if they only knew the money they'd make on that!
A UP diesel with a K5LA? Don't hear those too often.
Well so far my investments are ok, so no complaints there. And that's great you support railroads overall!! And it was your decision to leave UP. But since 99.9% of steam programs are privately funded, well, I guess that's pretty much self explanatory. Maybe steam will never come back in North America as the lead locomotive type. I just enjoy seeing them in a museum as much as I do working with the railroad I am involved with that runs some steamers. All the way around, everybody wins.
man how do you always get to film this stuff. It is like you know exactly when and were it will be.
@CGiordano464 yes that thing is still runing
Wow, this can move that heavy weight backwards all by itself?
I thought that was dangerous because the driver would not be able to see what's at the back.
Up 3985 may 22nd 2004
@ravinago
Funny how they think that diesel exhaust is cleaner than fly ash eh?
And as we all know, the tourist railways/private railways are all funded by donations, grants, etc. Museums have virtually no costs maintaining trains on display, so that's kind of a freebie. To the best of my knowledge, the only North American railways that have "active" steam programs are the UP and the CP in Canada. Even if for some sad reason those programs ended, the trains wouldn't be scrapped. They would be preserved, either sent to a museum or private RR.
I so want to see that machine one day
Awesome! Thank You.
the 3985 was converted to oil in 1990 with parts from the 3977
Best whistle out of the big three
Largest running ? Cab forward in SAC was running when it was parked. they just wont move it again. id bet a dollar, bit of TLC GRANTED if the boiler isnt rotted... it would run..... i try to bride them every time i go... havent had any luck yet !!!! sure is nice to see that big ole thing running though.
isnt this also called ''Big Boy'?
Nope, it’s called, “mini big boy.”
I figured you were going to bring me down with your brilliant logic. Besides being a train nut, I am an avid history buff. Steam locomotives are just as big a part of American history as is the Declaration of Independence or the Statue of Liberty. But what if someone shredded the Declaration of Independence, claiming it was a useless document. Or disassembled the Statue of Liberty, claiming the metal is worth more in parts then as a whole statue.
upsteam-DotCom&SteamOn!
Nice Job!
Up 3985 going to Houston tx
Man, That was awesome. Now if they only get the Big Boy running!!
One of the big Heavy Duty Steamers needed to Cross the Big Continental Divide
The ACE3000 project was America's last known attempt to reserruct its steam program. It failed for two reasons: the lead investor I believe died, so his funding was cancelled, and the design that engineers were commissioned to work on made this "newer" steam locomotive too big for most city terminals to handle. And honestly, it all had nothing to do with inefficiency and high costs!! It probably would have worked!! But my answer to the future of the railroads? Hydrogen!!
I'd also like to point out that you have contradicted yourself in one of your views. One day ago you wrote this in one of your comments: "You like them, okay! I do too. You said that in regards to steam. Then you said this more recently, "I don't like steam locomotives."
Up 3985 puxando vagões exclusivos para mulheres especiais 6hs às 9hs às 17hs às 20hs segunda à sexta sábado á domingo feriados nacionais
They are water tenders.