The Big Boy is the most elegant steam locomotive ever built.
In 1941 the Union Pacific Railroad commissioned these engines to meet new demand for cross-country freight service as the Great Depression receded.
The Ogden, Utah railyards, the largest between Chicago and Oakland, were pressured by a geographical fact: The rail line eastbound from Ogden immediately gains elevation through the Wasatch Mountains on its way to the high plains of Wyoming.
The Ogden yards lie at 4300 feet (1311 meters) above sea level. Evanston, the first station in Wyoming, lies at 6749 feet (2057 meters) and only 78 miles (126 kilometers) away. Stations east of Evanston lie even higher (e.g., 8015 feet [2438 meters] at Sherman Summit).
Because combining steam engines to pull one train is not practical, the Union Pacific turned to compound locomotives, like the Big Boys, to handle the steep grades. These steam engines remained in service until 1962 when dieselization had been completed.
On July 19, 2024, Carol and I visited the Tecoma Valley in the Great Basin Desert of Nevada to experience a restored Big Boy in motion. Here are some scenes:
Murdoch Mountain
This mountain is the western boundary of the Tecoma Valley in northeastern Nevada.
One of scores and scores of north-south trending fault and block mountain ranges that make up the Great Basin Desert.
Thanks to a phone app I knew the Big Boy would come into view around the south end (left) the mountain.
First Sighting of the Big Boy
The Big Boy has rounded Murdoch Mountain and is now visible as the black line in the center of the scene.
The Pequop Mountains provide the background.
A Little Bit Closer
A few hours earlier a railroad vehicle had steam cleaned the closer set of rails.
Only the best for the Big Boy.
Close Enough to Identify
The headlights are now visible.
Even Closer
I am excited.
Almost to the Curve
Although I cherish any steam locomotive in motion, the Big Boy has a refinement of its own.
Around the Curve
The milepost marks 647 miles (1041 kilometers) west to San Francisco, California. This train is eastbound.
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The Big Boy is the equivalent of two locomotives on one articulated chassis.
Notice the two sets of four driving axles for a total of sixteen powered wheels.
The smaller wheels in front belong to the “pilot truck.”
Right Front
This Big Boy is the 4014 from of the original batch of twenty-five which were numbered 4000 to 4024.
The 4014 is the only Big Boy restored to operational status.
The Nevada state flag flies on Big Boy’s left mast.
The 4014 near Montello, Nevada
This picture shows off the length of the 4014. For size comparisons and other facts, please click here.
The 4014 has 4 wheels on the pilot truck, two sets of 8 driving wheels, and 4 wheels on the trailing truck underneath the cab. Therefore, in railroad parlance a Big Boy is classified as a 4-8-8-4.
Note that the tender has seven axles. That’s a lot for a tender, although a few other railroads had larger tenders.
At the left of the scene is a Union Pacific heritage diesel-electric locomotive. It gives the Big Boy rest breaks.
The 4014 Crossing the Border into Utah
The natural limestone karst at the head of Loray Wash adds to this surreal desert scene.
In a few hours the Big Boy will arrive in Ogden’s Union Station Museum for a two-day exhibit.
Then, the locomotive will travel to its home in Cheyenne, Wyoming.
Endnotes
When I was a child, one of my many preoccupational interests was steam locomotives. My favorites were the Union Pacific’s Big Boys which our family called “Four Thousands.” My parents and both of their railroading fathers loved the Big Boys. And we reminisced about them long after diesels had taken over.
Two scenes from my childhood still haunt me:
One was the first time I witnessed a diesel pulling a freight train. What a violation! Everybody knew diesels were for passenger trains and steam engines were for freight trains. I remember assuring myself that this was a one-time deal. It wasn’t.
The other haunting scene was a Four Thousand serving as a helper in the middle of a freight train headed by a diesel. Oh the ignominy.
I acknowledge the complete superiority of diesel over steam. Nevertheless, I am grateful to have experienced the Four Thousands firsthand and to have been aware of their awesomeness even then.
Thank you for visiting Thecosmos.blog. I very much look forward to your next visit.
Your host,
Michael DeCaria