It's official, I'm a Train Spotter

[Bill Bates]

I like trains. On occasion I like to photograph them.

I spent yesterday and this morning photographing one famous steam engine, Union Pacific's 4014 Big Boy. It was returning from a run to California headed for its base in Cheyenne, Wyoming. It was a real treat to see this power old steam locomotive.

 

[swsig]

Nice photos! The Big Boy's running mate, Union Pacific's 4-8-4 number 844 stopped in my town a number of years ago. What an impressive sight! Getting good photos was difficult because it was swarmed with spectators, but here's one that came out OK:

 

[THE PILGRIM]

A while back I saw 844 down in Alamogordo.

 

[boykinlp]

I would love to travel on one!
Larry

 

[whitestang]

4014 came through my area about 2 years ago. I got a few pictures and it made the ground shake as it went by.

 

[WardenRoss]

Union Pacific's 4014 Big Boy was rated at 5530 horse power in 1943 according to Wikipedia.

,

 

[Breakaway500]

Huge beasts! 500 tons of snarling steel and iron. That's more than 10 fully loaded 18 wheelers. You could scrap one and make 375 Subarus. No wonder they take miles to stop.

 

[two-bit cowboy]

I would love to travel on one!
Larry

I don't know what a ticket on the Big Boy excursion cost, but I
probably wouldn't have paid the tariff.

Back in 2002 I did ride an excursion on the Big Boy's little brother,
the Challenger no. 3985. We went from Cheyenne to Laramie -- 45
miles on Interstate 80 -- and back in nine hours. What a terrific
experience. My car was named Columbine. A ticket was $250.

Here are the Union Pacific links about the two big engines:

UP: UP No. 4014 - The Big Boy

UP: UP No. 3985 - The Challenger

 

[Bill Bates]

I don't know what a ticket on the Big Boy excursion cost, but I
probably wouldn't have paid the tariff.

Back in 2002 I did ride an excursion on the Big Boy's little brother,
the Challenger no. 3985. We went from Cheyenne to Laramie -- 45
miles on Interstate 80 -- and back in nine hours. What a terrific
experience. My car was named Columbine. A ticket was $250.

Here are the Union Pacific links about the two big engines:

UP: UP No. 4014 - The Big Boy

UP: UP No. 3985 - The Challenger

I think maybe one of these days I might pay the fare to ride Big Boy. Later this week it is off to Durango, CO. to take photos and ride the Durango Silverton Narrow Gauge.

 

[Bill Bates]

Nice photos! The Big Boy's running mate, Union Pacific's 4-8-4 number 844 stopped in my town a number of years ago. What an impressive sight! Getting good photos was difficult because it was swarmed with spectators, but here's one that came out OK:

When I got notice that Big Boy was doing a Western Tour this year I really hoped 844 would be making the trip, too.

 

[two-bit cowboy]

I think maybe one of these days I might pay the fare to ride Big Boy. Later this week it is off to Durango, CO. to take photos and ride the Durango Silverton Narrow Gauge.

I drove the "million-dollar highway" from Ouray to Silverton and
then through Durango last year on my way to the annual S&WCA
symposium in Glendale, but I didn't make time to ride the train.

It's on my to-do list.

Enjoy your trip and the scenery.

 

[jrm53]

We rode the narrow gage rail road in 1995 when we were in Durango Co for a BMW motorcyle rally it will be something you will never forget!! Jeff

 

[Onomea]

There was a lot of romance and adventure surrounding trains in the first part of the 20th century, back when air travel was hardly extant and before interstate highways. My late father loved them, and had various old 78s and LPs with songs about them.

This is a 1921 Illinois Sangamo Special railroad watch, along with a knife by an unknown craftsman.

 

[cherrypointmarine]

We had two older locomotives we used to move our rocket , solid rocket motors and fuel and oxidiser cars . I can't remember what model , but it was an older one . It belonged to the Army and had been in the Korean War . It had bullet holes , but I guess the Army figured it wasn't important . They would actually send a crew out and do a PM after so many hours . I was a certified crewman , but all that got me was the chance to hook and unhook cars and jump down to throw switches .

 

[pmanton]

My wife took this some years back in the PNW when the Daylight was touring.

 

[glenncal1]

I think maybe one of these days I might pay the fare to ride Big Boy. Later this week it is off to Durango, CO. to take photos and ride the Durango Silverton Narrow Gauge.

If it is not too late, take the bus from Durango to Silverton (on the million dollar highway) and then the train from Silverton back to Durango. Make sure to get some photos of the "wildlife" that salutes the train as it returns to Durango.

 

[Faulkner]

Great pictures Bill. I agree with Onomea that there is a lot of romance around vintage steam trains.

I got this shot of the 844 as it was coming out of a tunnel near Conway, Arkansas, a few years ago.

 

[Bill Bates]

If it is not too late, take the bus from Durango to Silverton (on the million dollar highway) and then the train from Silverton back to Durango. Make sure to get some photos of the "wildlife" that salutes the train as it returns to Durango.

We're riding the train both ways. We've driven the Million Dollar Highway a lot of times. This will be our first time to ride the train.

 

[Bald1]

Damn that's a lot of black smoke. It's a wonder nobody has tried to decommission it and others like it. I've only been on one train other than a subway. Amtrak from Chicago to Buffalo area. It wasn't great.

 

[Autonomous]

Train spotter. or foamer?