See more ideas about union pacific railroad, steam locomotive and locomotive. Up big boys and challengers classic trains magazine. The author is an expert on union pacific steam locomotives and was, for a time, employed by the up to take photos for company use. Twentyfive big boys were built exclusively for union pacific railroad, the first of which was delivered in 1941. The big boy fleet of twenty five locomotives were used primarily in the wyoming division to haul freight between green river, wyoming and ogden, utah. Between americas retreat from china in late november 1941 and the moment general macarthurs airplane touched down on the japanese mainland in august of 1945, five men connected by happenstance fought the key battles of the war against japan. Union pacific big boys in action big boy, the worlds largest steam locomotive, is in the news as union pacific railroad plans to restore one of these behemoths to operative condition. There are now eight big boys preserved at various museums and parks across the united states. Union pacific big boy collection dvd train video depot.
Apr 06, 2015 a tribute to the big boy locomotives produced by union pacific, last of the giants shows the end of a memorable era in western railroading. It has been called the last of the giant freight locomotives, a lumbering behemoth known as the big boy 4014. Files are available under licenses specified on their description page. One of the biggest and most powerful steam locomotives in history has returned to life. Union pacific big boy locomotive begins journey from. Union pacific big boy locomotive on road to restoration. Sorry, sold out the big boys were the stuff of legends, giants of the rails, revered for their immense size, power, and reliability.
Find mugs, keychains, shirts, and more featuring the union pacific big boy. Richard leonards union pacific big boys and challengers. I was hesitant about buying it at first as i have six volumes of the smoke across the prairie, etc, series and thought this book might be full of repeats. Everyday low prices and free delivery on eligible orders. The american visitorthomas and percy chugged quickly to the docks and talked about what the visitor might be like. This book gives the historical background on the early 1940s development, explains.
Download for free on all your devices computer, smartphone, or tablet. Big boy, the largest successful engine ever created, was not only a technological achievement and trophy piece, rather a necessity for the union pacific railroad. The big boy has the longest engine body of any reciprocating steam locomotive, longer than two buses. This book not only describes the origin, design, construction and operation of these massive locomotives but also provides a meticulous view of each part that went into them from cab to firebox. Why railfans still love the worlds largest steam locomotive. I have a two yearold son, so as you can imagine i read a lot of books about trains. Full text of the ridpath library of universal literature. Union pacific steam big boy portraits by bush, john and ethernberger, james and a great selection of related books, art and collectibles available now at. Union pacific 4014, also known as the big boy, is a steam locomotive owned and operated by the union pacific railroad.
Union pacific big boy collection dvd the finest in. Dec 20, 2016 the big boy utilized a 4884 wheel arrangement and was the only locomotive to do so. Twentyfive big boy s were built exclusively for the union pacific, the first of which was delivered in 1941. When his wish comes true, oli goes on an adventure as a giant boy, only to soon realize it was all a dream, and how being little is good sometimes. Work on restoring union pacific s big boy, locomotive no. Easily share your publications and get them in front of issuus. Nov 14, 20 union pacific railroad today announced that big boy no. In the distance theres a whistle, and then the characteristic eight beats per revolutionit has to be an articulated steamer. Union pacific making progress on preparing big boy to move sept.
Big boy, the worlds largest steam locomotive, is in the news as union pacific railroad plans to restore one of these behemoths to operative condition. The american visitor chapter 1, a thomas the tank engine. In anticipation of the event, this book covers the engine class between 1941 and 1959, when big boys were in regular service in utah and wyoming. Shop at the national railroad museum online store for union pacific big boy items. Why railfans still love the worlds largest steam locomotive james j. Dec 01, 2009 penguin delivers you to the front lines of the pacific theater with the reallife stories behind the hbo miniseries. Union pacific big boy news newspapers books scholar jstor october 20. Union pacific big boys in action from karens books. Union pacifics historic steam locomotives big boy no. Forgings are made with a special combination of steels called. The union pacific big boy is a type of simple articulated 4884 steam locomotive manufactured by the american locomotive company alco between 1941 and 1944 and operated by the union pacific railroad in revenue service until 1959. Click here for big boy news union pacific big boy 4014 a brief history of this engine. The union pacific railroad was constantly in search of more powerful locomotives to pull its long and heavy freight trains through the heavily graded mountain passes of the rockies. Towed by modern dieselelectric union pacific freight locomotives, no.
Big boy is the popular name of the american locomotive company 4000class 4884 articulated, coalfired, steam locomotives manufactured between 1941 and 1944 and operated by the union pacific railroad until 1959. He couldnt wait to help his new found acquaintances. Oct 27, 2015 one of library journals 10 best books of 2015. Following his acclaimed atlantic and the men who united the states, new york times bestselling author simon winchester offers an enthralling biography of the pacific ocean and its role in the modern world, exploring our relationship with this imposing force of nature. The big boy s value to the railroad quickly justified these expenses, as the locomotive displayed its remarkable strength negotiating the infamous grades found on sherman hill and other points along the union pacific rails. I have a twoyearold son, so as you can imagine i read a lot of books about trains. It was likely the heaviest steam locomotive ever built. Donated by union pacific railroad in december 1961, locomotive number 4014 was the most famous locomotive in railgiants train museums impressive display of locomotives during its 52 years here.
This web site presents images of the union pacific railroads famous big boy 4884 articulated locomotives, along with the wellknown challenger 4664s. This book is very wellwritten, and has lots of great stories about big boys and many great steam era photos of big boys in action. The union pacific big boy 4002 model rests on a glassenclosed aluminum trestle and measures approximately 72 183 cm in length and weighs 180 lbs. See more ideas about union pacific railroad, big boys and old trains. Union pacific big boy railroad art print 16 x 24 print size. Only 25 were built and now for the first time pentrex shares all 25 of the big boys in action in the most incredible display of steam power ever.
The constant interest in the big boys led pentrex to conduct an exhaustive search for untapped footage. At the front of the engine was a fourwheel leading truck that had 36 in. The class of 4000 union pacific railroad up, known as big boy was the largest and most powerful steam locomotive class of up and one of the largest and most powerful in the world. This is a good little book containing good quality photos of big boy locos. Union pacific steam big boy portraits by john bush abebooks. Saving a big boy and other railroad stories unknown binding january 1, 2005 5. He thought the engine was just going to act like gordon. Featuring the inside story of the beginning of the engines historic journey, a behind the scenes look at no. The biggest, the strongest, the grandest american steam locomotive. Big boy, the worlds largest steam engine, is touring across the. A total of 25 specimens of the type of the american locomotive company alco were built, 20 in 1941 and five in 1944. Longer, heavier, more powerful than any other articulated steam locomotive in the western us, they became symbols of an era.
Jan 23, 2014 union pacific railroad will commence the historic move of big boy no. I really like them and it be nice to hear more stories about american and the engines there. The big boy utilized a 4884 wheel arrangement and was the only locomotive to do so. I took most of these photos on 35mm film during a family vacation trip from illinois to colorado and wyoming in the summer of 1957, and my brother took others on his camera with a larger negative size. I am a union pacific big boy, the engine said, sir topham hat called me from america to help you with some heavy freight. We saw last year how much america loves the big boy, and what it can do as the giant, rolling ambassador of the union pacific railroad. He has at least one john mcphee chromosome, if not two or three, and he is a geologist by training. The union pacific steam team began stripping the locomotive in early november, completing the disassembly process in january. Big boy is a story of a young boy named oli who wishes he were as big as his older brother.
This book, with text and more than 70 illustrations, describes the. Buy union pacific big boy collection dvd the finest in railroad entertainment from amazons movies store. All structured data from the file and property namespaces is available under the creative commons cc0 license. Winchester is at his best when writing about science. Detailed history of one of union pacifics most famous locomotives the big boy. One answer to that search was the articulated locomotive known as big boy. Included with the model are 45 wood patterns made by mr. Herman and used to cast in brass some of the various parts for the union pacific big boy 4002 model. Issuu is a digital publishing platform that makes it simple to publish magazines, catalogs, newspapers, books, and more online. Union pacific 4884 big boy locomotive old machine press.
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