TheRailwire

General Discussion => Prototype Railroads: News, Photos, Research => Topic started by: Erik W on January 28, 2014, 04:20:07 PM

Title: Big Boy to run again
Post by: Erik W on January 28, 2014, 04:20:07 PM

This will be a something to see once UP is finished.
http://news.yahoo.com/photos/big-boy-locomotive-begins-california-farewell-tour-slideshow/?pt=tAD2SCT8P7

Erik

Title: Re: Big Boy to run again
Post by: mirage on January 29, 2014, 08:10:25 AM

I saw this one on YT yesterday  :)

Title: Re: Big Boy to run again
Post by: Philip H on January 29, 2014, 02:10:45 PM

Nice - too bad it won't run east.

Title: Re: Big Boy to run again
Post by: wcfn100 on January 29, 2014, 02:22:36 PM

I may have to make the trip up to Cheyenne when it due to come in.


Jason

Title: Re: Big Boy to run again
Post by: trainforfun on January 29, 2014, 03:25:08 PM

Thanks for the link , this is beautifull !!!
Funny that the lead loco is numbered 4884 when the steam loco have a wheel agencement 4-8-8-4 !!!  :D

A couple of questions :
why did they have to carry so many cars in the consist ?
At the beginning the siderods on the right side ( front and rear ) are synchronized , at the end of the video they are at 180 deg. , I thought all the wheels were the same dimension ?

Title: Re: Big Boy to run again
Post by: C855B on January 29, 2014, 06:24:04 PM

Quote from: trainforfun on January 29, 2014, 03:25:08 PM

Funny that the lead loco is numbered 4884 when the steam loco have a wheel agencement 4-8-8-4 !!!

It was intentional.

Quote

...why did they have to carry so many cars in the consist ?

Additional weight for braking on grades. Hoppers were filled with sand. They could not be 100% certain that the brakes on the locomotive were going to be enough to contain it after sitting for over 50 years.

Quote

At the beginning the siderods on the right side ( front and rear ) are synchronized , at the end of the video they are at 180 deg. , I thought all the wheels were the same dimension?

There is enough distance between the front and back engines to travel different distances entering and exiting sharp curves, such as turnouts.

Title: Re: Big Boy to run again
Post by: Erik W on January 29, 2014, 11:34:00 PM

Here's a good Big Boy introduction.
Not a valid youtube URL
Erik

Title: Re: Big Boy to run again
Post by: trainforfun on January 30, 2014, 08:59:43 AM

Quote from: C855B on January 29, 2014, 06:24:04 PM

It was intentional.

Additional weight for braking on grades. Hoppers were filled with sand. They could not be 100% certain that the brakes on the locomotive were going to be enough to contain it after sitting for over 50 years.

There is enough distance between the front and back engines to travel different distances entering and exiting sharp curves, such as turnouts.

Thanks !!!!!!

Title: Re: Big Boy to run again
Post by: R.Groff on January 30, 2014, 12:52:26 PM

Thanks for the posts seeing the Big Boy in action is amazing.
Rick Groff

Title: Re: Big Boy to run again
Post by: Robbman on January 30, 2014, 07:06:08 PM

Quote from: C855B on January 29, 2014, 06:24:04 PM

It was intentional.

Additional weight for braking on grades. Hoppers were filled with sand. They could not be 100% certain that the brakes on the locomotive were going to be enough to contain it after sitting for over 50 years.

They were for all the braking... a dead steam locomotive isn't capable of braking itself (well... if it was rebuilt with MU cables and a 26L it could).  When they moved the NKP 763 to Ohio from Roanoke, empty gons were used for the same reason.