#big boy no. 4014

[woundedheartwithin]

That's a big choo choo! Union Pacific 4014, affectionately known as Big Boy after an unknown American Locomotive Company worker wrote the name on No. 4000's smokebox door in chalk, is one of only eight remaining 4-8-8-4 steam locomotives left of the 25 that were original produced in 1941 and 1944, and the only one of its kind still in operation today. Weighing in at 1.2 million pounds with a length of 132 feet, Big Boy is the largest steam engine ever built, designed to tackle steep rail lines that ordinarily needed more than one engine to climb. The frames of the locomotive were articulated, which allowed it to negotiate curves at speed, making it not just powerful, but sure-footed as well.

No. 4014 completed its final revenue run on July 21, 1959, and was officially retired on December 7, 1961. It sat on static display at RailGiants Museum in Pomona, California until 2013, when it began its journey to new life in Union Pacific's excursion service. True to its name, the locomotive was so big that UP had to expand their Steam Shop to accommodate it! Restoration began on No. 4014 in 2016 and continued until 2019, during which time the locomotive was completely disassembled, repaired, converted from coal to oil, and reassembled into operational order. On May 1, 2019, Big Boy No. 4014 backed out of the UP Steam Shop, moving under its own power for the first time in almost 60 years.

Up close, Big Boy is, well, BIG. It's impossible not to feel very small standing next to the world's largest operational steam locomotive, looking up at all the intricate machinery that makes No. 4014 capable of hauling 6,000 tons over steep grades. Its whistle sounds like something out of a movie, loud and haunting, and folks in the crowd slapped their hands over their ears in surprise when the locomotive finally announced its departure from this stop. As it left town, a plume of black smoke belched from the engine's smokestack, creating the iconic silhouette of a steam engine at work, and then it set off for its next whistle stop, continuing its trek across Texas toward Houston, where it will double back to Fort Worth and beyond on its way back home to Cheyenne, Wyoming. It was a privilege to see this incredible machine in action, and I wish it a safe journey and many more excursions to come!

[2inx4inx8inbrick]

Union Pacific Bigboy 4014 at Linwood Kansas on its way to Topeka KS

taken 10/17/24

[trainmaniac]

Union Pacific 4014 Big Boy

[kcvulpinestudios]

As of lately, I’ve been chasing the Union Pacific Big Boy No, 4014 as it makes its way into California. Will give the full report later, but wanted to share this cute moment of Michael posing with the engine at the Western Pacific Railroad Museum in Portola CA.

[aeviarth-the-dragoness]

Union Pacific Big Boy Dragon Taur

[brownsugar-chan]

It looks half decent I think!

[candijunelee]

More of the 4014 Union Pacific Steam Locomotive.

[pxmun]

Look what I saw today l🚂

[thezimster]

Photo by

Walt Zimmer

[collinthenychudson]

Went up to Ogden to see Union Pacific 4014 again, this time with No. 1983 making a guest appearance.

[tornadoyoungiron]

You Americans and your Big Fuck off Centipede

This is so well edited I had to share

[2inx4inx8inbrick]

Union Pacific Bigboy 4014 leaving Kansas City Union Station

taken 10/17/24

[eltristan]

Monet, Claude - Arrival of the American Train in Late Autumn - c. 1948, Private collection, 36 × 48 in. W.4014

[matlockandthewaffles]

Some of my art! These are all my train gijinkas! From the top left to the bottom right: Southern Pacific no. 18 'Slim Princess', Union Pacific no. 4014 'Big Boy', Little Princess (a small fake train made form wood for toddlers to play in), Death Valley Railroad no. 5 Doodlebug, and Southern Pacific no. 9.

All but Big Boy can be found at the Laws Railroad Museum and Historical Site in California. I've been there a few times and thought I ought to draw its residents as humans. Big Boy was sort of a request from my father so he's there, too.

A few facts: - Without their shoes, Doodlebug is slightly shorter than no. 9, but with shoes, he's slightly taller. - Little Princess calls no. 9 'Nina' and Doodlebug 'Doodles' - In normal form, only Doodlebug can move regularly, but Slim Princess is able to move and no. 9 may be able to soon.

Here's the link to Laws' site and Big Boy's schedule, if you want a little further reading:

[littlewestern]

Let's go for something out there or not really, depends.

Big Boy 4014

Lord if that ain't an engine. She's a beaut!

Sadly, outside of the steam engines which cameo in ttte, my knowledge and headcanons for real life engines pretty much start and end with Burlingtons and Burlington Accessories.

That said, I do know Flying Scotsman met Big Boy 4017. If he ever came 'round again, I'd love to see him next to 4014 and I imagine I'm not alone in this.

[railway-roundhouse]

They weren't fucking kidding...those boys sure can big