I love the story of how they got their name. Imagine a small joke that you made in the last hours of your shift, probably only getting a slight chuckle out of you, gets taken up on by the company itself as the official name of the project.
Not the only time it would happen. The press took one look at the B-17 and called it a "Flying Fortress", Boeing liked the name so much they called dibs and apparently so did the USAAF.
I forget where I heard this from but my favorite story involving Big Boys was when some German PoWs saw one in action with a hundred cars loaded with tanks and other pieces of "bad guy to baloney mist" technology and realized how screwed they were.
Sounds like war propaganda to me, but its plausible i guess, did they bring pows back to the us during the war? I would have thought storing them in england or an occupied territory would be more cost efficient
@@Colt45hatchback Plenty of German POWs in the US, all over the country. Some did escape, I think all but one were caught. The one who stayed free has a great story. Memory says he escaped just before Germany surrendered, so he was no longer a POW, and he eventually married and then 20-30 years later, turned himself in, and the immigration bureaucrats couldn't figure out what to do with him. He had not entered the country illegally, he hadn't overstayed a tourist or student visa, and finally they just gave up trying to prosecute him.
@@Colt45hatchback Yes, there were HUNDREDS of thousands of POW's interred alll over the US, some as far west as California. They undoubtedly would be transported by train, and would've seen the massive US industrial complex, realize the size of the US, thus coming to the obvious conclusion that they were screwed...
@@Colt45hatchback German Intelligence services were pretty crap in WW2 (not as bad Japan's but still terrible), and outside of counterespionage and hunting partisans failed pretty hard and everything they tried to do. They were genuinely surprised by the FD 2-10-2 locomotive the soviets had, not to mention the sheer numbers of soviet reinforcements and unwillingness to give up of soviet soldiers and citizenry. Apparently, they had an agent report a vague description of the big boys or a similar steam freight giant back to German spy HQ, but HQ didn't believe that such a steam engine of that size could exist let alone operate efficiently, so they dismissed the report out of hand.
6290 horsepower at the cylinders at full power, which is quite a lot even for a 21st century diesel locomotive. But the record also states that coal consumption was 44,000 lbs per hour at full power - nearly 20 tonnes - which is an enormous amount. And yet it also goes to show how much energy is in coal if only we could have captured it fully. Steam engines are only 5-10% efficient. Andre Chapelon's magnificent no.242A1 compound produced 5500hp, yet weighed less than half that of the UP 4000s, albeit with a tractive effort understandably also only half.
I got to see 4014 up close in real life when she rolled into Chicago. Absolute fucking unit! She's so big that some turns she cannot do due to size! But even smaller engines like the N&W 611 can still do freight runs! So, I see big boy as like a real unit of a hauler!
I remember going to Pennsylvania on vacation, we would stop in Scranton a few times to visit the railroad museum located there. I was probably 8 or 9 at the time and I remember asking a museum staff member if the Big Boy would ever run under it's own steam again, standing beside it as a young boy it was such a huge beast of iron. I was told it would never happen as it would cost far too much for anyone to be interested. When I heard UP was going to restore 4014 for excursion service I felt like a kid again, I've yet to been able to make it out to see him ride the high iron yet but plan on doing so soon. Such a marvel they designed this masterpiece of engineering back when they did, like the old battleships, just something about the old technology that was so far ahead of it's time almost.
@@SlaggyJoe last time I was there was the late 90s and she wasn't in the best shape then, the Hudson was their star at the time. It's good to see them take care of such history
I had exactly the same experience-saw 4012 in Scranton, asked if it would run, got told no, and almost literally wept for joy when I heard 4014 was coming back. I really had a hard time believing it until I saw the videos documenting them pulling her out of the museum (which bizarrely got taken down-why UP?).
@@00Zy99 I got to see 4014 up close in person when she came to Chicago. I was not the only one in the family. In fact my dad's side of the family (majority) went to see her. Millions got to see 4014!
Had the absolute privilege of seeing 4014 during the last tour, and there really is no substitute for seeing the real thing run. The sheer size and power of the engine running at speed is enough to shake the ground under your feet. Truly a magical experience
I was standing trackside, 10-15 feet away on an embankment in the Sierras when a 4-6-6-4 Challenger thundered uphill, doubleheading with (I think) some 4-8-4 and the obligatory diesel. Feeling the ground shake was a good reminder of why railroads phased out steam for diesels.
@@grizwoldphantasia5005 I'm doubtful the ground shaking was a major consideration. I grew up about half a mile from some CSX tracks and those diesels could get the whole house rattling and shaking. There were many times that I felt a late night (or super early morning) train run by while lying in my bed on the 2nd floor. Unless you mean the shaking the engines experience, on the other hand, yeah - the maintenance that required was (probably) one of the biggest reasons for the change.
Last February some friends and I were at a convention in Dallas and we headed over to the Frisco Heritage Center where the Museum of the American Railroad is, the (under construction) home of Big Boy 4018. Its sheer size dwarfs everything around it - INCLUDING the DDA40X also in the museum's collection, the largest diesel ever built! - and only by standing next to the Big Boy do you really even comprehend the level of power these things were capable of even if the machine itself is no longer functional. Also, I'm not sure if this is 100% true, but I read that during WWII, German spies in the USA reported back to Germany that there were gigantic steam engines hauling mile long trains through the mountains. The German Intelligence disregarded these reports as 'unrealistic' which I find hysterical given the absolutely insane stuff Germany actually built around the same time, but somehow GIANT STEAM ENGINE was more unrealistic than the Maus or the Do 229.
I suspect more than a little racism/chauvinism in that. After all, only the GLORIOUS PURE ARYANS could achieve great things, not the American mongrels.
I absolutely love these locomotives. I always felt that these technological giants were the biggest example of combining brute strength, massive size, intriguing design, and American engineering. I have never actually seen one of these, because the FRM doesn't have any in it, but seeing this is definitely on my bucket list. Thanks for finally making a video on these guys, ToT! Have a great day.
As an American who loves UK steam, its interesting hearing a British person describe the most American🦅 of American locomotives. Just hearing you use terminology like shunting, footplate, and bogies in regards to the Big Boys is equally compelling and hilarious. Cheers, I love your channel. I get a little embarrased when I accidently say things like bogie around my railfan friends. Outing myself as a closeted Thomas foamer lol.
I'm American as well (specifically from Nebraska) and being a zoomer who grew up watching Thomas the Tank Engine, British Steam was my first love when it came to trains. But as I've gotten older I've come to appreciate American trains a lot more, but I still use British terminology a lot of the time. I really don't have a lot of friends who are into trains to appease given most of the railfans in my area are old enough to be my Grandpa and it feels really weird to be in a room full of baby boomers when I'm only 20. :|
The Big Boys also had a pretty good safety record. On April 27th, 1953, Big Boy #4005 was hauling a freight train when it derailed by the switch that diverts into a siding as it was going 50 mph (80km/h). The engineer and fireman were killed, but the front brakeman survived with serious injuries. He later passed away at the hospital from his injuries. It found that the switch was fiddled by two inexperienced men. As for #4005, it was sent to the UP's Cheyenne facility where it was rebuild and returned to service. A different tender was used. It was retired in 1957, and was donated to the Forney Transportation Museum in Denver, CO. Where it remains on static display. The Big Boys also played an important role of delivering military equipment to the allies to win WW2.
The Big Boys are icons of American Railroads! Wonderful that they have a video now on your channel. I always loved the story of how they got their names. We will never know the identity of that worker but he left his mark on history. Real legend whoever he is.
What I don’t think a lot of folks realize is these engines were built in Schenectady Works of ALCo… *All the way across the country in NY.* So these locomotives took a Cross country journey to get to their intended home and region of work.
They were transported dead... Side rods removed and an empty tender. They have to strengthen the route quite a bit just to haul them out of the east. The Boys would be hauled on some other railroad tracks and dwarf every locomotive they come across.
Well now you got me thinking, would they have come across one of the D&H J Class Challengers? NYC 0-8-8-0 Angus’ wouldn’t have been anywhere near them as they would’ve been tucked away in a Hump Yard while the Erie I don’t believe had any big Mallets of note at the time.
@@kimpatz2189Sending on what Locomotive it is, Some locomotives are as tall as big boy since all American Locomotives Are up to 16ft. However most Of the New York Central Locomotives are a limit of 15ft only, so I can see what you mean by dwarf.
I got a couple of suggestions: The N&W J 4-8-4, a phenomenal locomotive that was so mechanically well constructed, when compared to a Southern Railway passenger diesel-electric, the J was actually less expensive to maintain. They were also so well balanced, that they were able to run at 110 mph with just 70" driving wheels, and maybe even faster, among other such positives such as having the highest tractive effort of any 4-8-4 without a booster and smooth as silk ride quality. They also represented the pinnacle of steam technology along with the class A 2-6-6-4 and Y6 2-8-8-2. The C&O Allegheny H-8. Quite possibly the ultimate Superpower steam locomotive, with its enormous firebox and boiler, able to generate up to 7,498 drawbar horsepower at 46 mph. The Allegheny has a very interesting story. I recommend reading the book, The Allegheny - Lima's Finest, by Eugene Huddleston and Thomas Dixon Jr. for sources.
Thanks for taking a look at this engine. I hope they run excursions near enough so I can take a trip to see this engine live. I want to see it up close and highballing. I'm a bit disappointed you were not able to use footage of the restored Big Boy in action or old footage. It is impressive! I heard one of the CZcamsrs I watch who had just come back from watching Big Boy pass near his house. He was like a giddy, like an excited child. He said you can feel the engine shake the ground when it is a long way off and feel the whistle in your chest.
I've been waiting forever for the channel to start covering American Locomotive Company engines, and I'm truly glad you started with Big Boy. On a totally different note, if you ever have the chance to hear Big Boy's whistle, I highly recommend it! Any recordings I've found on CZcams do not carry through properly, and don't convey the sheer power of this great machine
@@jerrysgardentractorsengine2243 I realized that I omitted something from my comment and have edited it accordingly. I know that ToT has covered American locomotives before, but this is the first of the more well known machines from the American Locomotive Company
I actually got to see this behemoth when it last went on a run in 2022. It was amazing. Listening to it thunder down the tracks and feeling the heat as it went under the bridges was something I'll never forget.
I saw 4014 at the RailGiants Museum in Pomona, California, before Union Pacific "repossessed" it to restore it. (You could climb up into the cab, and I did.) After it was returned to service, my husband and I went to Barstow to see it on its tour. Don't miss the chance if you can see it. It's really THAT BIG. Good on Union Pacific for maintaining its steam program, and on the dedicated crew that keep 4014 rolling.
Despite being originally designed to eliminate double heading, in a lot of footage from the 50s, there are many shots of the big boys working with 2-8-8-0s and 2-10-2s Just something cool that most people don’t know about
Problem with steam is that if you had to double head, you had to have 2 crews. With diesels, you can link as many of them together as you like. And only need one crew to run them all. That was the real cost savings with diesel. Less manpower.
These things are so big it's crazy. You really have to see them in person. It's like 4 school busses long and 2 tall. I seen 4014 in person running on both steam tours. It literally shakes the ground around it when it goes by its insane. I got some amazing pictures of them leaving Union station in kansas city.
I was there in 2019 at Union Station when it first came in at like 8pm when it was 20° out and hearing the whistle blow for the first time in the distance was an experience I’ll never forget. It was like meeting your childhood hero and they’re just as awesome as you imagined lol
IN 1956,we lived in Alta California.I would walk home from school.The rail road tracks were not far from home?I would watch the train,There was a Cab Forward Big Boyfirst,2nd. Was another Big Boy.As the train went by there was a pusher Big Boy.You could hear some whistle talk, then like magic you could only one engine all three were running exactly together.I would lay down on the ground to watch and the ground would shake.Wonderful.
I live in Kansas City which being in the center of the country is major hub for rail and road transportation. I have seen 4014 come through twice since the restoration and it is truly a sight to uphold. When under steam she truly shakes the ground as she goes by and the immense amount of steam and smoke is mesmerizing. Hopefully UP keeps it in operating condition for many decades to come so people can continue to witness first hand the just how powerful the golden age of steam could be.
These are my favorite engines! I have a very fond memory of spending a day in 2019 following 4014 around Minnesota the last time it visited the Midwest. I highly recommend seeing 4014 in action if you ever get the chance!
I remember when the Big Boy stopped at Ogden on her big tour. She stopped right alongside our Big Blow, 26. As Big as these trains are, the Super Turbines are even bigger.
I noticed a few comments about people wishing to see the 4014 in action. If you're a railfan, do all you can and go out of your way to see it. I was in Claremore, OK when it rolled through. Standing 20 feet away, you could feel the radiant heat of the engine as it rolled past. At speeds under 10mph, the quiet of such a massive piece of moving machinery was quite eerie. Note: there was probably $500 in change on the track that day. Mine included. I now have some trophy coins flattened by a Big Boy.
There were larger engines. The C & O built 3 ridiculously big steam turbines which were disastrous and didn't last long, then you had 2-8-8-8-2's (which didn't work very well) and such. The Big Boys, however, were completely successful, capable of lugging heavy loads over the mountains and at speed on the flat. They were among the very last mainline steam locomotives to be withdrawn in the US.
I've been in the cab of a Big Boy. I grew up in a division point on the UP. One of them was on its way to a museum. When it came through town, as part of a train, not under steam, I got to climb into the cab. It was HUGE, especially to a pre-teen!
I finally got to see a big boy in person in Cheyenne Wyoming last summer and let me say it was an awesome experience. As a kid I grew up watching train shows and the big boy was always my favorite. I can't really convey the truly immense size of this thing that you can really only appreciate when you are standing in its massive shadow. They are amazing pieces of engineering and I'm glad to see them covered on this great channel!
My mom and I chased UP #4014 from New Orleans, LA to Shreveport, LA back in August 2021 when they ran it down there. Dude let me tell you it was the experience of a lifetime! I’ve seen plenty of steam locomotives both static and in action and even been at the throttle of Nevada Northern #93 for 14 miles, but nothing compares to seeing the high king of the high iron himself pounding the rails once more!
Back in 2021 I got the opportunity to see Big Boy 4014 passing through a neighboring town I was living in during the time. Got the opportunity to see a railroad legend in person and up close
I've heard tell that it doesn't surprise you when the ground shakes standing near this thing. It surprises you when you realize that the engine isn't even moving and it's just blowing the whistle.
I have VHS tapes i use to watch as a kid with one of them showing these trains and it wasn't until 2021 i stopped in Scranton PA to see the one they have on display and these trains are massive in person,all the pins and linkages are huge and have to swing around going in and out just to go 40mph.Its amazing that it was built and balanced way before computers.
Got to see the 4014 big boy up close and in action a few years back. To say its big is for sure an understatement. They were running tests on the locomotive since it was restored. Quite the sight!
I got to see 4014 in person when it came to Oklahoma last time it came down here. I took a day to follow it throughout most of the state. It was one of the best experiences in my life.
In the steam era, multiple traction was difficult: It required a crew of driver and fireman in every cab and communication between them to accelerate in sync. So UP tried to pull their heaviest trains with one locomotive, which led to the Big Boys. This mindset survived into the diesel era with several attempts to push the boundaries of horsepower in a single locomotive (gas turbines, 8-axle locomotives, high-powered 6-axle locomotives), but in the end they went with standard designs in multiple traction according to the power needed.
Great work ToT. We have Big Boy #4017 in the National Railroad museum in Wisconsin. It was amazing to see up close just how massive these locomotives are.
These Big Boy steam locomotives that came near the end of the steam era were the ultimate in large, powerful steam locomotives. However they were a lot more expensive than diesel electric locomotives to maintain and operate. So it was inevitable that in commercial use diesel electric locomotives would replace steam locomotives. However because steam locomotives have a unique appeal to most people with all the sounds, steam, and external moving parts, some steam locomotives have been restored and put to use for tourism, special excursions and use as historical legacy equipment.
The Union Pacific rr "big boys" are among my top 5 personal favorite articulated type steam locomotive classes and I enjoy observing footage of them operating during the steam era ( 1940s-50s). The size and strength of the big boys are impressive and I am pleased that I witnessed the restoration of UP 4014 and return to service of that locomotive during my lifetime. The UP rr "big boy" locomotives are very popular among steam era fans and have a well secured position among famous steam engine classes, including being among some of the highest ranked performance rated articulated type steam locomotives.
In awe at the size of these lads Jokes aside, it's impressive how practical they turned out to be. I thought they'd be a failure like a certain class of Russian steam locomotives, but the Big Boys actually function quite well. Glad to hear they're preserved.
I'd argue the last hura of steam locomotives was in Japan. They didn't fully retire all steam until 1974 and there where several famous (at least in Japan) pulled until retirement. Such as the Niseko express that was a double headed steam express. Even then many went from service straight to static or live preservation
I would like to argue that the last hura of steam belongs to the Union Pacific with their northern type number 844. I say this because she was delivered to the UP in 1944 and burn coal. Then in 1946 burn oil. She has never been retired or removed from the UP’s roster since delivery. So technically the Union Pacific never fully dieselized because of her
Having seen #4017 at the National Railroad Museum in Ashwaubenon, nothing really gives you the sense of scale of this locomotive like seeing it up close yourself.
I got to see this absolute unit of a train once. They recently had restored one to working condition and had been touring so. The wheels on it alone are like up to my shoulders. It's insane honestly, all powered by steam pressure and some gears.
When people complain that American engines look quote on quote "ugly" I just sip my tea and say "we can haul way more plus our strongest loco is legit called Big Boi what's not to love"
Tbh the early american steamers were gorgeous and things like the Big Boy shouldn't look pretty. It was made to work long and hard and they genuinely demand respect with their appearance. And tbh, I don't even think they look that bad.
I've played Train Simulator, and of all the steam engines in it, the Big Boy is the fastest to start moving, even with a huge amount of freight behind it. Gotta love these power houses.
I have family in Green Bay, Wisconsin and I frequented the railroad museum there and basically grew up measuring my height next to #4017’s wheels until my adult life, where I was taller than it.
the real last hurrah of Steam is the story of Union Pacific #844, a 4-8-4 northern, and the longest serving steam engine ever built, as it was never removed from UP's roster. 844 managed to rescue a stalled freight train that had asked for backup due to one of its engines dying. 844 was the closest engine and offered to help. Little did the engineer of the stalled train know, till much later, that the train that was pushing his AND pulling its own, was non other then a STEAM engine.
Nope, 611's custodians, the Virginia Museum of Transportation, would be horrified to see their prized locomotive push or pull a freight train. Union Pacific on the other hand, wouldn't mind any of their steam locomotives to aid any freight train in trouble, as evidenced last year of #4014 coming to the aid of a stalled manifest train in Nebraska.
Awesome video!👍 I live in the area of Ogden/The Wasatch front. I love hearing about the history of the Rocky Mountains and how they caused some things like the Challengers and Big Boys.
Being an American rail fan of a certain age I never much cared for steam locomotives because they were before my time, that was until I heard about the Big Boys then I knew I had to hunt one down and see for myself just what all the fuss was about. And holy Hell THEY ARE BIG. You just won't believe how vastly, hugely, mind-bogglingly big they are.
Despite popular belief, the longest steam locomotive ever built was not the Union Pacific Big Boy class. The Big Boys were 132 feet long, but the Pennsylvania S1 was 140 feet long. Only one example was built in 1939 and was scrapped in 1949 but it was inefficient and the Pennsylvania Railroad was in financial troubles.
Just imagine if history and technology took a different path: We might have had Steam locomotives so powerful and tracks so long we could have driven a train straight to the moon!
Correction: With the exception of some second hand locomotives bought during WWII, Union Pacific never used Baker valve gear on any of their locomotives.
I believe this is what cat people would call a "heccin chonker"
Big Chungus
OH LAWD HE COMIN
🤣🤣🤣
You can feel the heat from 2 meters away.
@@drdewott9154 AROUND THE MOUNTAIN WHEN HE COMES
I love the story of how they got their name. Imagine a small joke that you made in the last hours of your shift, probably only getting a slight chuckle out of you, gets taken up on by the company itself as the official name of the project.
A small what?
There's a missing word
@@viquezug3936probably doodle
And that's why UP was the best. Because they valued their workers.
Not the only time it would happen. The press took one look at the B-17 and called it a "Flying Fortress", Boeing liked the name so much they called dibs and apparently so did the USAAF.
@@viquezug3936
"joke"
Thanks, lol
I forget where I heard this from but my favorite story involving Big Boys was when some German PoWs saw one in action with a hundred cars loaded with tanks and other pieces of "bad guy to baloney mist" technology and realized how screwed they were.
Sounds like war propaganda to me, but its plausible i guess, did they bring pows back to the us during the war? I would have thought storing them in england or an occupied territory would be more cost efficient
@@Colt45hatchback Plenty of German POWs in the US, all over the country. Some did escape, I think all but one were caught. The one who stayed free has a great story. Memory says he escaped just before Germany surrendered, so he was no longer a POW, and he eventually married and then 20-30 years later, turned himself in, and the immigration bureaucrats couldn't figure out what to do with him. He had not entered the country illegally, he hadn't overstayed a tourist or student visa, and finally they just gave up trying to prosecute him.
@@grizwoldphantasia5005 i wonder if 4005 had a nickname before it died the first time 😂
@@Colt45hatchback Yes, there were HUNDREDS of thousands of POW's interred alll over the US, some as far west as California. They undoubtedly would be transported by train, and would've seen the massive US industrial complex, realize the size of the US, thus coming to the obvious conclusion that they were screwed...
@@Colt45hatchback German Intelligence services were pretty crap in WW2 (not as bad Japan's but still terrible), and outside of counterespionage and hunting partisans failed pretty hard and everything they tried to do.
They were genuinely surprised by the FD 2-10-2 locomotive the soviets had, not to mention the sheer numbers of soviet reinforcements and unwillingness to give up of soviet soldiers and citizenry.
Apparently, they had an agent report a vague description of the big boys or a similar steam freight giant back to German spy HQ, but HQ didn't believe that such a steam engine of that size could exist let alone operate efficiently, so they dismissed the report out of hand.
I can't even imagine what it would have been like to operate an engine that size in service. The amount of power available must have felt unreal.
6290 horsepower at the cylinders at full power, which is quite a lot even for a 21st century diesel locomotive. But the record also states that coal consumption was 44,000 lbs per hour at full power - nearly 20 tonnes - which is an enormous amount. And yet it also goes to show how much energy is in coal if only we could have captured it fully. Steam engines are only 5-10% efficient. Andre Chapelon's magnificent no.242A1 compound produced 5500hp, yet weighed less than half that of the UP 4000s, albeit with a tractive effort understandably also only half.
I got to see 4014 up close in real life when she rolled into Chicago. Absolute fucking unit! She's so big that some turns she cannot do due to size! But even smaller engines like the N&W 611 can still do freight runs! So, I see big boy as like a real unit of a hauler!
@@polbeccait wasn’t even good quality coal, if it was better quality it would have had less consumption changing the numbers even more
I remember going to Pennsylvania on vacation, we would stop in Scranton a few times to visit the railroad museum located there. I was probably 8 or 9 at the time and I remember asking a museum staff member if the Big Boy would ever run under it's own steam again, standing beside it as a young boy it was such a huge beast of iron. I was told it would never happen as it would cost far too much for anyone to be interested. When I heard UP was going to restore 4014 for excursion service I felt like a kid again, I've yet to been able to make it out to see him ride the high iron yet but plan on doing so soon.
Such a marvel they designed this masterpiece of engineering back when they did, like the old battleships, just something about the old technology that was so far ahead of it's time almost.
4012 is still looking pretty good there, I saw it a year ago. Definitely will never run again, but it looks like they at least take care of it
@@SlaggyJoe last time I was there was the late 90s and she wasn't in the best shape then, the Hudson was their star at the time. It's good to see them take care of such history
I had a similar experience seeing that big boy in scranton. Absolute beast of an engine for sure lol.
I had exactly the same experience-saw 4012 in Scranton, asked if it would run, got told no, and almost literally wept for joy when I heard 4014 was coming back. I really had a hard time believing it until I saw the videos documenting them pulling her out of the museum (which bizarrely got taken down-why UP?).
@@00Zy99 I got to see 4014 up close in person when she came to Chicago. I was not the only one in the family. In fact my dad's side of the family (majority) went to see her. Millions got to see 4014!
Had the absolute privilege of seeing 4014 during the last tour, and there really is no substitute for seeing the real thing run. The sheer size and power of the engine running at speed is enough to shake the ground under your feet. Truly a magical experience
I was standing trackside, 10-15 feet away on an embankment in the Sierras when a 4-6-6-4 Challenger thundered uphill, doubleheading with (I think) some 4-8-4 and the obligatory diesel. Feeling the ground shake was a good reminder of why railroads phased out steam for diesels.
@@grizwoldphantasia5005 I'm doubtful the ground shaking was a major consideration. I grew up about half a mile from some CSX tracks and those diesels could get the whole house rattling and shaking. There were many times that I felt a late night (or super early morning) train run by while lying in my bed on the 2nd floor.
Unless you mean the shaking the engines experience, on the other hand, yeah - the maintenance that required was (probably) one of the biggest reasons for the change.
Last February some friends and I were at a convention in Dallas and we headed over to the Frisco Heritage Center where the Museum of the American Railroad is, the (under construction) home of Big Boy 4018. Its sheer size dwarfs everything around it - INCLUDING the DDA40X also in the museum's collection, the largest diesel ever built! - and only by standing next to the Big Boy do you really even comprehend the level of power these things were capable of even if the machine itself is no longer functional.
Also, I'm not sure if this is 100% true, but I read that during WWII, German spies in the USA reported back to Germany that there were gigantic steam engines hauling mile long trains through the mountains. The German Intelligence disregarded these reports as 'unrealistic' which I find hysterical given the absolutely insane stuff Germany actually built around the same time, but somehow GIANT STEAM ENGINE was more unrealistic than the Maus or the Do 229.
Or you know... Gustav.
I suspect more than a little racism/chauvinism in that. After all, only the GLORIOUS PURE ARYANS could achieve great things, not the American mongrels.
my guy really said "go big or go home"
If these where British, they probably be called "Huge Lads."
Great vid btw 👍
If they were Australian they'd be "Massive C*nts".
Nah. They'd be called "the old wife"
@@cleanerben9636 HEHEHEHEHEHEHEHEHEHEHEHEHEHEHEHEHEHEH! 🤣😂👌
Large Lads
I absolutely love these locomotives. I always felt that these technological giants were the biggest example of combining brute strength, massive size, intriguing design, and American engineering. I have never actually seen one of these, because the FRM doesn't have any in it, but seeing this is definitely on my bucket list. Thanks for finally making a video on these guys, ToT! Have a great day.
As an American who loves UK steam, its interesting hearing a British person describe the most American🦅 of American locomotives. Just hearing you use terminology like shunting, footplate, and bogies in regards to the Big Boys is equally compelling and hilarious. Cheers, I love your channel. I get a little embarrased when I accidently say things like bogie around my railfan friends. Outing myself as a closeted Thomas foamer lol.
Except that the driving wheels aren't mounted on bogies... Just the pilot and trailing wheels.
I'm American as well (specifically from Nebraska) and being a zoomer who grew up watching Thomas the Tank Engine, British Steam was my first love when it came to trains. But as I've gotten older I've come to appreciate American trains a lot more, but I still use British terminology a lot of the time. I really don't have a lot of friends who are into trains to appease given most of the railfans in my area are old enough to be my Grandpa and it feels really weird to be in a room full of baby boomers when I'm only 20. :|
The Big Boys also had a pretty good safety record. On April 27th, 1953, Big Boy #4005 was hauling a freight train when it derailed by the switch that diverts into a siding as it was going 50 mph (80km/h). The engineer and fireman were killed, but the front brakeman survived with serious injuries. He later passed away at the hospital from his injuries. It found that the switch was fiddled by two inexperienced men. As for #4005, it was sent to the UP's Cheyenne facility where it was rebuild and returned to service. A different tender was used. It was retired in 1957, and was donated to the Forney Transportation Museum in Denver, CO. Where it remains on static display. The Big Boys also played an important role of delivering military equipment to the allies to win WW2.
The fact UP saw a problem and made a heckin chonker of a locomotive that was more powerful than anticipated is the definition of mid 1900s USA.
The Big Boys are icons of American Railroads! Wonderful that they have a video now on your channel. I always loved the story of how they got their names. We will never know the identity of that worker but he left his mark on history. Real legend whoever he is.
What I don’t think a lot of folks realize is these engines were built in Schenectady Works of ALCo… *All the way across the country in NY.* So these locomotives took a Cross country journey to get to their intended home and region of work.
They were transported dead...
Side rods removed and an empty tender.
They have to strengthen the route quite a bit just to haul them out of the east. The Boys would be hauled on some other railroad tracks and dwarf every locomotive they come across.
Well now you got me thinking, would they have come across one of the D&H J Class Challengers? NYC 0-8-8-0 Angus’ wouldn’t have been anywhere near them as they would’ve been tucked away in a Hump Yard while the Erie I don’t believe had any big Mallets of note at the time.
@@kimpatz2189Still cool they traveled that far, even if not under their own power.
@@kimpatz2189Sending on what Locomotive it is, Some locomotives are as tall as big boy since all American Locomotives Are up to 16ft. However most Of the New York Central Locomotives are a limit of 15ft only, so I can see what you mean by dwarf.
The big boys are certainly impressive, but you forgot to mention their wider gauge cousins. The HeftyBoy, The MegaBoy and the "Oh lawd he comin'"
How could you forget the biggest one of all? "Absolute Unit".
@@484berkshire The export version to Australia, right?
I hear Banjo-Kazooie music... autolike enabled
I got a couple of suggestions:
The N&W J 4-8-4, a phenomenal locomotive that was so mechanically well constructed, when compared to a Southern Railway passenger diesel-electric, the J was actually less expensive to maintain. They were also so well balanced, that they were able to run at 110 mph with just 70" driving wheels, and maybe even faster, among other such positives such as having the highest tractive effort of any 4-8-4 without a booster and smooth as silk ride quality. They also represented the pinnacle of steam technology along with the class A 2-6-6-4 and Y6 2-8-8-2.
The C&O Allegheny H-8. Quite possibly the ultimate Superpower steam locomotive, with its enormous firebox and boiler, able to generate up to 7,498 drawbar horsepower at 46 mph. The Allegheny has a very interesting story. I recommend reading the book, The Allegheny - Lima's Finest, by Eugene Huddleston and Thomas Dixon Jr. for sources.
This
Yeah! Apparently 611 still runs freight to this day
There is nothing on earth like the whistle of a big boy. Never have i gotten such chills from just a sound. It is haunting.
Thanks for taking a look at this engine. I hope they run excursions near enough so I can take a trip to see this engine live. I want to see it up close and highballing. I'm a bit disappointed you were not able to use footage of the restored Big Boy in action or old footage. It is impressive! I heard one of the CZcamsrs I watch who had just come back from watching Big Boy pass near his house. He was like a giddy, like an excited child. He said you can feel the engine shake the ground when it is a long way off and feel the whistle in your chest.
I've been waiting forever for the channel to start covering American Locomotive Company engines, and I'm truly glad you started with Big Boy.
On a totally different note, if you ever have the chance to hear Big Boy's whistle, I highly recommend it! Any recordings I've found on CZcams do not carry through properly, and don't convey the sheer power of this great machine
My guy, ToT has made multiple videos on American engines. This is like the 5th or 6th video to date
@@jerrysgardentractorsengine2243 I realized that I omitted something from my comment and have edited it accordingly. I know that ToT has covered American locomotives before, but this is the first of the more well known machines from the American Locomotive Company
I’m very glad I had the opportunity to see the 4014 when it came to union station in Kansas City. Jaw dropping indeed.
I actually got to see this behemoth when it last went on a run in 2022. It was amazing. Listening to it thunder down the tracks and feeling the heat as it went under the bridges was something I'll never forget.
I remember seeing one at Steamtown when it was in Bellows Falls, Vermont in 1973. I'd love to see one running.
You haven't seen #UP4014 running around? Heck, #UnionPacific has just released its upcoming excursion schedule a few week ago!
My dad took me to see the big boy once since I had always been a fan of Thomas. It was surreal to say the least and I’ll never forget her
I saw 4014 at the RailGiants Museum in Pomona, California, before Union Pacific "repossessed" it to restore it. (You could climb up into the cab, and I did.) After it was returned to service, my husband and I went to Barstow to see it on its tour. Don't miss the chance if you can see it. It's really THAT BIG. Good on Union Pacific for maintaining its steam program, and on the dedicated crew that keep 4014 rolling.
Despite being originally designed to eliminate double heading, in a lot of footage from the 50s, there are many shots of the big boys working with 2-8-8-0s and 2-10-2s
Just something cool that most people don’t know about
a biproduct of how much trains had grown and the uneven terrian.
Problem with steam is that if you had to double head, you had to have 2 crews. With diesels, you can link as many of them together as you like. And only need one crew to run them all. That was the real cost savings with diesel. Less manpower.
The PRR S1 duplexes were actually longer than the big boys.
The name is proof that humor cycles through the generations. If this was designed today, it absolutely would be named “The Big Boi”.
These things are so big it's crazy. You really have to see them in person. It's like 4 school busses long and 2 tall. I seen 4014 in person running on both steam tours. It literally shakes the ground around it when it goes by its insane. I got some amazing pictures of them leaving Union station in kansas city.
I was there in 2019 at Union Station when it first came in at like 8pm when it was 20° out and hearing the whistle blow for the first time in the distance was an experience I’ll never forget. It was like meeting your childhood hero and they’re just as awesome as you imagined lol
IN 1956,we lived in Alta California.I would walk home from school.The rail road tracks were not far from home?I would watch the train,There was a Cab Forward Big Boyfirst,2nd. Was another Big Boy.As the train went by there was a pusher Big Boy.You could hear some whistle talk, then like magic you could only one engine all three were running exactly together.I would lay down on the ground to watch and the ground would shake.Wonderful.
They are Beautiful
I live in Kansas City which being in the center of the country is major hub for rail and road transportation. I have seen 4014 come through twice since the restoration and it is truly a sight to uphold. When under steam she truly shakes the ground as she goes by and the immense amount of steam and smoke is mesmerizing. Hopefully UP keeps it in operating condition for many decades to come so people can continue to witness first hand the just how powerful the golden age of steam could be.
he's a big big boy he's the biggest boy!
I got to see 4014 in person. Absolutely exemplarizes what it means to be "cool"
Same when she went through Chicago. Such a beauty!
As a wise man once said "Damn boy he THICC!"
I didn't know there things existed
But now I do thank you sir
These are my favorite engines! I have a very fond memory of spending a day in 2019 following 4014 around Minnesota the last time it visited the Midwest. I highly recommend seeing 4014 in action if you ever get the chance!
I remember when the Big Boy stopped at Ogden on her big tour. She stopped right alongside our Big Blow, 26. As Big as these trains are, the Super Turbines are even bigger.
I noticed a few comments about people wishing to see the 4014 in action. If you're a railfan, do all you can and go out of your way to see it. I was in Claremore, OK when it rolled through. Standing 20 feet away, you could feel the radiant heat of the engine as it rolled past. At speeds under 10mph, the quiet of such a massive piece of moving machinery was quite eerie. Note: there was probably $500 in change on the track that day. Mine included. I now have some trophy coins flattened by a Big Boy.
There were larger engines. The C & O built 3 ridiculously big steam turbines which were disastrous and didn't last long, then you had 2-8-8-8-2's (which didn't work very well) and such. The Big Boys, however, were completely successful, capable of lugging heavy loads over the mountains and at speed on the flat. They were among the very last mainline steam locomotives to be withdrawn in the US.
Love getting some train history knowledge while having vietnam flashbacks from the Banjo Kazooie quiz music in the background 😂
I've been in the cab of a Big Boy. I grew up in a division point on the UP. One of them was on its way to a museum. When it came through town, as part of a train, not under steam, I got to climb into the cab. It was HUGE, especially to a pre-teen!
I finally got to see a big boy in person in Cheyenne Wyoming last summer and let me say it was an awesome experience. As a kid I grew up watching train shows and the big boy was always my favorite. I can't really convey the truly immense size of this thing that you can really only appreciate when you are standing in its massive shadow. They are amazing pieces of engineering and I'm glad to see them covered on this great channel!
I saw one in my home state (Wisconsin)
4017
Will never forget
Having seen 4014 and 3985 pull excursions they both are impressive sights I still have yet to see 844 or 611
The Flying Scotsman: couldn't actually fly
Mallard: not really a duck
But the big boys, well...
My mom and I chased UP #4014 from New Orleans, LA to Shreveport, LA back in August 2021 when they ran it down there. Dude let me tell you it was the experience of a lifetime! I’ve seen plenty of steam locomotives both static and in action and even been at the throttle of Nevada Northern #93 for 14 miles, but nothing compares to seeing the high king of the high iron himself pounding the rails once more!
Back in 2021 I got the opportunity to see Big Boy 4014 passing through a neighboring town I was living in during the time. Got the opportunity to see a railroad legend in person and up close
It happened in Big Boy then Last Of The Giants then The Union Pacific Big Boy Collection.
I've heard tell that it doesn't surprise you when the ground shakes standing near this thing. It surprises you when you realize that the engine isn't even moving and it's just blowing the whistle.
I have VHS tapes i use to watch as a kid with one of them showing these trains and it wasn't until 2021 i stopped in Scranton PA to see the one they have on display and these trains are massive in person,all the pins and linkages are huge and have to swing around going in and out just to go 40mph.Its amazing that it was built and balanced way before computers.
Roll On Big Boy, Roll On
How about covering Sierra Railway 3, the Movie Star locomotive?
I got to see it up close & running, last year. It's a wowzer
I got to see 4014 big boy a few years back. Absolutely massive. Its amazing to see
Got to see the 4014 big boy up close and in action a few years back. To say its big is for sure an understatement. They were running tests on the locomotive since it was restored. Quite the sight!
I stood next to the C&O Allegheny at the Henry Ford museum last week. Engines like this are truly massive.
I got to see 4014 in person when it came to Oklahoma last time it came down here. I took a day to follow it throughout most of the state. It was one of the best experiences in my life.
This one of my favorite steam engines! I was fortunate to see it in person in 2021. Thanks for making a video on it!
We need all of them back on the rails
These are some of the best!
I saw BB 4014 in Dalton.
The Big Boy locomotive was the coolest thing ever when I was 6
In the steam era, multiple traction was difficult: It required a crew of driver and fireman in every cab and communication between them to accelerate in sync.
So UP tried to pull their heaviest trains with one locomotive, which led to the Big Boys.
This mindset survived into the diesel era with several attempts to push the boundaries of horsepower in a single locomotive (gas turbines, 8-axle locomotives, high-powered 6-axle locomotives), but in the end they went with standard designs in multiple traction according to the power needed.
Yet strange how 611 still runs freight to this day
Great work ToT. We have Big Boy #4017 in the National Railroad museum in Wisconsin. It was amazing to see up close just how massive these locomotives are.
It was truly astounding to see one run past here in Tucson when it made it's run through Tucson several years back.
These Big Boy steam locomotives that came near the end of the steam era were the ultimate in large, powerful steam locomotives. However they were a lot more expensive than diesel electric locomotives to maintain and operate. So it was inevitable that in commercial use diesel electric locomotives would replace steam locomotives. However because steam locomotives have a unique appeal to most people with all the sounds, steam, and external moving parts, some steam locomotives have been restored and put to use for tourism, special excursions and use as historical legacy equipment.
The Union Pacific rr "big boys" are among my top 5 personal favorite articulated type steam locomotive classes and I enjoy observing footage of them operating during the steam era ( 1940s-50s). The size and strength of the big boys are impressive and I am pleased that I witnessed the restoration of UP 4014 and return to service of that locomotive during my lifetime. The UP rr "big boy" locomotives are very popular among steam era fans and have a well secured position among famous steam engine classes, including being among some of the highest ranked performance rated articulated type steam locomotives.
"Go big or go home"
Me:
In awe at the size of these lads
Jokes aside, it's impressive how practical they turned out to be. I thought they'd be a failure like a certain class of Russian steam locomotives, but the Big Boys actually function quite well. Glad to hear they're preserved.
Not to mention one is running around.
I'd argue the last hura of steam locomotives was in Japan.
They didn't fully retire all steam until 1974 and there where several famous (at least in Japan) pulled until retirement. Such as the Niseko express that was a double headed steam express.
Even then many went from service straight to static or live preservation
I would like to argue that the last hura of steam belongs to the Union Pacific with their northern type number 844. I say this because she was delivered to the UP in 1944 and burn coal. Then in 1946 burn oil. She has never been retired or removed from the UP’s roster since delivery. So technically the Union Pacific never fully dieselized because of her
It is an absolute unit
Soviets in the 30s: *frustrated*
Union Pacific in 2016: Let's resurrect a dinosaur!
Having seen #4017 at the National Railroad Museum in Ashwaubenon, nothing really gives you the sense of scale of this locomotive like seeing it up close yourself.
And then compare it to LNER A4 60008 Dwight D. Eisenhower, it just reinforces just how big a Big Boy is.
As history in the dark would say, "BIG CHUNGIS."
I got to see this absolute unit of a train once. They recently had restored one to working condition and had been touring so. The wheels on it alone are like up to my shoulders. It's insane honestly, all powered by steam pressure and some gears.
Nobody seems to comment on the music choice. A legendary computer game. Transport Tycoon
Had the honor of seeing 4014 in McAlester, Ok in August 2021. It's hard to describe the sheer presence that beast has
When people complain that American engines look quote on quote "ugly" I just sip my tea and say "we can haul way more plus our strongest loco is legit called Big Boi what's not to love"
Tbh the early american steamers were gorgeous and things like the Big Boy shouldn't look pretty. It was made to work long and hard and they genuinely demand respect with their appearance. And tbh, I don't even think they look that bad.
Um, some C&O fanboys are looking to have a word with you about the Big Boy being the strongest steam locomotive in America...
The people who like these engines probably love Iowa class battleships and B-29 superfortresses...
In awe at the size of this lad
*A B S O L U T E U N I T*
In awe of the size of this lad....
I believe this unit is the most absolute.
I've played Train Simulator, and of all the steam engines in it, the Big Boy is the fastest to start moving, even with a huge amount of freight behind it. Gotta love these power houses.
*RIPS OFF COUPLING LIKE CAPTAIN AMERICA RIPPING A LOG IN HALF LIKE ITS NOTHING* 😂
@@oldtimer4791 Why do you think American couplings are heavy locking mechanisms as opposed to a chain between two hooks?
@@templar_1138 I was being dramatically sarcastic
@@oldtimer4791 Poe's Law. Look it up.
I have family in Green Bay, Wisconsin and I frequented the railroad museum there and basically grew up measuring my height next to #4017’s wheels until my adult life, where I was taller than it.
the real last hurrah of Steam is the story of Union Pacific #844, a 4-8-4 northern, and the longest serving steam engine ever built, as it was never removed from UP's roster. 844 managed to rescue a stalled freight train that had asked for backup due to one of its engines dying. 844 was the closest engine and offered to help. Little did the engineer of the stalled train know, till much later, that the train that was pushing his AND pulling its own, was non other then a STEAM engine.
Wouldn't that honor actually go to N&W 611?
Nope, 611's custodians, the Virginia Museum of Transportation, would be horrified to see their prized locomotive push or pull a freight train.
Union Pacific on the other hand, wouldn't mind any of their steam locomotives to aid any freight train in trouble, as evidenced last year of #4014 coming to the aid of a stalled manifest train in Nebraska.
Awesome video!👍
I live in the area of Ogden/The Wasatch front. I love hearing about the history of the Rocky Mountains and how they caused some things like the Challengers and Big Boys.
BIG BOI
Being an American rail fan of a certain age I never much cared for steam locomotives because they were before my time, that was until I heard about the Big Boys then I knew I had to hunt one down and see for myself just what all the fuss was about. And holy Hell THEY ARE BIG. You just won't believe how vastly, hugely, mind-bogglingly big they are.
Love your videos, but this one totally distracted me with the Banjo Kazooie soundtrack going behind you 😂
Look at the abesolute size of this UNIT
Despite popular belief, the longest steam locomotive ever built was not the Union Pacific Big Boy class. The Big Boys were 132 feet long, but the Pennsylvania S1 was 140 feet long. Only one example was built in 1939 and was scrapped in 1949 but it was inefficient and the Pennsylvania Railroad was in financial troubles.
"If brute force doesn't work, you're just not using enough of it."
- Isaak Arthur
Another great video.
Just imagine if history and technology took a different path: We might have had Steam locomotives so powerful and tracks so long we could have driven a train straight to the moon!
truly a marvel of engineering.
Easily Union Pacific's fourth best class of steam locomotive!
If only they knew who the employee was who gave the Big Boys their name, 'cause that man should've been rewarded handsomely for that.
Correction: With the exception of some second hand locomotives bought during WWII, Union Pacific never used Baker valve gear on any of their locomotives.