Union Pacific Big Boy 4014 Question & Answer Session — Roseville, CA

Roughly 30 minutes of questions and answers by Big Boy's crew during the Roseville, CA, stop on July 13, 2024.
00:52 How do steam pipes flex with articulation?
02:12 Is the locomotive cool for static display?
- - - - Boiler about 150psi & 400 degrees during static display
- - - - Cab crew will arrive about 3 hours before departure
- - - - Safety valves are tested daily during operation, set at 300psi
- - - - The locomotive will be either be warm or hot for the the duration of tour
- - - - Originally went from cold to hot in hours, now they do it over a period of 4 days.
- - - - How hot in cab? Real Hot! Crossing NV, 117 outside, 140 degrees in cab
03:02 What is the fuel consumption?
- - - - Flat terrain: 15-18 gallons per mile
- - - - Donner Pass climb: 20-25 gallons per mile
- - - - (Note: WW-II aircraft carrier CV-12 Hornet: 330 gallons per mile at 30 knots)
03:32 What is the fuel used?
03:52 What is expected of the Heritage Fleet?
04:21 How hot is the superheater steam?
- - - - Listen to the whistle -- wet vs. dry steam -- whistle gets really loud!
- - - - Superheat steam around 700 to 750 degrees down to the cylinders
06:20 What is it like to work on heritage equipment?
09:38 How do you minimize grade crossing accidents?
11:11 How old is the Big Boy?
11:46 How fast is the Big Boy?
- - - - This locomotive was built for power, not speed -- 40mph works well
- - - - Wikipedia has lowered maximum speed from 80 to 60mph -- Ed would like to see 55
13:05 What is the role of the Fireman?
- - - - All of this is good but this segment is REALLY GOOD!
- - - - Injector adds about 3 gallons/second (ElkoDaily crew conversation)
15:12 Tell us about going through tunnels?
- - - - Ditto in the really good segment department!
- - - - Learn about the stack hood, its use, and its changing the fire dynamics
- - - - Learn about the Chilcoot Tunnel, 0.8% grade, 15# back pressure, heat, light at end of tunnel
20:35 What is the horsepower of the Big Boy?
22:26 Ed, what do you feel when operating the 4014?
- - - - A beautiful simplicity. Tremendous power and responsibility. Controlled manually by hand.
- - - - Ed's brothers will describe the experience too. Hear a puff and a chuff...
- - - - Quite humbling to operate a giant machine like that. The partnership between man & machine.
- - - - Very busy. Watching pressure, water, emotions. Huge responsibility.
27:44 How do you keep the Big Boy from derailing?
29:45 Why does Union Pacific do this?
- - - - Union Pacific is a steward of American history, bringing the country together.
- - - - It's for you.
- - - - The American spirit. No other country came close to making a locomotive like this.
32:00 Pan of the crowd and Big Boy
34:00 How long and how far to stop this train?
34:24 Positive Train Control (PTC). Provides warning distance & stopping distance.
35:00 How do you re-rail a Big Boy?
- - - - Oak blocking and steel plates are carried to get them started.
36:50 Where are you headed next?
- - - - Up to a 2.2% grade on climb to Donner Summit from Roseville
38:52 Short video of the Big Boy departing Oroville, CA

And finally, as Ed and his team would remind us, please stay at least 25 feet back from the tracks for safety. Be sure to visit www.up.com and see there schedule and tracking information.

To all involved with this tour, THANK YOU!