4014 Rides the Rails Again

[webenda]

January 26, 2014, moved out of Pomona Fairplex, California on way to Cheyenne.
May 2, 2019, restored Union Pacific "Big Boy" 4014 Test Run in Cheyenne, WY
https://youtu.be/MjoMBKWW0ag

[healey36]

Nice...hopefully we'll be seeing something similar later this year when WMSR completes its 1309 project.

[Roy]

It's good to see the Big Boy running again. It'll be even better to see it running sans diesels.

I'm inclined to think this must be a response to the fact that modern American freight diesels are so hideously ugly. I dare say, locomotive builders don't spend a nickel on design, to improve the appearance of these nasty things.

[healey36]

Function over form, mate.

[Roy]

Function over form, mate.

I suppose you could say the same thing about cars and motorcycles, too.

[rex desilets]

It's good to see the Big Boy running again. It'll be even better to see it running sans diesels.
Not certain UP will let any steamer out on mainline rails without diesel backup. Sad.

I'm inclined to think this must be a response to the fact that modern American freight diesels are so hideously ugly. I dare say, locomotive builders don't spend a nickel on design, to improve the appearance of these nasty things.
Design brutalism, Le Corbusier school, although I doubt the manufacturers or railroads give looks a second thought. OTOH, except for attempts at streamlining, I doubt railroads or builders gave any thought to aesthetics, either. Except for some examples (CB&Q come to my mind), steam locomotives are inherently pleasing to the eye.

[J. S. Bach]

...snip... I'm inclined to think this must be a response to the fact that modern American freight diesels are so hideously ugly. ...snip...

A lot of steam was not all that pretty either. We as historically-minded "train nuts" might think so, but to most everyone else ..........................

[Rufus T. Firefly]

A lot of steam was not all that pretty either.

True. The overwhelming vast majority of steam is only slightly sampled in model offerings and only slightly more available in the literature.

[webenda]

4014 & 844 Double Heading Harriman Wyoming May 4, 2019
https://youtu.be/EqgdZMTkV9Y

[Roy]

I'm inclined to think [restoring notable steam locomotives] must be a response to the fact that modern American freight diesels are so hideously ugly. I dare say, locomotive builders don't spend a nickel on design, to improve the appearance of these nasty things.

Design brutalism, Le Corbusier school, although I doubt the manufacturers or railroads give looks a second thought. OTOH, except for attempts at streamlining, I doubt railroads or builders gave any thought to aesthetics, either. Except for some examples (CB&Q come to my mind), steam locomotives are inherently pleasing to the eye.

You might want to read up on locomotive builder William Mason.

[rex desilets]

I have. The exception that proves the rule.

[webenda]

Tranz4mr says, "Saturday we went to Harrison WY, a remote stop on the Union Pacific Railroad about 30 miles west of Cheyenne to catch a scheduled stop of recently restored steam engine 4014. Here is my video."
< https://youtu.be/BEas9OixdAU >

One frame from Kent's video:


That is mighty low down Kent.

[Roy]

I wonder what they're firing the engine with? I saw almost no smoke.

[robert.]

Fired with oil. Some say it was only running on the front cylinders.

[Roy]

Thanks, Robert. Perhaps the wind quickly dissipated the exhaust steam.