Union Pacific already has a mighty impressive fleet of heritage equipment when you consider two steam engines ("Challenger" 4-6-6-4, UP 3985 and "Northern" 4-8-4, UP 844) as well as active E9s (UP 951 and 949) and a DDA40X (UP 6936). In 2012, they announced they wanted to bring one of the eight surviving "Big Boy" 4-8-8-4 steam locomotives back into active service. None of the eight survivors has been capable of running under steam in decades. In 2013, UP announced that UP 4014 would be reacquired from the RailGiants Train Museum in Pomona, CA. In January 2014, it was moved to UP's West Colton Yard. Then, in late April 2014, it started its journey to Cheyenne to be rebuilt and reactivated. Here is a shot of the unit on display in Las Vegas. I happened to be in town on a business trip and things worked out perfect for a quick stop.
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