Here is a shot of the front end of the boiler on UP 4014. The Big Boys were designed in a cooperative effort between ALCO and UP. UP's Challenger locomotives (4-6-6-4) could not handle heavier trains alone over the grade on the Overland Route. The articulated Big Boys (4-8-8-4) were the solution. The could easily handle the heavier trains and maintain speeds over 60 MPH. The last revenue run of a Big Boy was on July 21, 1959 with the arrival of a train in Green River, WY. Most of the 25 units were kept in operational condition (although stored) until 1961. Four were kept until 1962.
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Posted By Dan On Thursday, July 3, 2014 At 7:45:20 PM (PT)
Nice shot!
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