Hello friends. I think this is my second or third post to the forum, but I wanted to weigh in a little on the subject. This has got to be one of the most scrutinized undertakings ever in the historic steam community. I have read opinions all over that range from Dickens being a savior to him being a demon. From people praising the restoration to people complaining that the restoration is too over the top and there was work done that didnt need to be done. The criticism I most laughed at was when the folks in Cheyenne removed the ceiling and remodeled the shops to better facilitate the restoration. How do you complain about that???
I dont get it.... an event that should be more unifying to the steam community is very fractured. I know (or at least hope I know) that the vast majority of train people (Casual to foamer) are just darned tickled that this locomotive is being returned to steam. The ONE locomotive that was unifomly believed to be permanently stuffed and mounted never to see life again on the rails, is about to steam out of town. This should be a singular call for celebration. In some small circles of the world however, there is so much vitriol over Mr. Dicken's or the U.P., or how they are changing plans, and so many other complaints too hard to remember.
I share with you guys that I would like to see the beast working solo and enjoy the sounds and impressiveness of this machine without another loco or an internal combustion engine getting in the way. That I am sure will happen. Just not this trip. It seems to me that UP is blending as many things together as it can to achieve several different results. 1) They want Big Boy for the 150th celebration 2) They are running out of time, and have pivoted in their strategy to ensure it happens. Hooking up the other power protects against issues, and I am assuming, allows the steam team to breaki in 4014 on the trip, allowing it to assume more of the work as more miles of no or minor adjustments are made. 3) The darn diesel I am assuming, is from the marketing department of UP. Blending the old and the new, making sure the current corporate image is out in front of the public.
Anyway.... I know that this is a narrow gauge forum, and let me tell you that I have enjoyed my daily visits to the site to read and learn more about the DRGW, RGS, C&TS, D&SRR as well as other narrow gauge railroads around the world. Reading about train movements, railraoder's logs, stories, the old heads, the memories, the photos, the videos, the contributors, those that have passed and their lives. I have gotten a real sense of how tight knit the railroad family is, and in particular those of the Colorado narrow gauge.
Thank you for providing me an opportunity to learn and vicariously get to know you and your railroad passion. I hope to make it out there in the next 5 years, but till then I will continue to follow and occasionally chime in (maybe 5 chime) from time to time. Have a great day, and I look forward to someday maybe meeting some of you and shaking your hands.
Thank you for letting me blow some smoke out of my stack.
