Re: Big Boy #4018

Brien, et. at,
Since I was on the original 3985 restoration team and the UP Steam Crew, may I take a stab at answering this?
First, the oil bunker for the 3985 came from the 3977 in Cody Park in North Platte, Nebraska.
(1) The two places where a 4000 can be turned are Cheyenne and Speer (not Laramie). They are 9 miles apart. Spend millions to restore a 4000 for an 18 mile round trip? not very likely. Laramie's wye is too tight and the turntable is gone. The 844 will derail on the Laramie Wye. The turntables are also gone in Rawlins and Green River.
(2) The 4000's were constructed originally for service from Ogden to Evanston, up the Wahsatch. the design worked out so well that their range was extended from Ogden to Cheyenne. To accomidate the 4000's, 120 ft. turntables were installed at all of the major terminals along the main line between Cheyenne and Ogden, but no further, Roundhouse stalls were extended, also. Fortunately, switches didn't need to be lengthened as theis had all ready been done to accomidate the 9000's (4-12-2's). On the 4000's occasional trips to Denver, they needed to put extension rails on the turntables and there were a myriad of other problems beside turning them. they are really no harder on track and bridges than anything else, BUT, the bridges have to be strong enough to carry them.
(3)Never having run one, I don't know anything about any tracking problems. I doubt that they would be much fussier than the 4-6-6-4. The big problem is those huge 25,0000 gallon tenders and their long frames.
(4) The 4-8-8-4 is not just an extended 4-6-6-4 but a completely different locomotive. The fireboxes are big (enormous), big enough that you could set up a table and chairs and have you and 6 of your closest friends to dinner inside one. The oil experiment produced hot spots in the firebox. The UP even tried dual burners but that went through the oil at twice the normal rate.
(5) The logistics of operating a coal burner were not as tough as finding the right size and grade of coal (screened lump) for stoker operation. There was also a small problem with fires and lawsuits. Shortly before the conversion to oil, the 3985 was restricted to Sherman Hill and Sherman Hill Only. The oil conversion made it possible to travel all over the system. Remember, the 4-6-6-4's were designed for system-wide use, not for a Special Service like the 4-8-8-4's.
(6) Yes, the 4000's were used for Passenger Service (especially during WWI). They were quite capable of developing speeds up to 70 mph. But why try to duplicate what the 3985 can all ready do in this day and age?
(7) Yes, the Steam and Heritage Fleet serve the UP's needs well. Besides, ask yourself why would the Railroad shell out a bunch of money to restore a 4000? They got the 3985 basically for nothing. All the labor was volunteer and the locomotive was in excellent shape when we pulled it from the Parking Lot.
The Steam Program by its very nature is always just hanging on by a thread (first to be cut as "Unnecessary"). I'd say that it's a credit to the UP that it even exists.
And last but not least, as I used to tell people who complained about no 4000 running... Why don't you go and enjoy the Steam Program on the ATSF, BN, NS, CSX, or SP?
Rick Steele