BS: Resurrection of a Big Boy 4-8-8-4 locomotive

Subject: BS: Resurrection of a Big Boy locomotive
From: Joe Offer
Date: 16 Apr 14 - 04:23 PM

My local newspaper had great news today, an Associated Press story about the resurrection of a Union Pacific 4-8-8-4 "Big Boy" locomotive, arguably the biggest locomotive ever built. The Union Pacific Railroad has acquired UP 4014 and will take it from the Los Angeles County Fairgrounds to Cheyenne, Wyoming, for restoration to operating condition for use as an excursion train.
I think this is something every American trainspotter has dreamed of - to see a Big Boy in operation. I've visited this locomotive in Pomona (Los Angeles County Fair), and other Big Boy locomotives in Cheyenne, Green Bay (Wisconsin), and Scranton (Pennsylvania).

There's a YouTube Video of the first leg of the move to Cheyenne. The quality of videography is first-class, but non-trainspotters may find the video tedious after the first minute.

-Joe-

Subject: RE: BS: Resurrection of a Big Boy 4-8-8-4 locomotive
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 16 Apr 14 - 04:34 PM

It has become difficult to watch trains ever since the World Trade Center destruction. The headquarters of Burlington Northern Santa Fe is here in Fort Worth, and getting into the office is like getting ready to board an airplane. And you can't hang around over the switching yards watching the trains, police or other officials will ask you what you're doing and chase you off. Damned depressing, considering that the watchers might actually be the ones who would see something that needed reporting, bombers aren't likely to hang out on over passes to watch the activity.

SRS

Subject: RE: BS: Resurrection of a Big Boy 4-8-8-4 locomotive
From: Joe Offer
Date: 16 Apr 14 - 04:40 PM

I can see the Donner Pass leg of the Transcontinental Railroad from my back yard, and there's a railroad overpass near us that's a favorite for locomotive photographers because it looks down on a beautiful view of the tracks. I've seen a few interesting locomotives and cars over the years, but no steam locomotives. I think they go by occasionally, but I've always missed them.

-Joe-

Subject: RE: BS: Resurrection of a Big Boy 4-8-8-4 locomotive
From: GUEST,gillymor
Date: 16 Apr 14 - 04:54 PM

That is exciting news, Joe. I've been meaning to visit Cheyenne for a long time, maybe this will inspire me.

Subject: RE: BS: Resurrection of a Big Boy 4-8-8-4 locomotive
From: Dave the Gnome
Date: 16 Apr 14 - 05:38 PM

Didn't know you were into trains, Joe. Nest time you are over we'll have to show you Manchester's own 'big boy' - The Beyer Garrett South African GL 4-8-2+2-8-4, made in Manchester, used in SA and now back home. Hell of an Engine! I'm not likely to see the big boy there myself but I would love to travel on one of your trains - Preferably sippin' bourbon in the observation car :-)

Cheers

DtG

Subject: RE: BS: Resurrection of a Big Boy 4-8-8-4 locomotive
From: Dave the Gnome
Date: 16 Apr 14 - 05:41 PM

Sorry - Should have made a couple of corrections. Made by Beyer Peacock but was a Garratt articulated steam locomotives with a 4-8-2+2-8-4 "Double Mountain" wheel arrangement in service. Read all about it here.

D.

Subject: RE: BS: Resurrection of a Big Boy 4-8-8-4 locomotive
From: Richard Bridge
Date: 16 Apr 14 - 06:18 PM

Well I'm not a trainspotter but I'd rather see Mallard at full chat.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/LNER_Class_A4_4468_Mallard

Subject: RE: BS: Resurrection of a Big Boy 4-8-8-4 locomotive
From: Dave the Gnome
Date: 16 Apr 14 - 06:44 PM

Mallard at full chat? Sounds a bit Ducky to me...

Apologies to the Python team.

:D tG

Subject: RE: BS: Resurrection of a Big Boy 4-8-8-4 locomotive
From: GUEST,.gargoyle
Date: 16 Apr 14 - 07:18 PM

Thank you Joe.

Impressive.

POWERFUL and BEAUTIFUL.

Sincerely,
Gargoyle

Who would dare "cheat" a railroad crossing, knowing that was on barreling down the tracks?

Subject: RE: BS: Resurrection of a Big Boy 4-8-8-4 locomotive
From: Joe Offer
Date: 16 Apr 14 - 07:22 PM

Bill Sables took me to the National Railway Museum in York, and I loved it. I see they're in the process of rebuilding the Flying Scotsman. I'd love to see that.

I also visited most of the railway stations in London when I was there. I wish I had known about the York railway station and the fact that it's built on a curve. I would have loved to have seen that.

Oh, and I saw the railway bridge over the Firth of Forth last September - I had always wanted to see that.

Our tour guide, Jim Malcolm, pointed out a train that had been used in a Harry Potter movie, but I couldn't really get a decent look at it from the bus. I enjoyed the railroad stations in Edinburgh and Glasgow immensely, though.

-Joe-

Subject: RE: BS: Resurrection of a Big Boy 4-8-8-4 locomotive
From: Rapparee
Date: 16 Apr 14 - 08:48 PM

Shucks, if you want to see trains just come visit out here. We've got a big UP yard, bridges that go over it from which you can watch, or just wander into the yard and visit the local train museum. Soaking the natural hot springs in Lava Hot Springs (gee, what a creative name for a town!) and watching UP trains pull up the grade is great. Or just hang around and watch them from various city parks.

As long as you aren't doing anything odd (this to Mudcatters?) folks won't generally bother you.

Subject: RE: BS: Resurrection of a Big Boy 4-8-8-4 locomotive
From: Greg F.
Date: 16 Apr 14 - 09:11 PM

Damned depressing, considering that the watchers might actually be the ones who would see something that needed reporting...

Depressing and supremely stupid! Another casualty of the terrorist paranoia that's engulfed the U.S.

Subject: RE: BS: Resurrection of a Big Boy 4-8-8-4 locomotive
From: GUEST,leeneia
Date: 16 Apr 14 - 11:54 PM

Thanks for the link, Joe. The DH and I watched it all. We loved the whistle.

Maybe someday we'll take an excursion on the 4014.

Subject: RE: BS: Resurrection of a Big Boy 4-8-8-4 locomotive
From: Joe Offer
Date: 17 Apr 14 - 12:35 AM

An excursion on the 4014? It sounds wonderful, but I have to say I've been disappointed by steam train excursions. Most of the time, you can't see the locomotive. It's far more impressive to be standing on (or near) the tracks while the locomotive is approaching.
The best steam train experiences I had were when I was stationed in Berlin in 1972-73. We took an Army bus to work, and often went under a railroad overpass at the same time a big East German steam locomotive was pulling a fast passenger train across. And the 20 times we took the duty train to Frankfurt, we passed through Magdeburg at midnight and went by a roundhouse that always had six or seven big locomotives all steamed up and ready to go.
-Joe-

Subject: RE: BS: Resurrection of a Big Boy 4-8-8-4 locomotive
From: GUEST,gillymor
Date: 17 Apr 14 - 09:01 AM

To see, hear and feel a Big Boy climbing Sherman hill. If I had a bucket list that would be near the top of it.
Those video images of the BB being transported were breathtaking.

Subject: RE: BS: Resurrection of a Big Boy 4-8-8-4 locomotive
From: KB in Iowa
Date: 17 Apr 14 - 03:35 PM

I'm with Joe as far as the excursion part goes. There was a steam locomotive that we rode for about 20 miles out and then back as part of a fund-raiser a couple of years ago. I would do it again but I think watching the engine from trackside is more interesting. Once you start moving it doesn't really matter what is pulling the cars. A steam engine is like a living breathing thing, it is almost better sitting still than when it is moving (I did say almost).

Subject: RE: BS: Resurrection of a Big Boy 4-8-8-4 locomotive
From: Eric the Viking
Date: 17 Apr 14 - 05:51 PM

I read about this recently. The article was either in Steam Railway or The Railway magazine which incidentally this month has a superb article about Cab forward facing USA locomotives. The biggest locomotive on Display in the UK is the South African Garratt built by the North British works in Glasgow. It is at Riverside,Glasgow. I would love to see and hear a Big Boy running. But for sheer spectacular I think some of those Shay locomotives are hard to beat. Richard, Mallard will never run at full speed again but it's sister Bittern is running at 90+MPH on the ECML.

Subject: RE: BS: Resurrection of a Big Boy 4-8-8-4 locomotive
From: Bill D
Date: 17 Apr 14 - 06:10 PM

In 1975-76 the American_Freedom_Train toured the country.
On March 19, it made a stop in Wichita, Kansas. I was working a business right beside the tracks and managed to be outside when it passed. Quite a sight!

Subject: RE: BS: Resurrection of a Big Boy 4-8-8-4 locomotive
From: Joe Offer
Date: 17 Apr 14 - 06:50 PM

Bill, Southern Pacific 4449, which pulled the American Freedom Train, has been repainted to its usual orange-and-black "Daylight" colors, and I see it occasionally. I was driving on the freeway west of Sacramento one day, and there was a train on the tracks alongside. I looked again, and realized it was the Daylight, pulling a long train of cars that matched the locomotive. What a beautiful train!

---

Eric, you said a magic word: Cab Forward. I've been fascinated with Cab Forward locomotives for years. The Southern Pacific used Cab Forward locomotives across Donner Pass (the tracks go right past my house), Tehachapi Pass from Bakersfield to Barstow, and Siskiyou Pass into Oregon from California.

From the California State Railroad Museum:

In total, Baldwin built 256 cab-forward locomotives for Southern Pacific, the only American railroad to make extensive use of this design. Wheel arrangements for these oil-burning behemoths were 2-6-6-2 (changed to 4-6-6-2 after a serious derailment), 2-8-8-2, and 4-8-8-2. Although they were identified mainly with the Sierra Nevada, these locomotives also saw service on the Tehachapi Mountains, the Shasta Division, the Modoc route and other parts of the SP system.

There's only one of those beautiful locomotives left - it's a 4-8-8-2 on display at the California State Railroad Museum in Sacramento. To my mind, it's worth a trip to Sacramento to see that one locomotive alone.

Donner Pass had miles of snow sheds over the tracks, so the trains could get through even when the snow was twelve feet deep (which happens often). With a cab forward locomotive, the engineer could get through the shed in front of the smoke, so there was less chance of asphyxiation. Most of the sheds have been removed, but there are still a few concrete ones left - like this abandoned one. The shets once were build of wood like this one, but they were a fire hazard and were removed.

-Joe-

Subject: RE: BS: Resurrection of a Big Boy 4-8-8-4 locomotive
From: GUEST,Dave A
Date: 17 Apr 14 - 07:59 PM

Joe,

You were close to steam railfan heaven when you were stationed in Berlin & commuting through Magdeburg. That's the gateway to the Harz Narrow Gauge rail network which still provides commuter services hauled by 2-10-2 Tank Engines over 140 kil of track. The trip up the Brocken (the old East German listening post into the West) is on the bucket list of most rail fans who love steam. The engines date from the 50s though there are a couple that are smaller & much older (1918)Mallets with 0-4-4-0 configuration. I spent a week there in 2008 based in Quedlinburg & Weinerode and had a ball.

Subject: RE: BS: Resurrection of a Big Boy 4-8-8-4 locomotive
From: PHJim
Date: 17 Apr 14 - 09:43 PM

Joe, Although I have been a steam fan for many years, I have never seen an articulated engine (though I built an HO gauge model of one when I was a teenager).
During spring break in grade 13, a friend and I drove from Ontario to Cass, West Virginia to see some drive shaft steam engines, Climaxes, Shays and Heislers, and during our drive, we came across some narrow gauge RRs and other steam RRs.

Subject: RE: BS: Resurrection of a Big Boy 4-8-8-4 locomotive
From: GUEST,gillymor
Date: 17 Apr 14 - 10:13 PM

I rode the Cass Scenic Railway as a youngster. I remember the stocky little Shay and the cinders in my egg salad sandwich and climbing up a rugged West Virginia mountain. It was a great ride.

Subject: RE: BS: Resurrection of a Big Boy 4-8-8-4 locomotive
From: Dave the Gnome
Date: 18 Apr 14 - 09:10 AM

I thought the biggest Garratt was at Manchester, Eric, but I have been known to be wrong. Occasionally ;-) Interesting about the Bittern. I live within half a miles of the line between Leeds and Skipton and often see the locos on route to the Settle/Carlisle line. We also see occasional East Coast trains, which confuses me somewhat because there is no route, as far as I know, from the western dales to York without going via Leeds.

Look what you have done now! Set me on a mission. Bang goes Friday afternoon...

:D tG

Subject: RE: BS: Resurrection of a Big Boy 4-8-8-4 locomotive
From: Dave the Gnome
Date: 18 Apr 14 - 09:30 AM

Aha! Found it. I was thinking of the opposite direction but...

There is also a single daily (Mondays to Saturdays) service from Skipton to London King's Cross (via Leeds), which is operated by East Coast. A return service also operates from King's Cross to Skipton each day (including Sundays).

Mystery solved. Back to work :-)

DtG

Subject: RE: BS: Resurrection of a Big Boy 4-8-8-4 locomotive
From: Q (Frank Staplin)
Date: 18 Apr 14 - 01:32 PM

We visited the excellent railroad museum in Sacramento.
One exhibit brought back memories- a Pullman car, AT&SF, setup for night, on a jiggle platform to imitate travel over a roadbed.

I would like to see the 4-8-8-4 in operation.

Joe, sometime if you can, ride the Cumbres and Toltec scenic narrow gauge railroad from Chama, NM, to Antonito, Colorado, over the Cumbres Pass, and a stop with chili for lunch at Osier, the half-way mark. Runs daily in the summer. There was time enough for a short walk, and we photographed the Colorado columbine.
One can ride part-time in a gondola if the weather is good. There are stops, and sometimes progress is slow, so it is easy to switch.

There are some tight curves, and I got good shots out the window of the locomotive, as well as great scenery.
You will need a bath afterwards, the smoke from the locomotive can't be avoided all the time, and there are tunnels.

Subject: RE: BS: Resurrection of a Big Boy 4-8-8-4 locomotive
From: cptsnapper
Date: 19 Apr 14 - 04:48 AM

I'm just re-reading Terry Pratchett's novel Raising Steam about the impact of the invention of the railway on society: yet again a great mixture of humour & philosophy.

Subject: RE: BS: Resurrection of a Big Boy 4-8-8-4 locomotive
From: GUEST,leeneia
Date: 19 Apr 14 - 11:08 AM

To get back to the original post for a moment: It amazes me that the Big Boy sat without moving for 52 years, but was soon made capable of rolling hundreds of miles from California to Wyoming. Think of the strength and stability built into those wheels.

Forged parts, guys, there's nothing like them. (quoth the die sinker's daughter)

Subject: RE: BS: Resurrection of a Big Boy 4-8-8-4 locomotive
From: Q (Frank Staplin)
Date: 19 Apr 14 - 02:13 PM

Dunno where they will run excursions out of Cheyenne, but the Medicine Bow forest to the west (and also around Laramie) are scenic.

I haven't seen the UP Museum in Cheyenne.

Subject: RE: BS: Resurrection of a Big Boy 4-8-8-4 locomotive
From: Joe Offer
Date: 20 Apr 14 - 03:19 AM

I haven't been to Cheyenne since 1970. I think I saw the Big Boy when I drove through town, but I can't remember for sure. Now that they have a railroad museum, I have a reason to go back.
-Joe-

Subject: RE: BS: Resurrection of a Big Boy 4-8-8-4 locomotive
From: GUEST,gillymor
Date: 20 Apr 14 - 08:15 AM

UP 4014 project at up.com. Click here

Subject: RE: BS: Resurrection of a Big Boy 4-8-8-4 locomotive
From: Bonzo3legs
Date: 20 Apr 14 - 08:54 AM

Hoping to see 46233 Duchess of Sutherland on 4 May, making a rare visit to London!

Subject: RE: BS: Resurrection of a Big Boy 4-8-8-4 locomotive
From: Mark Ross
Date: 20 Apr 14 - 03:35 PM

I was invited to play on the press run of the Freedom Train in '75. Alan Kaufman the great fiddler, Nano Reilly, and I boarded the train at 8AM in Hoboken (an ungodly hour for a folksinger back then), and they put us in the press car with the free booze. This may have been their big mistake. I was sitting there loading up on Bloody Marys when the train PA started blasting the official Freedom Train song HERE COMES THE FREEDOM TRAIN, written by that great country songwriter Stephen H. Lemberg (who?), and recorded in Nashville by Porter Waggoner and the whole Tennessee Philharmonic. The anchorman from CBS News, who was sitting there listening to me play, well, we turned to look at each other and simultaneously said, "That's terrible!" I asked if he wanted to hear a real train song, and when he said he would, proceeded to sing Utah Phillips's song DADDY,WHAT'S A TRAIN?. He liked it so much that that evening while all the other networks were using the official song for the background music for the story, CBS used me. Needless to say I was never invited back to play for them again. But it was worth it just to be able to ride behind that gorgeous Nickel Plate locomotive up to Scranton, PA and back.

Mark Ross

Subject: RE: BS: Resurrection of a Big Boy 4-8-8-4 locomotive
From: Q (Frank Staplin)
Date: 20 Apr 14 - 05:52 PM

The UP posted pictures of the 4-8-8-4 being carried to its new location.
Many good pictures found with google.

Subject: RE: BS: Resurrection of a Big Boy 4-8-8-4 locomotive
From: Joe Offer
Date: 04 May 19 - 11:59 PM

The rebuilding of the Big Boy, Union Pacific 4014, is completed. The initial video is fascinating, and there will be more to come.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RR7Q27cIEvo

Subject: RE: BS: Resurrection of a Big Boy 4-8-8-4 locomotive
From: Joe Offer
Date: 05 May 19 - 01:22 AM

I live on old U.S. 40, the Lincoln Highway, right next to Interstate 80 and the Transcontinental Railroad. We're on the ridge between the Bear River and the North Fork American River - also the route of the Donner Party. The last time I followed the route all the way from Chicago to California was in November, 1973, when I first moved to California. We made the trip by automobile to Ogden, and the final part by train through a blizzard. I'm going to a family reunion in Detroit in July, and I'm thinking of returning by following the Transcontinental Railroad home, to celebrate the 150th anniversary of the railroad. I'd like to stop in Omaha (Union Pacific RR Museum), Cheyenne (highest point of the UPRR), and Promontory Point, Utah. Anybody have tips about things to see along the way?
-Joe-

Subject: RE: BS: Resurrection of a Big Boy 4-8-8-4 locomotive
From: Bonzo3legs
Date: 05 May 19 - 05:48 AM

Congratulations to the restorers on bringing that monster back to life - arguably one of the ugliest steam locos ever built. You need to look at steam locos built in the UK for style and good looks, I suggest 46233, 46100, 70013 and 60009 for starters, all to be found on youtube!!

Subject: RE: BS: Resurrection of a Big Boy 4-8-8-4 locomotive
From: Bonzo3legs
Date: 05 May 19 - 05:54 AM

Take a gander at this!!!

P2 build - 2007 "Prince of Wales"!!

Subject: RE: BS: Resurrection of a Big Boy 4-8-8-4 locomotive
From: Joe Offer
Date: 05 May 19 - 08:14 PM

Hi, Bonz - we have pretty trains, too - the Norfolk & Western No. 611 and Southern Pacific 4449 are two of the best. But pretty locomotives aren't built for hauling long trains over the Great Divide and other mountain crossings. But yeah, I think we Americans like the look of big, black, articulated locomotives with all of the plumbing on the outside.
-Joe-

Subject: RE: BS: Resurrection of a Big Boy 4-8-8-4 locomotive
From: Rapparee
Date: 05 May 19 - 08:49 PM

Drop by. We've got a huge railroad yard (UP, of course!) and a railroad history that includes, well, a lot of history. While things like the roundhouse are gone, the yard is still active. Here's a train going through the yard -- about average size (the locos are needed for the mountains).

Also, while the depot is used for UP offices, you can still go in and get an idea of what it looked like when passenger trains came through here.

We can put ya up, if you don't mind a private guest suite. Sleeps four with the sofa bed pulled out, or two in twin beds. Includes wifi and a full kitchen, and a sun room with private patio. (laundry available if needed). Pool available at local biker bar.

Subject: RE: BS: Resurrection of a Big Boy 4-8-8-4 locomotive
From: Rapparee
Date: 05 May 19 - 08:50 PM

Also, we're on the Oregon Trail and Hudspeth's Cutoff is only a couple miles away. Register Rock is also nearby.

Subject: RE: BS: Resurrection of a Big Boy 4-8-8-4 locomotive
From: leeneia
Date: 05 May 19 - 09:59 PM

Thanks for the link, Joe. The DH and I enjoyed watching the big boy and hearing its beautiful whistle.

If you are in Omaha, I recommend a short side trip to visit the museum devoted to the contents of the Bertrand, a steam ship which sank on the Missouri, sinking fascinating cargo which has been remarkably preserved.

Subject: RE: BS: Resurrection of a Big Boy 4-8-8-4 locomotive
From: Joe Offer
Date: 06 May 19 - 12:54 AM

Hi, Rap - what are the UP lines in Idaho, and when were they built? Were they built by UP, or were they other railroads that merged with the Union Pacific? I take it there's one line that follows the Snake River and one that goes north from Pocatello, parallel to the Wyoming border.
-Joe-

Subject: RE: BS: Resurrection of a Big Boy 4-8-8-4 locomotive
From: DMcG
Date: 06 May 19 - 02:56 AM

There is a UK company 'Steam Dreams' that specialises in holidays by stream train. I am looking seriously at:

THE GREAT LAKES EXPLORER – FALL 2020
Travel across the USA behind the World’s biggest coal fired
Locomotive - Milwaukee 261

But at the moment am booked on one in September this year round the Irish Republic drawn by much smaller beasts:

Throughout our time in Ireland we will be using the locomotives and coaches of the Railway Preservation Society of Ireland (RPSI). The set of 64 seat Craven Coaches are different to those used on our trains in the UK with more basic seating and décor but also a very singular Irish ambience with the only Bar Car in the world with draught Guinness. The RPSI owns a number of steam locomotives and it is planned to use No 85 Merlin and No 4 Tank Engine but others may be
substituted if for any reason these become unavailable.

Subject: RE: BS: Resurrection of a Big Boy 4-8-8-4 locomotive
From: Joe Offer
Date: 06 May 19 - 03:33 PM

I dunno, Dave. You're making me seriously jealous. There is a Wikipedia page on most historic U.S. locomotives, including the Milwaukee Road 261. I wonder what will be the route of the tour on the 261 - along Lake Superior would be wonderful!
Your Irish tour sounds grand.
-Joe-

Another link for the 261: https://www.american-rails.com/261.html

Subject: RE: BS: Resurrection of a Big Boy 4-8-8-4 locomotive
From: Dave the Gnome
Date: 08 May 19 - 06:43 AM

Not sure if it is a big as yours, Joe, but this big lad is in the Science Museum in Manchester - Right alongside the terminus of the first inter-city passenger line!

Bayer-Garratt

Subject: RE: BS: Resurrection of a Big Boy 4-8-8-4 locomotive
From: Bonzo3legs
Date: 08 May 19 - 10:44 AM

I remember those from trainspotting days near to Hendon!

Subject: RE: BS: Resurrection of a Big Boy 4-8-8-4 locomotive
From: Joe Offer
Date: 08 May 19 - 02:43 PM

Hi, Dave - your locomotive in Manchester is a South African Class GL 4-8-2+2-8-4 (built in Manchester) - 4 wheels more than the Big Boy, but the same number of driver wheels. I'll betcha that with those two sets of two wheels in the middle, it should be able to make curves very well. The Big Boy is articulated also, but it sure doesn't look like it's able to bend very far. I'd sure like to get a look at that South African locomotive. Bill Sables took me to the railway museum in York, but didn't know there was one in Manchester.
-Joe-

Subject: RE: BS: Resurrection of a Big Boy 4-8-8-4 locomotive
From: DaveRo
Date: 08 May 19 - 04:04 PM

The Manchester Science Museum has a lot of interesting stuff, but the one thing I remember from my visit, maybe 20 years ago, is that locomotive. Not only huge, not only articulated - which I'd never seen before - but narrow guage (3'6")! Not something I expected to find in a museum mainly (then) dedicated to aircraft. It was parked in the corner of a shed, as I recall. As the wiki article says, it can negotiate a 275 foot radius curve.

The museum is on the site of Liverpool Road station, one end of the Liverpool and Manchester Railway, of Stephenson's Rocket fame, and one of the first (but not the first - unless you only count steam loco-hauled) passenger railways.

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Science_and_Industry_Museum

Subject: RE: BS: Resurrection of a Big Boy 4-8-8-4 locomotive
From: Dave the Gnome
Date: 08 May 19 - 04:45 PM

It's a fascinating place, Joe. We used to live about 4 or 5 miles away. Nearer 50 now but if you are ever in the area I would be happy to take you.

Quite poignant about the Bayet-Garratt. Originally made in Manchester and brought home after saved from the scrap man. One of our local folk singers, Stanley Accrington, best known for his comedy songs, wrote a really good serious song about the last Bayer-Garratt. I think I may have a recording somewhere. If I can find it, I'll send you a copy. I'm sure he won't mind.

Subject: RE: BS: Resurrection of a Big Boy 4-8-8-4 locomotive
From: leeneia
Date: 08 May 19 - 05:08 PM

How does the Bayer-Garratt work, with that unit on the front? Is the fuel in there?

Thanks for the link to the Milwaukee Road 261. It's a dapper machine.