Here's a pic of the UP 4-8-8-4 Big Boy for comparison.

Er yes I posted one two of my posts back, which is why I posted the other on for comparison!!!

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More of those strange "things on the front that started this particular conversation.

Still form versus function, it didn't need to be beautiful to do the job.

This, of course, is not a Big Boy. But at least the ugly stuff on the front is symmetrical. That alone makes is somewhat more pleasing.

As noted, UP 4014 will be restored and converted to oil. It will move from West Colton, CA, to Cheyenne, WY, next month. They would have done it sooner, but the steam crew is also in charge of UP's rotary snow plows and didn't want to be in the middle of moving 4014 when another blast of this endless winter called them away.

Of the several Big Boys they examined, this one was chosen mainly because its brakes were in the best shape. They completely rebuilt the lubricating system at the fairgrounds before they pulled it out.

Railroads in the US pull freight from the middle of nowhere to the middle of somewhere, where it will be consumed. Steam engines were built either to pull lots of freight slowly, a little freight quickly, or some compromise of those factors (taking into consideration the physical characteristics of the railroad and its traffic base). Some railroads also had steam engines designed to move passengers very quickly, and some even painted them colors other than black.

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David
Sitting on my butt while others boldly go,
Waiting for a message from a small furry creature from Alpha Centauri.

Bernie, function IS beauty, to me. But I still have a soft spot for the streamliners: US, European, or even Canadian like this one.

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And, as David said, Canada even had fast engines for passengers and they were not black. (And strictly speaking not steam, but still pretty, IMHO.)

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What were the windows in the front for if it was driven from the cab?

If you mean the little round one on the front, it is called a headlight. ;)

If you mean the two big rectangles above that, they were air inlets for the ejector system, that drew air in the front, mixed it with the smoke and vented steam in the long duct behind, and ejected the mixture out the top of the duct producing thrust. Canada pretty much pioneered this concept, which was later used to cool airplane engines with a mix of ambient air and engine exhaust, while producing thrust. Take a look at the typical Canadian exhaust system for example. The exhaust pipes (4 total) are way bigger than you need for just engine gases, and note the cowling outlet end is sealed, except for these pipes and a small vent on the bottom. It is a mix of exhaust and cooling air coming out those pipes. Also acts as a muffler, and give the Otter a very distinctive sound.

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I just wish we had passenger rail like you guys over the pond have. We used to have back in the early 1900's. But when cars became cheap to own, Only frieght moved by rail.

My Grandmother was born in 1907. I asked her when her dad got his first car. It was 1922,And it wasnt a new car either. Before that she said if you wanted to go anywhere it was by horse or train or trolly. And the last two was if you lived near a station. For my grandmother a trip to Syracuse, NY was an all day affair. ( now days 20 minutes from just about any where in the suburbs ) My great grandfather who I do remeber, Would hitch the team up to the buggy, Take the trek to a trolly or train station depending on where they lived and then go to the big city.

I can still to this day see the old trolly and old roadbeds where they used to run to. The infrastructure was there and we let it go. The good thing is those old rail beds are still here being used for snowmobile trails. If only they would lay new track.

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[/quote]

Old James

I can still to this day see the old trolly and old roadbeds where they used to run to. The infrastructure was there and we let it go. The good thing is those old rail beds are still here being used for snowmobile trails. If only they would lay new track.

If anyone ever tried to put the track back, the snowmobilers, hikers, horseback riders, and general NIMBYs would throw a fit. There are even places in your state where they want to get rid of active tracks and put in a trail.

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David
Sitting on my butt while others boldly go,
Waiting for a message from a small furry creature from Alpha Centauri.

I can still to this day see the old trolly and old roadbeds where they used to run to. The infrastructure was there and we let it go. The good thing is those old rail beds are still here being used for snowmobile trails. If only they would lay new track.

If anyone ever tried to put the track back, the snowmobilers, hikers, horseback riders, and general NIMBYs would throw a fit. There are even places in your state where they want to get rid of active tracks and put in a trail.

So true. They like the straight a ways. So they can lose control and whack a tree.

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[/quote]

Old James

I've decided to become more active at Illinois Railway Museum this year. I read all the way through the 96 page rule book (plus 4 pages for my training records) and am now working on the 36 page timetable. I plan to go to the safety training meeting and may or may not take the rules test afterward. I want to be a trainman this year, maybe a qualified conductor next year. Then I could learn to run things.

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David
Sitting on my butt while others boldly go,
Waiting for a message from a small furry creature from Alpha Centauri.

Of course, the biggest obstacles to this are A: my weight, B: my cat, and C: my gas tank. The latter two need to be fed regularly, while the first needs to be fed rather less than it currently is.

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David
Sitting on my butt while others boldly go,
Waiting for a message from a small furry creature from Alpha Centauri.

Of course, the biggest obstacles to this are A: my weight

Of you can always apply for the position of the Fat Controller !

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.


A person who makes no mistakes, creates nothing.

Of course, the biggest obstacles to this are A: my weight

Of you can always apply for the position of the Fat Controller !

Only if you wear a top hat.

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BOINC WIKI

Bill this image brings back fond memories
for me from my youth....


(Let me know if it won't display.)

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No self respecting Fat Controller would ever grow facial hair....

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Bob Smith
Member of Seti PIPPS (Pluto is a Planet Protest Society)
Somewhere in the (un)known Universe?

Bill this image brings back fond memories
for me from my youth....

105 Flight. Is that Winnipeg or Namao?

All you train guys relax. Beautiful machinery is beautiful machinery.

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Winnipeg or Namao?

Looks like Namao.... I was based at
Winnipeg a few times and I don't remember
that view. The pix is a buet' eh?

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Sir Topham Hatt agrees with you.

Some longish sideburns or mutton-chops wouldn't hurt.....

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Donald
Infernal Optimist / Submariner, retired

Of course, the biggest obstacles to this are A: my weight

Of you can always apply for the position of the Fat Controller !

Only if you wear a top hat.

And have a beard...

I have a beard and can get a hat, but I'm NOT ready to get into the deep and complex political scene at the museum.

I may have to put in a day in the barrel during Thomas, though. Maybe I'll get lucky and work regular trains instead of the Thomas train.

(I have a picture of Thomas hiding away in the closed-to-the-public barn where they keep him.)

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David
Sitting on my butt while others boldly go,
Waiting for a message from a small furry creature from Alpha Centauri.

On my recent steam day, the not-so-fat controller was resplendent with his white Yorkshire rose.

On my recent steam day, the not-so-fat controller was resplendent with his white Yorkshire rose.

If I ever want to dress that fancy, I'd have to buy the uniform myself. I understand they have a collection of vintage uniforms and if one fits you, you can have it, but I doubt they have one that would fit me. I'll probably have to get a museum golf shirt and some black slacks. Maybe steel toed shoes, at least if I work in the steam shop.

And I need to find a reliable watch that fits me. Or a decent pocket watch that's not too valuable an antique to carry around out there where it can get damaged.

If I become an operator, I'll be under federal safety regs, including hours of service and no personal electronic devices. Even my friend the Pullman conductor isn't covered by those, because he isn't an actual train conductor.

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David
Sitting on my butt while others boldly go,
Waiting for a message from a small furry creature from Alpha Centauri.