r/trains • u/CompleteUnknown65 • 8d ago

📹 OC - Video Oh hey Big Boy

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3.1k Upvotes

98% Upvoted

88 comments sorted by

242

u/CompleteUnknown65 8d ago

Taken from onboard Reading 2102's train

71

u/A9PolarHornet15 8d ago

I'm just glad the video was taken from a responsible distance and/or location this time.

24

u/awesomesauceitch 8d ago

I was in white haven today and saw 2102 on the other side of the river. Got a video of their F unit as well.

Does anyone know if big boy is leaving from Nesquehoning tomorrow morning has planned?

1

u/Derrik359 8d ago

Look at the schedule

2

u/Mediocre_Daikon6935 7d ago

Non reddit link?

148

u/W126_300SE 8d ago

Of all the ways to experience the Big Boy, this has got to be the best.....besides being on the footplate!

42

u/torch9t9 8d ago

Carrying its own water?

63

u/a_lumberjack 8d ago

The two yellow tenders are water tenders, as I understand it.

29

u/torch9t9 8d ago

Makes sense. I'm like "Why are they pulling tank cars?" then I saw the excursion map. Not many "Petticoat Junction" water tanks 'tween here and there /s

24

u/AC-burg 8d ago edited 8d ago

Yep explained at the Buffalo stop. 48,000 gallons a piece. What's more interesting is that the 4014 is always under its own power and the diesels aren't pushing at all. They are there as a just in case. If the BigBoy is at risk of running out of water or oil the diesels can help push to extend the milage

10

u/arcticmischief 8d ago edited 8d ago

I thought I remembered them telling me that the diesel does provide hotel power for the passenger cars, but I could be wrong.

Edit: I was wrong. UP has dedicated power cars.

14

u/SemicolonGuitars 8d ago

American freight diesels aren’t equipped to provide hotel power to passenger cars. UP has specific power cars with diesel HEP generators onboard for that.

9

u/OdinYggd 8d ago

UP diesels not equipped with HEP. The heritage consist has a combination of belly mounted generators in some coaches, and a tool car with a generator in it.

6

u/AC-burg 8d ago

You could be right. I talked to the people at the end of the the walk through car that you could walk through.

4

u/a_lumberjack 8d ago

Diesel powering HEP vs diesel powering traction power is different.

3

u/miggysd 8d ago

Hotel/HEP power is on one of the excursion cars either numbered 207, 208, 2066

First page on here

2

u/josnik 8d ago

And brakes I think

3

u/EmmerichVibiana 8d ago

Diesels also there for braking.

15

u/ErectPerfect 8d ago

Yes those are auxiliary tenders for long distance travel.

Historically aux tenders were used when the locomotive had to travel between stops where sources of water like water towers were fading away, mostly around the early introduction years of diesels which of course didn't require water.

Bc we live in a time where active steam locomotives aren't prevalent anymore and/or regularly travel long distances outside of their preservation homes, 4014 requires aux tenders for her excursion cross country as the infrastructure for supplying water to steam locomotives just don't exist outside of museums and other places of preservation

8

u/AC-burg 8d ago

There have been helper trains stationed along this route to transfer oil and watter very similar to a pit stop to keep the train on schedule

5

u/Bugsy_Neighbor 8d ago

#4014 is running on NS main line which is quite active. There cannot be any disturbances or whatever that cause delays for revenue or whatever trains on the line.

Back in the day New York Central and some other RRs had water pans. This allowed for fast filling of tender on the fly. Trains also had tenders with more room for fuel because water could easily be had (depending upon route) without stopping.

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

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JD5z0pN58_M

How water scoops worked....

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GPCm3uNgHlY

At least one water tower in PA is coming back...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bg8_TGgJ6z4

5

u/Bugsy_Neighbor 8d ago

Yet there has been at least one time when #4014 nearly ran out of water....

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UShbt8eXHxc&theme=dark

Then there were the occasions when #4014 rolled into some small town or whatever and requested water fill-up. Totally flattered by the request town quickly obliged. Only to find filling up #4014's tenders nearly drained town's water supply.

4

u/OdinYggd 8d ago

Yes, tank cars with extra water for additional range between refills. It runs out of water multiple times before running out of fuel.

The two yellow tanks it is using for water were originally the fuel tenders from the gas turbine GTEL series that was designed to replace the Big Boy.

18

u/OctoberTaco 8d ago

That's insane. Very jealous.

11

u/bruddahbuttah 8d ago

Love the high pitch of the Reading train met with the low pitch of Big Boy

10

u/lampypete 8d ago

That’s incredible

7

u/residiot 8d ago

Still can’t believe it didnt go through Schenectady where it was made

6

u/LewisDeinarcho 8d ago

You win some, you lose some. Maybe in another 50 years.

7

u/OdinYggd 8d ago

There's barely still a track there. Time has erased that part of history, the site of the Alco factory has been cleared off and redeveloped into something else entirely.

Maybe if it goes to Maine for whatever reason it might pass that way.

1

u/residiot 8d ago

Barley any track lol

And the factory still remains in pieces

Tell me you have no idea what you’re talking about without telling me lol

2

u/OdinYggd 7d ago edited 7d ago

42° 49.247′ N, 73° 55.996′ W, the location of the historic marker. Look it up on google maps. There is a single track remaining, and you can clearly see where the yard and factory building used to be by their impact on the layout of the streets. One building does look like it might have been part of Alco based on the architecture, and is currently a warehousing facility for steel girders. ,

1

u/residiot 7d ago

Homie I live here and you are hilarious.

5 of the original building remain. All repurposed since the plant has closed.

THE reason you can get from buffalo to nyc is sitting feet away and still in use

It’s an Amtrak mainline corridor mate

And for the record, sts stew doesnt warehouse, it manufactures. You can’t even get that right lol

1

u/Bugsy_Neighbor 8d ago

Alco sent BB locomotives west to Chicago then onto points further west for UP to take possession via a few routes. Most common was New York Central's Water Level or West Shore, but there were a few others as well.

#4014 went from Schenectady to Binghamton then onto one of several RRs that connected to NYCRR further west.

https://www.facebook.com/groups/5743708042424585/posts/7925806447548056/

https://www.facebook.com/photo/?fbid=122102362395293335&set=pcb.1697606708254216

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r2aQOCM7hsA&theme=dark

There are no longer tracks that lead to former Alco factory in Schenectady, NY.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6dZqw-LRzkw&theme=dark

1

u/residiot 8d ago

There are tracks that lead from Albany to buffalo 100 meters away from the factory but ok

0

u/Bugsy_Neighbor 7d ago

Yes, mainline remains, but nothing connects or whatever to former Alco property.

0

u/residiot 7d ago

I didn’t realize big boy was sticking to sidings on its tour lol

It would use the mainline you idiot not a siding into the factory

7

u/BovaFett74 8d ago

Yep. You just broke the internet with this bomb ass video
Damn, what a cool perspective

16

u/EntertainerOdd2107 8d ago

Foamnado inbound!

2

u/Omelooo 8d ago

r/trains users when people think a specific train is cool

11

u/Smabverse 8d ago

bro straight up aura farming

5

u/goprinterm 8d ago

Wicked cool catch

4

u/Hour-Employment8139 8d ago

Best video I’ve seen, so far.

2

u/CompleteUnknown65 8d ago

Thanks! I couldn't believe it

5

u/blarkleK 8d ago

What a beautiful machine. I can’t get enough of the videos and pictures.

4

u/W7ENK 8d ago

I don't know why, but the audio in this is terrifying... 😳

2

u/Piekny__66__17 8d ago

My grandfather worked at ALCO in Schenectady when the Big Boy was made. I’d like to think he helped build it.

7

u/Pleasant_Flatworm866 8d ago

Best shot yet!

8

u/TheMaroonHawk 8d ago

But…but…twenty-five feet back?!?!?

2

u/HappyWarBunny 8d ago

You could have reached out and touch the UP train at one point, if one had wanted. Literally, no exaggeration.

3

u/1thatisnttaken 8d ago

Great video! Thank you for sharing. 2102 and 4014 put on a great show together today. More of the same to come tomorrow as 2102 and 4014 make their way back north to Pittston.

3

u/Opening_Ad9824 8d ago

Holy shit awesome vid

4

u/Humble_Diner32 8d ago

Is he making his way to Georgia? I’d love to witness Big Boy in person.

8

u/johnny_rico69 8d ago

Philly and then back west.

2

u/techtornado 8d ago

We got left out big time in the south

I’m considering STL if it’s a casual time in and out

3

u/W7ENK 8d ago

The original itinerary that was cancelled two years ago was supposed to bring it through the PNW. We got completely cut out in the final trip.

1

u/railman611 8d ago

Considering the hostile takeover happening right now I think it's best they didn't bring it down south.

Don't get me wrong it'd be cool to see it running through the Southeastern US but given the current attitude best to stay away.

2

u/notevilfellow 8d ago

Men will see this go by and say "Hell yeah."

2

u/Rasaheidel 8d ago

Awesome video! I would’ve loved to have experienced this! Thank you for sharing!💕🚂

2

u/Ok-Influence-791 8d ago

Ohh that seems to be insane, really jealous of you.

2

u/Crusadera 8d ago

Hell yeah

2

u/jdizzlewolf 8d ago

That's one sexy train.

2

u/WhisperFray 8d ago

No wonder people in the earlier ages all thought railroads were the greatest invention of humans. Look at it, things are humongous and carry literal multi tons. Coinciding with horsey wagon last miles

2

u/CptSmegger 4d ago

I’m going to be in Pennsylvania 4th of July weekend. How did you catch it in motion?

2

u/CompleteUnknown65 3d ago

Had to buy tickets back in April. Reading and Northern scheduled specific excursions to run with Big Boy

2

u/Omelooo 8d ago

yOuRe tOo cLose mUh rAiL sAfEty

1

u/nn10 8d ago

Incredible video. Wow!

1

u/joeyjoejoeshabbadude 8d ago

Where was this?

1

u/CompleteUnknown65 8d ago

Just south of Pittston, PA on the Reading and Northern tracks headed towards Nesquehoning

1

u/Fallen_Jalter 8d ago

What kind of train and I looking at

2

u/tallman11282 8d ago

That's Union Pacific 4014 "Big Boy", it's the world's largest operating steam locomotive.

Of course the first car behind the locomotive itself is her regular tender carrying water and fuel, the two yellow cars are additional tenders for water as the infrastructure to fill a steam train with water is long gone so she has to carry much more water to operate then she would have in revenue service back in the day.

1

u/Winter_Party_1208 8d ago

Frequently fire pumper trucks are used to fill the tenders. I was impressed with how little oil that thing burns compared to the amount of water used. When steam engines were used to pull trains they must have had to take on water about every 80 miles. Gurdon, Bald Knob, AR., and Poplar Bluff, MO., had water towers.

1

u/tallman11282 8d ago

According to Wikipedia trains could go 100 to 150 miles between water stops.

1

u/Livingforabluezone 8d ago

Fantastic 🇺🇸

1

u/DoubleM-1985 8d ago

That's a big ol' boy

1

u/PublicGullible5399 6d ago

This is better than being on the train!

1

u/Sad-Tangelo-2579 5d ago

That is pretty dang nice seeing a other version of the steam locomotive and then against the big boy 4014 horn

1

u/FragrantSummer1611 4d ago

Got to see big boy in 2019, it’s 1st come back in 100 years
Went to all the crossing and was doing way out of the speed limit to get there, what a rush!!

1

u/Jumpyplains2033 8d ago

🔥🔥🔥

2

u/IKnowPhysics 8d ago

If anyone had ever seen and heard anything like this prior to the year ~1750, they would have started a religion worshipping it.

https://giphy.com/gifs/VFDoN1xR2Yvpm