I was continually reminded during Eds shop tour of the SERIOUS dollar commitment UP made, In this day and age you just know there were beancounter naysayers and other opposition. I truly hope the 4014 steam program knocked it out of the park for UP in positive PR and enhanced freight account revenues. Here is to trusting this program continues the returns to UP!
No amount of steam locomotive rebuilding will bring back the pride the actual blue collar workers had for this company before PSR ruined this company. I can guarantee you the freight locomotives are not this well maintained.
Yar Nunya Thanks Yar, I’m reminded when the airlines pushed to reduce maintenance as too many functions were “over laminated” whereby boutique maint is too costly where one fix would safely resolve the maintenance issue. My first reaction reading your enclosed piece though is it seems to open up many revenue opportunities to others, The airlines learned this the hard way: Simply; A size seven doesn’t fit all. Thxs again
@@MrLunchHour2 Holy SHIT! That seems highly exorbitant for something that will never again do _real work._ I do realize that they are supposedly persevering history, but still..... What are they going to do with this rolling junkyard? If they're going to maintain it in some kind of working order they will have to continue spending TONS of money on it _year after year after year._ To me, that seems like a *H U G E WASTE!* But that's just me. Thanks for playing. . . . And hope you have a great rest of 2021.
Thanks to you, Mr. Ed Dickens, and to the Union Pacific Railroad for. keeping a well-equipped steam shop active. What a superb presentation! I am a (very) senior citizen who grew up in a time when steam ruled the rails.
James Smith the guys in the shop don’t back blm, it’s the executives who pretend they do so they make other Democrat friends happy and keep the mobs away from them
Thank you Union Pacific for spending enormous amounts of money to restore these old locomotives, the shop, roundhouse, the people that it all takes to perform this task. History needs to be recorded and you folks are doing a excellent job of doing that and I can't wait to see you show off your hard work hopefully in the near future . Thank you all at Union Pacific Railroad.
The 61 dislikes are essentially people with zero mechanical aptitude and therefore zero interest in this fascinating and informative video, which I feel was very well presented. I guess it's difficult to have interest in that which you don't understand. I actually feel a bit sorry for them as they don't know what they are missing. Great job guys, I thoroughly enjoyed it!
If you're not passionate enough while doing this then the company made a big mistake. They only put those (highly) interested with these arts in charge, not ordinary employees
Fantastic video. Ed's comments towards the end of this video related to these living machines being works of art is no longer understood nor appreciated by a majority of those living in the 21st century. Thanks to UP for funding the steam project and thanks to Ed and crew for sharing it all with us. From a UP stockholder as a result of UP's Steam Project!!
4 หลายเดือนก่อน +1
I've been following this for years and finally got to see the 4014 in person when it came to Roseville this July 2024. Saying it is a sight to behold is an understatement, she really is an impressive sight. The crowds the 4014 attract are nothing less then rock star status, it really is something to see so many people interested in her...young, old, men, women and kids. Thank you Ed, your skilled Crew and your Superiors for making it happen...👍
I think it's pretty safe to say that everyone loves trains and history and the sound of a locomotive chugging down the tracks, keep up the good work and restore a few more, keep history alive
Ed, ever so eloquent speaking with true American pride. I'm sure that there will never be enough "thank yous" to you and the steam crew. Please keep up the outstanding work, you're really appreciated.
My Dad was a car inspector for UP starting in the late 40's. I remember riding behind steam locomotive as a child. Tears come to my eyes every time I see anything about 844 or 1014. Thanks UP for keeping them rolling.
What’s shocks me is how many things, small things that go into a locomotive. They are so technical and just so unbelievable! They truly are living creatures!
Thank you Ed Dickens and all the other men and women who brought back the 4014 and keep the 844 running, and I hope to see the 3985 up and running again in the near future! I just wish my grandfather was still here to see all of this
@@thefitchemist2123 some repairs, some stuff with Amtrak, and they've not done anything this year due to corona. They're saying next thing will probably be Christmas.
I'm part of the steam club of Union Pacific, and I'm very happy I was sent an email about this video. I absolutely adore that the UP is restoring and preserving this steam locomotives and I desperately hope they continue to do so. Possibly adding more steam locomotives to their arsenal. I would also love if they did something like a cross country tour or something where they went up both and back again.
Glad I found this. My father was a special agent in Cheyenne. I loved the time I was able to spend in this shop and throughout the whole depot and yards. It's the reason I got interested in big machinery.
Congratulations to Union Pacific for being PROUD of their past, and equally appreciative of those who did, and continue to do the work and maintainence that allows these locomotives to continue to run. I was at Medicine Bow, WY when they brought #4014 back to Cheyenne, and later that summer, I went thru the steam shop, and the roundhouse, where the disassembly of #4014 had begun and #844 was setting alongside, and #3985, which hopefully will again run again, was in the roundhouse. Again, thanks to Union Pacific and the people who make it possible.
I would like to thank all the men and women who work on that big boy. I was in Pomona at the fairground one year walking around and I ended up by the the trains in the box cars on the back of the fair that year as I was walking around it I Saw the Wheel the drive wheel and I couldn't believe the size of it and I said oh my God this has to be the big boy no men and women who were with me cuz the big boys oh yeah this is it I got all excited walked around it to three times couldn't believe I could actually stand there and put my hands on that big boy then I had just moved away from the Pomona Valley when you all moved it and got it ready to go to Cheyenne once more let me say thanks to all the men and women involved in the repair and restoration of this beautiful Monument and I am forever grateful to have seen it and to have been able to put my hands up on it
I earned my Journeyman’s card as a Tool& die Maker in 1985 from my dad who started a machine shop after his 3rd retirement at 66 years young. He served his apprenticeship in the Juniata Shop in Altoona Pa with the Pennsylvania Rail Road. I’m now 66 myself and still designing and building all types of dies, jigs and fixtures as well as machinery. Great video.. people today have no idea what the big shops were like back then.. even that shop you are in is “tiny” compared to the big PRR Steam Shops. Old School is Good School..
Thanks Ed for the awesome video of the steam shop. I loved all the tech info. It helps jog this old fellow's memories of when we restored the 819 back in the early 80's. Also I am blown away by the improvements etc that you & the crew have done in the Steam Shop since I was there back in 94 before the 3985's Calif trip. You & the Steam Crew Members are truly Blessed . Thanks again.
Thank you for taking the time to do this informative video and the tour of the steam shop. I look forward to seeing these machines out on the rails again. And thank you Union Pacific for your support of the steam program.
Im just astonished that not only does the building still exist, but that it hasn't been repurposed and is still kitted out for steam engine repair. From the bottom of my heart I thank you guys and Union Pacific for keeping this history alive.
You can tell Ed loves these locomotives. He doesn't need a script, he need not play to the camera, there is no artifice to what he says, it's just him pouring out the affection for the work and the result. It's such a pleasure to see someone and something who's true value isn't in the $$$$ssss.
my great grandfather worked here in the 40's and 50's! i loved hearing his stories when i was like... 4-5 back in 2010. he loved this place and worked on the UP until the mid 70's I believe. i've always wanted to see the Steam Shop but have never been to Wyoming. Thank you for sharing this!
A really interesting and informative presentation. I'm from the UK and we have nothing here like the Cheyenne steam shops, it just shows what can be achieved with the muscle of a big, committed, company behind you. Long may UP rule.
Mike, I was really looking forward to riding behind your 60163 Tornado aboard The Aberdonian, but that plan went out the window like so many others. Last year I was lucky to see 4014 in action and ride behind this giant on the excursion from West Colton to Barstow. Hopefully Big Boy will thrill and amaze you someday!
This is so fascinating even if I don’t understand the half of it. I love the mixture of the old machines working alongside the new. This video has made it clear what a labor of love it truly is to restore and care for steam locomotives and why so many were just scraped for new diesel trains back in the day. This video has given me a new understanding of why steam locomotive workers were so attached to the trains they built. Only they had the intimate knowledge of each and every part, from the largest to the smallest. The locomotives still carry the character of those who care for them to this day. It’s also so great seeing the Big Boy in its slumber, being so well cared for until it can get back out on the rails. I can’t wait to see it in person. Thank you for taking the time to give us a tour of where the magic happens. Please keep up this very important work you do. ❤️ 🚂
For those of us who get news on when these Steam Locomotives are set to get rebuilt, we now get a further sense of understanding and patience based on what it takes to make that a reality, this video clearly gets to the point of that with absolute clarity, much respect to all members who put in their maximum effort to keep these Icons rolling.
I am very impressed by the investment in time, equipment and money that the U.P. has made in the Steam Shop. This tells me that the railroad doesn't intend to let the steam program lapse as other railroads have. A steam locomotive is every bit a piece of precision machinery as any diesel-electric loco, ship or even a jet aircraft. It's good to see U.P. is taking that premise seriously. I hope one day we might see their 'Big Three' (844, 3985 and 4014) operating under steam together at least once. Well done U.P. ... well done!
I worked as a diesel and electric locomotive electrician for a few years as I went through college. Certainly these steam locomotives have some gigantic heavy parts. Great tour and thank-you and UP for keeping these beautiful pieces of railroad history alive.
Imagine Stephenson looking at the big boy. He would flip out! Lol Can’t thank him enough for creating the locomotive. There is nothing prouder than being called railroader.
Thank you Mr. Dickinson for this tour. You have a perfectly moderated voice for speaking on this video. I love the Big Boy 4014. First 16 yrs of my life not even half a block from the track and depot, loved then trains 1950 thru 1965 when we moved.
Never thought about how much infrastructure was not only required to resurrect 4014 but to keep it operable as king of the rails. Someday hope to see this beast in person,
My Grandfather instilled a love of steam locomotives in me as he worked as a hostler on the Wheeling and Lake Erie Railroad. Thank you very much for posting this
Thanks Ed for the great video tour of the shop and your innovative procedures in re-creating unusual one of a kind components while holding precise tolerances. I visited 4014 when you were in Colton, CA last year and was shocked at how massive a locomotive it is. I spent 2 hours standing there admiring its complexity and beauty. During the drive home, after my visit, I smelled like a mixture of machine oil, fuel oil, and bearing grease! A delightful smell to me. My first career job was at 24 fresh out of college as a sales engineer for Union Pump Co. in 1966. I sold many direct acting steam pumps to refineries and also sold a bunch to Disney Corp. for boiler feedwater service on their stern wheeler and side wheeled tour boats when they were building Disney World near Orlando. Walt Disney insisted on live steam. He was a great lover of steam propulsion! It's great seeing you again on video and like all of us, I'm looking forward to when Big Boy is once again thundering down the rails.
Great video! It put a smile on my face and a nostalgic tear in my eye. The craftsmanship and professional pride, both then AND now is obvious. Thank you.
There is a beauty to machined parts and a symphony when they work together with all of the other components that make, up the locomotive. Thanks Ed for the presentation.
Great video! This brought me back to the day when I worked at Lockheed Burbank as a General Machinist. Perhaps different industry but the same manual machine tools used to cut metal and apply our skill. I think most people do not realize just how much engineering, machining and assembly go into making this large beast. Thanks for illustrating this. Truly, a lost industry and with that the talent that made America great!
What a great video!!!The man who spoke was absolutely very knowledgeable and the presentation was fabulous and put in layman's language that all people could understand. 15 stars
Ed, you exhibit the Pride in your work and Love in what you do. You are right about the intimacy of knowledge that comes from rebuilding something from scratch. That is how someone learns and gains knowledge that will never be forgotten. Thank You for sharing your time and giving everyone the gift of your Love for Steam Locomotives.
That is so cool how steam shop is using old and modern technology to carry out maintenance on the steam locomotives. It also boggles my mind how back then they could get parts for these locomotives to be accurate as possible with the technology and do it without error. Steam locomotives in general are just pieces of fine craftsmanship and I'm glad to see Union Pacific is taking care of these locomotives.
You guys absolutely made my year with 4014 down in College Station. I used to live in Fort Collins and was afraid I wouldn't get a chance to see the Big Boy in real life. I still remember playing with my grandpa on his "O" layout that sported a Big Boy, with functional "steam". Every times we'd go see him, into the basement I'd go. I can still feel that big whistle in my chest, and hear those purges opening and closing out by Bush Library.
I love the little touches, the little protective socks for the cut threads, that is really neat. it's those subtle touches that really makes a restoration come out as well as as they do
UP deserves a lot of credit for making such an undertaking possible and, so do the numerous volunteers involved with this impressive labor of love to protect the National Heritage. Ontario, Canada. 2020/09/25.
A huge shout out to the steam shop folks! I got to visit when I was, probably 6 or 7 years old, getting to see Challenger the day before a run, that was the day that solidified my love not just for trains in general or steam trains, but for machining and metalworking too. You guys are genuinely the best, and thank you for the virtual tour!
Thank you UP for bringing Big Boy 4014 back to the rails for the public to enjoy. And this documentary type video is appreciated. Looking forward to 4014 being on tour again
As a Wyoming resident I was privileged to see 4014 during its trip back from California to Cheyenne, and again after it was returned to service last year on it's way to Promontory Point. The U.P. and Wyoming have a fabulous history together and it is great to know that the U.P. has people, like Ed and his great crew, who love what they are doing and that they are supported by the executives in Omaha. History matters and these guys are keeping it alive. Thanks for posting and thanks to Ed. for hosting this delightful tour.
Thank you for taking the time to make this every interesting and educational video. It goes a better understanding of the effort put into bringing the Big Boy back to llife and the craftsmanship and dedication that went into it.
The capabilities of the steam shop are impressive and it is also good to know that UP value the engineering skills and training of staff to keep this sort of work and steam program going. Ed puts it all very eloquently, he's a real asset to steam preservation!
Great video!! A monumental job performed expertly by the Cheyenne shop workers...thank you for your time and effort to bring back the beauty of a steam locomotive!!! And thank you UP for your dollar and time commitment to get this job done!!!
GREAT video. The host did an awesome job of covering so much information in an easy to understand way. . . Kudos to all the volunteers who lovingly worked on the project and to Union Pacific for sponsoring such a big restoration and for it's commitment to preserving history.
When I first heard that Ed and the team we’re going to restore a Big Boy to operating condition, my first thought was, ‘Good luck with that’. When I visited the UP Steam Shop at Cheyenne Depot Days in May 2018 and saw the extraordinary quality of the work being performed on 4014, I started to think that this was really happening. A Big Boy was really going to operate again. Although I haven’t had the opportunity to get back to Cheyenne since then (it’s a long way from Australia and I’m not in great health), seeing the mountains of high quality video footage of 4014 operating has warmed the cockles of my heart. Ed, you’ve made this old guy’s childhood dream come true. I just hope I get the chance to see 4014 operating up close and personal before I leave this mortal coil.
Outstanding Tour! As a Machinist and Toolmaker, I've now seen The Shop were Dreams are made Real! Wow, Thanks for all Your Efforts! Got to see Big Boy 4014 on His Grand Tour of 2019, in Merrillan, WI. Absolutely Breathtaking!
REALLY appreciate UPs attention to detail, _and_ the new modernizing machining techniques that make the steam legacy viable and _prescient_ in the 21st century! Looking forward to a national tour via 4014 hopefully some day soon!
What a labor of love. Such a tremendous program you folks run in Cheyenne. Thanks for such an informative video showcasing your facilities that support the Steam Program and all the work that goes into maintaining these wonderful machines . Thanks for all you do . What a legacy .
Thanks so much for this......much appreciated. Please note though, there are those of us who have no use for facebook and other social media. Please, when you can, keep the emailed info coming. Best wishes to all involved!
Nice job Ed. You are a treasure. Thanks Ed and U.P for preserving these steam locomotives. I had the chance to see Ed and the Big Boy in Altoona wisconsin. i had tears in my eyes. Im a huge steam fan. I have 21 locomotives on my ho scale layout. Most are steam. Yes i have a Big Boy #4001 on the layout too. God bless Ed and the union pacific Railroad.
Great shop tour , keep up the good work on the steamers . Great to see them running and working again. Most people don't know what it is like to see one running or ride in the cab going down the track . There were built to run 100 plus years with good care and rebuilding. Great PR for the Railroad .
I absolutely love that you and you’re crew rebuilt that locomotive... and with the attention to detail you showed in preserving the workmanship and artistry that that magnificent piece of machinery represents. My grandfather was a machinist from that same era as the Big Boy and 844 etc. I learned to appreciate the care and pride that generation had for their craft and it is apparent that you and the UP steam team share that same pride. Well done and please continue with the good work.
Great video. A shop manager that know his craft and how to keep his staff happy. Having experience as a Navy Machinist Mate operating a 1200 LB main prolusion on a destroyer I know how dangerous steam systems can be. The quality of the work being done and the quality of the shop are amazing. Quality Video.
Looks very similar to the rail road shop i used to work in at a place called huckleberry railroad they have two steam engines that are in use through summer and holloween and Christmas they own a bawdwin steam engine 464 and the other one 1 52 a old united states's army steam engine used in Alaska during ww2 in the shop they have the same machinery well similar very cool video broght back memories to me of working in that shop watching this video awesome
Great overview! Wish I could visit in person. Hopefully some time soon. Glad to see that work is ongoing (never ending) and that no hands are sitting idle.
Kudos to the Union Pacific for maintaining this steam program and investing all this $ into these beautiful locomotives so that we preserve our nation's railroad history. No other road does this like UP!
Thank you Ed! I get chocked up just looking at Big Boy! My Dad worked for the WP during WWII and I got to ride in a lot of steam engines. Hopefully you bring these impressive machines to Eugene or Portland, OR one day so I can get up close with them and hear them again!👍✌️😊🙏🏼🚂🚂🚂🚂🚂🚂🚂🚂🚂
Glad I watched. It took a minute but this man was the main engineer when 4014 went through last year. Stopped in Kit Carson, with a following of more people than lived in town.
I'm so impressed with various trades knowledge and professional knowledge that are involved with designing and rebuilding a steam locomotive. Ed, you are well versed in so much of what it takes to make this happen. Hats off!
My son and I got to meet Ed just a few days ago at Parsons, KS. The whole crew and U.P. employees were awesome. I guess that Big Boy rubbed off on them. Now to travel to Cheyenne when they have open tours! Thanks Dean for the pins! I'll wear them with pride!
I was continually reminded during Eds shop tour of the SERIOUS dollar commitment UP made, In this day and age you just know there were beancounter naysayers and other opposition. I truly hope the 4014 steam program knocked it out of the park for UP in positive PR and enhanced freight account revenues.
Here is to trusting this program continues the returns to UP!
No amount of steam locomotive rebuilding will bring back the pride the actual blue collar workers had for this company before PSR ruined this company. I can guarantee you the freight locomotives are not this well maintained.
Chris Mcmahon Chris, Whats PSR?
Thxs
Yar Nunya Thanks Yar, I’m reminded when the airlines pushed to reduce maintenance as too many functions were “over laminated” whereby boutique maint is too costly where one fix would safely resolve the maintenance issue.
My first reaction reading your enclosed piece though is it seems to open up many revenue opportunities to others, The airlines learned this the hard way: Simply; A size seven doesn’t fit all.
Thxs again
From what I heard it was a $10,000,000 restoration
@@MrLunchHour2 Holy SHIT! That seems highly exorbitant for something that will never again do _real work._ I do realize that they are supposedly persevering history, but still..... What are they going to do with this rolling junkyard? If they're going to maintain it in some kind of working order they will have to continue spending TONS of money on it _year after year after year._ To me, that seems like a
*H U G E WASTE!* But that's just me.
Thanks for playing. . . . And hope you have a great rest of 2021.
The only thing missing was the subtle combination of old water, grease, oil, and metal grinding wafting past one's olfactory passages!
Thanks to you, Mr. Ed Dickens, and to the Union Pacific Railroad for. keeping a well-equipped steam shop active. What a superb presentation! I am a (very) senior citizen who grew up in a time when steam ruled the rails.
I wish my company had pride like that.
James Smith the guys in the shop don’t back blm, it’s the executives who pretend they do so they make other Democrat friends happy and keep the mobs away from them
James Smith BLM is a Marxist organization, most Americans aren’t that stupid, we enjoy our freedoms 🇺🇸
What’s your company
How did you reply on this two weeks ago the video was made two days ago
Alex Sneesby Ask Union Pacific why they support them. And why they stopped helping Border Patrol.
Thank you Union Pacific for spending enormous amounts of money to restore these old locomotives, the shop, roundhouse, the people that it all takes to perform this task. History needs to be recorded and you folks are doing a excellent job of doing that and I can't wait to see you show off your hard work hopefully in the near future . Thank you all at Union Pacific Railroad.
The 61 dislikes are essentially people with zero mechanical aptitude and therefore zero interest in this fascinating and informative video, which I feel was very well presented. I guess it's difficult to have interest in that which you don't understand. I actually feel a bit sorry for them as they don't know what they are missing. Great job guys, I thoroughly enjoyed it!
I'm so happy you folks did this video.
Great video for everyone and kids will love to see how steam locomotive built I like this high thumb up
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@@johnmckenzie8522 eee
This terrific narration cannot go unnoticed! Sheer passion speaks through this gentleman.
If you're not passionate enough while doing this then the company made a big mistake. They only put those (highly) interested with these arts in charge, not ordinary employees
Fantastic video. Ed's comments towards the end of this video related to these living machines being works of art is no longer understood nor appreciated by a majority of those living in the 21st century. Thanks to UP for funding the steam project and thanks to Ed and crew for sharing it all with us. From a UP stockholder as a result of UP's Steam Project!!
I've been following this for years and finally got to see the 4014 in person when it came to Roseville this July 2024. Saying it is a sight to behold is an understatement, she really is an impressive sight. The crowds the 4014 attract are nothing less then rock star status, it really is something to see so many people interested in her...young, old, men, women and kids.
Thank you Ed, your skilled Crew and your Superiors for making it happen...👍
I think it's pretty safe to say that everyone loves trains and history and the sound of a locomotive chugging down the tracks, keep up the good work and restore a few more, keep history alive
Ed, ever so eloquent speaking with true American pride. I'm sure that there will never be enough "thank yous" to you and the steam crew. Please keep up the outstanding work, you're really appreciated.
My Dad was a car inspector for UP starting in the late 40's. I remember riding behind steam locomotive as a child. Tears come to my eyes every time I see anything about 844 or 1014. Thanks UP for keeping them rolling.
4014
What’s shocks me is how many things, small things that go into a locomotive. They are so technical and just so unbelievable! They truly are living creatures!
Thank you Ed Dickens and all the other men and women who brought back the 4014 and keep the 844 running, and I hope to see the 3985 up and running again in the near future! I just wish my grandfather was still here to see all of this
I was hoping to see 3985. Retired or not, she's still my favorite and I'll forever hold out hope she'll return.
I too am a 3985 fan.👍👍
Saw 3985 at Railfair 91 along with 844 and 4449. So many great memories
@@thefitchemist2123 I just ,oved to Portland and I bike by 4449 all the time
BON3S McCOY What’s going on with 4449? I think it ran somewhat recently but I don’t think it’s done a whole lot lately
@@thefitchemist2123 some repairs, some stuff with Amtrak, and they've not done anything this year due to corona. They're saying next thing will probably be Christmas.
Thank you for bringing 4014 out on the rails again, and for your commitment to keeping the steam program alive.
I'm part of the steam club of Union Pacific, and I'm very happy I was sent an email about this video. I absolutely adore that the UP is restoring and preserving this steam locomotives and I desperately hope they continue to do so. Possibly adding more steam locomotives to their arsenal. I would also love if they did something like a cross country tour or something where they went up both and back again.
Glad I found this. My father was a special agent in Cheyenne. I loved the time I was able to spend in this shop and throughout the whole depot and yards. It's the reason I got interested in big machinery.
Congratulations to Union Pacific for being PROUD of their past, and equally appreciative of those who did, and continue to do the work and maintainence that allows these locomotives to continue to run.
I was at Medicine Bow, WY when they brought #4014 back to Cheyenne, and later that summer, I went thru the steam shop, and the roundhouse, where the disassembly of #4014 had begun and #844 was setting alongside, and #3985, which hopefully will again run again, was in the roundhouse.
Again, thanks to Union Pacific and the people who make it possible.
Interesting and intelligent. You did the Union Pacific steam program a favor by explaining how thoroughly you rebuild locomotives, and why.
I would like to thank all the men and women who work on that big boy. I was in Pomona at the fairground one year walking around and I ended up by the the trains in the box cars on the back of the fair that year as I was walking around it I Saw the Wheel the drive wheel and I couldn't believe the size of it and I said oh my God this has to be the big boy no men and women who were with me cuz the big boys oh yeah this is it I got all excited walked around it to three times couldn't believe I could actually stand there and put my hands on that big boy then I had just moved away from the Pomona Valley when you all moved it and got it ready to go to Cheyenne once more let me say thanks to all the men and women involved in the repair and restoration of this beautiful Monument and I am forever grateful to have seen it and to have been able to put my hands up on it
I earned my Journeyman’s card as a Tool& die Maker in 1985 from my dad who started a machine shop after his 3rd retirement at 66 years young. He served his apprenticeship in the Juniata Shop in Altoona Pa with the Pennsylvania Rail Road. I’m now 66 myself and still designing and building all types of dies, jigs and fixtures as well as machinery. Great video.. people today have no idea what the big shops were like back then.. even that shop you are in is “tiny” compared to the big PRR Steam Shops. Old School is Good School..
Thanks Ed for the awesome video of the steam shop. I loved all the tech info. It helps jog this old fellow's memories of when we restored the 819 back in the early 80's. Also I am blown away by the improvements etc that you & the crew have done in the Steam Shop since I was there back in 94 before the 3985's Calif trip. You & the Steam Crew Members are truly Blessed . Thanks again.
Wait! You helped restore 819! Sweet!
Thank you for taking the time to do this informative video and the tour of the steam shop.
I look forward to seeing these machines out on the rails again.
And thank you Union Pacific for your support of the steam program.
Im just astonished that not only does the building still exist, but that it hasn't been repurposed and is still kitted out for steam engine repair. From the bottom of my heart I thank you guys and Union Pacific for keeping this history alive.
You can tell Ed loves these locomotives. He doesn't need a script, he need not play to the camera, there is no artifice to what he says, it's just him pouring out the affection for the work and the result. It's such a pleasure to see someone and something who's true value isn't in the $$$$ssss.
Thank you, Mr. Dickens! Your knowledge is matched only by your obvious love & respect for the machinery. See you next time you come through Utah!
my great grandfather worked here in the 40's and 50's! i loved hearing his stories when i was like... 4-5 back in 2010. he loved this place and worked on the UP until the mid 70's I believe. i've always wanted to see the Steam Shop but have never been to Wyoming. Thank you for sharing this!
A really interesting and informative presentation. I'm from the UK and we have nothing here like the Cheyenne steam shops, it just shows what can be achieved with the muscle of a big, committed, company behind you. Long may UP rule.
Mike, I was really looking forward to riding behind your 60163 Tornado aboard The Aberdonian, but that plan went out the window like so many others. Last year I was lucky to see 4014 in action and ride behind this giant on the excursion from West Colton to Barstow. Hopefully Big Boy will thrill and amaze you someday!
This is so fascinating even if I don’t understand the half of it. I love the mixture of the old machines working alongside the new. This video has made it clear what a labor of love it truly is to restore and care for steam locomotives and why so many were just scraped for new diesel trains back in the day. This video has given me a new understanding of why steam locomotive workers were so attached to the trains they built. Only they had the intimate knowledge of each and every part, from the largest to the smallest. The locomotives still carry the character of those who care for them to this day. It’s also so great seeing the Big Boy in its slumber, being so well cared for until it can get back out on the rails. I can’t wait to see it in person. Thank you for taking the time to give us a tour of where the magic happens. Please keep up this very important work you do. ❤️ 🚂
For those of us who get news on when these Steam Locomotives are set to get rebuilt, we now get a further sense of understanding and patience based on what it takes to make that a reality, this video clearly gets to the point of that with absolute clarity, much respect to all members who put in their maximum effort to keep these Icons rolling.
Thank you for sharing the passion, honor, and pride in working on these magnificent machines. I look forward to seeing Big Boy in person.
I am very impressed by the investment in time, equipment and money that the U.P. has made in the Steam Shop. This tells me that the railroad doesn't intend to let the steam program lapse as other railroads have. A steam locomotive is every bit a piece of precision machinery as any diesel-electric loco, ship or even a jet aircraft. It's good to see U.P. is taking that premise seriously.
I hope one day we might see their 'Big Three' (844, 3985 and 4014) operating under steam together at least once.
Well done U.P. ... well done!
This guy knows his stuff the passion he has. Very awesome tour.
Kudos to the gentleman that was leading this tour explaining all these things with a passionate guy
I worked as a diesel and electric locomotive electrician for a few years as I went through college. Certainly these steam locomotives have some gigantic heavy parts. Great tour and thank-you and UP for keeping these beautiful pieces of railroad history alive.
Imagine Stephenson looking at the big boy. He would flip out! Lol Can’t thank him enough for creating the locomotive. There is nothing prouder than being called railroader.
Thank you Mr. Dickinson for this tour.
You have a perfectly moderated voice for speaking on this video.
I love the Big Boy 4014.
First 16 yrs of my life not even half a block from the track and depot, loved then trains 1950 thru 1965 when we moved.
Great presentation Ed! Love the footage of the rebuild. Wow!!!!
Never thought about how much infrastructure was not only required to resurrect 4014 but to keep it operable as king of the rails. Someday hope to see this beast in person,
seing this locomotive in person when it stopped in my town was a sight ill remember for years to come..Thank you Union Pacific for restoring her..
My Grandfather instilled a love of steam locomotives in me as he worked as a hostler on the Wheeling and Lake Erie Railroad. Thank you very much for posting this
Thanks Ed for the great video tour of the shop and your innovative procedures in re-creating unusual one of a kind components while holding precise tolerances. I visited 4014 when you were in Colton, CA last year and was shocked at how massive a locomotive it is. I spent 2 hours standing there admiring its complexity and beauty. During the drive home, after my visit, I smelled like a mixture of machine oil, fuel oil, and bearing grease! A delightful smell to me. My first career job was at 24 fresh out of college as a sales engineer for Union Pump Co. in 1966. I sold many direct acting steam pumps to refineries and also sold a bunch to Disney Corp. for boiler feedwater service on their stern wheeler and side wheeled tour boats when they were building Disney World near Orlando. Walt Disney insisted on live steam. He was a great lover of steam propulsion! It's great seeing you again on video and like all of us, I'm looking forward to when Big Boy is once again thundering down the rails.
Great video! It put a smile on my face and a nostalgic tear in my eye. The craftsmanship and professional pride, both then AND now is obvious. Thank you.
There is a beauty to machined parts and a symphony when they work together with all of the other components that make, up the locomotive. Thanks Ed for the presentation.
Great video! This brought me back to the day when I worked at Lockheed Burbank as a General Machinist. Perhaps different industry but the same manual machine tools used to cut metal and apply our skill. I think most people do not realize just how much engineering, machining and assembly go into making this large beast. Thanks for illustrating this. Truly, a lost industry and with that the talent that made America great!
What a great video!!!The man who spoke was absolutely very knowledgeable and the presentation was fabulous and put in layman's language that all people could understand. 15 stars
Ed, you exhibit the Pride in your work and Love in what you do. You are right about the intimacy of knowledge that comes from rebuilding something from scratch. That is how someone learns and gains knowledge that will never be forgotten. Thank You for sharing your time and giving everyone the gift of your Love for Steam Locomotives.
That is so cool how steam shop is using old and modern technology to carry out maintenance on the steam locomotives. It also boggles my mind how back then they could get parts for these locomotives to be accurate as possible with the technology and do it without error. Steam locomotives in general are just pieces of fine craftsmanship and I'm glad to see Union Pacific is taking care of these locomotives.
Fantastic effort. Kudos to UP for paying for this historical gem.
Very well spoken with the love showing as he's describing the parts, processes, engineering, etc. Well done!
Thank you for this tour. Glad to see 4014 is doing well, and I hope it is the same for 844 and the other residents.
You guys absolutely made my year with 4014 down in College Station.
I used to live in Fort Collins and was afraid I wouldn't get a chance to see the Big Boy in real life.
I still remember playing with my grandpa on his "O" layout that sported a Big Boy, with functional "steam". Every times we'd go see him, into the basement I'd go.
I can still feel that big whistle in my chest, and hear those purges opening and closing out by Bush Library.
I love the little touches, the little protective socks for the cut threads, that is really neat. it's those subtle touches that really makes a restoration come out as well as as they do
Oh man.. seeing big boy run would make 2020 a hell of a lot better!!
UP deserves a lot of credit for making such an undertaking possible and, so do the numerous volunteers involved with this impressive labor of love to protect the National Heritage. Ontario, Canada. 2020/09/25.
A huge shout out to the steam shop folks! I got to visit when I was, probably 6 or 7 years old, getting to see Challenger the day before a run, that was the day that solidified my love not just for trains in general or steam trains, but for machining and metalworking too. You guys are genuinely the best, and thank you for the virtual tour!
Thank you UP for bringing Big Boy 4014 back to the rails for the public to enjoy. And this documentary type video is appreciated. Looking forward to 4014 being on tour again
As a Wyoming resident I was privileged to see 4014 during its trip back from California to Cheyenne, and again after it was returned to service last year on it's way to Promontory Point. The U.P. and Wyoming have a fabulous history together and it is great to know that the U.P. has people, like Ed and his great crew, who love what they are doing and that they are supported by the executives in Omaha. History matters and these guys are keeping it alive. Thanks for posting and thanks to Ed. for hosting this delightful tour.
Thank you for taking the time to make this every interesting and educational video. It goes a better understanding of the effort put into bringing the Big Boy back to llife and the craftsmanship and dedication that went into it.
Just amazed at the heavy work that it takes to keep these machines up, thank you for the work you do. Love the 4014!
The capabilities of the steam shop are impressive and it is also good to know that UP value the engineering skills and training of staff to keep this sort of work and steam program going. Ed puts it all very eloquently, he's a real asset to steam preservation!
Great video!! A monumental job performed expertly by the Cheyenne shop workers...thank you for your time and effort to bring back the beauty of a steam locomotive!!! And thank you UP for your dollar and time commitment to get this job done!!!
I visited the shop last month during Depot Days. Incredibly impressive. Thanks to UPRR for investing in this to preserve a vital history.
Thank you for the great video, and thank you UP for not only keeping steam locos alive, but in top condition!
Hope to see this in person some day.
GREAT video. The host did an awesome job of covering so much information in an easy to understand way. . . Kudos to all the volunteers who lovingly worked on the project and to Union Pacific for sponsoring such a big restoration and for it's commitment to preserving history.
I'd pay several hundred dollars to walk that shop.
Makes 2 of us.
GOLD!!! Thanks Ed, UP Steam Team & UP !! Stay well.
When I first heard that Ed and the team we’re going to restore a Big Boy to operating condition, my first thought was, ‘Good luck with that’. When I visited the UP Steam Shop at Cheyenne Depot Days in May 2018 and saw the extraordinary quality of the work being performed on 4014, I started to think that this was really happening. A Big Boy was really going to operate again. Although I haven’t had the opportunity to get back to Cheyenne since then (it’s a long way from Australia and I’m not in great health), seeing the mountains of high quality video footage of 4014 operating has warmed the cockles of my heart. Ed, you’ve made this old guy’s childhood dream come true. I just hope I get the chance to see 4014 operating up close and personal before I leave this mortal coil.
Outstanding Tour! As a Machinist and Toolmaker, I've now seen The Shop were Dreams are made Real!
Wow, Thanks for all Your Efforts!
Got to see Big Boy 4014 on His Grand Tour of 2019, in Merrillan, WI.
Absolutely Breathtaking!
How nice to see people respecting and admiring vintage works of art. Nice Warner +Swasey turret lathe rebuild too!
Keep up the good work. Thank You!
REALLY appreciate UPs attention to detail, _and_ the new modernizing machining techniques that make the steam legacy viable and _prescient_ in the 21st century! Looking forward to a national tour via 4014 hopefully some day soon!
UPRR retired conductor here. Thank you Ed and team.
Thank you Mr. Dickens and Uncle Pete for keeping the fire alive. These are the things we need to endue these dark times.
What a labor of love. Such a tremendous program you folks run in Cheyenne. Thanks for such an informative video showcasing your facilities that support the Steam Program and all the work that goes into maintaining these wonderful machines . Thanks for all you do . What a legacy .
Thanks so much for this......much appreciated. Please note though, there are those of us who have no use for facebook and other social media. Please, when you can, keep the emailed info coming. Best wishes to all involved!
Nice job Ed. You are a treasure. Thanks Ed and U.P for preserving these steam locomotives. I had the chance to see Ed and the Big Boy in Altoona wisconsin. i had tears in my eyes. Im a huge steam fan. I have 21 locomotives on my ho scale layout. Most are steam. Yes i have a Big Boy #4001 on the layout too. God bless Ed and the union pacific Railroad.
Great shop tour , keep up the good work on the steamers .
Great to see them running and working again.
Most people don't know what it is like to see one running or ride in the cab going down the track .
There were built to run 100 plus years with good care and rebuilding.
Great PR for the Railroad .
Great tour . The engineering and craftsmanship is incredible. Glad to see U P committed to this program.
I absolutely love that you and you’re crew rebuilt that locomotive... and with the attention to detail you showed in preserving the workmanship and artistry that that magnificent piece of machinery represents. My grandfather was a machinist from that same era as the Big Boy and 844 etc. I learned to appreciate the care and pride that generation had for their craft and it is apparent that you and the UP steam team share that same pride. Well done and please continue with the good work.
Great video. A shop manager that know his craft and how to keep his staff happy. Having experience as a Navy Machinist Mate operating a 1200 LB main prolusion on a destroyer I know how dangerous steam systems can be. The quality of the work being done and the quality of the shop are amazing. Quality Video.
I love what you guys do to preserve the history and the historic Locomotives. Thank You!! I HOPE iI am able to see them in person someday!
Looks very similar to the rail road shop i used to work in at a place called huckleberry railroad they have two steam engines that are in use through summer and holloween and Christmas they own a bawdwin steam engine 464 and the other one 1 52 a old united states's army steam engine used in Alaska during ww2 in the shop they have the same machinery well similar very cool video broght back memories to me of working in that shop watching this video awesome
Great overview! Wish I could visit in person. Hopefully some time soon. Glad to see that work is ongoing (never ending) and that no hands are sitting idle.
What amazing work your team did. I had the pleasure of seeing 4014 under tow and under her own steam. Worth the wait.
As a former machinist, the shear size of the components you work on is impressive.
Keep up the great work with helping history still alive in today's world.
Kudos to the Union Pacific for maintaining this steam program and investing all this $ into these beautiful locomotives so that we preserve our nation's railroad history. No other road does this like UP!
Thank you Ed! I get chocked up just looking at Big Boy! My Dad worked for the WP during WWII and I got to ride in a lot of steam engines. Hopefully you bring these impressive machines to Eugene or Portland, OR one day so I can get up close with them and hear them again!👍✌️😊🙏🏼🚂🚂🚂🚂🚂🚂🚂🚂🚂
Took the #3985 run to Bend and back to Portland back in 1993? Awesome trip up the Deschutes river....
Glad I watched. It took a minute but this man was the main engineer when 4014 went through last year. Stopped in Kit Carson, with a following of more people than lived in town.
I'm so impressed with various trades knowledge and professional knowledge that are involved with designing and rebuilding a steam locomotive. Ed, you are well versed in so much of what it takes to make this happen. Hats off!
Very enjoyable. The moderator is knowledgeable and you knows he is a hands on person
My son and I got to meet Ed just a few days ago at Parsons, KS. The whole crew and U.P. employees were awesome. I guess that Big Boy rubbed off on them. Now to travel to Cheyenne when they have open tours!
Thanks Dean for the pins! I'll wear them with pride!
Sweet!!!! Someday I want to see this train in person. Will have to wait until I retire. Hope that won't be too late....!
Thanks so much for the tour! As I live east of the Mississippi I probably will never get to see in person these great engines run! Thank you again!!!
Beautiful machine shop beautiful place. Good on you UP.
Thank you for all your hard work!!! And thank you Union Pacific for supporting the steam engines and steam shop!!!
Good tour, I enjoyed it. It is nice to know that not only are the locomotives being restored and maintained, but the machine shop is too.