I've only seen (so far) the 4006, and there it is full of steam in Green River. Just seeing it on display has always been an experience in itself, which will make seeing 4014 back in action absolutely incredible. And speaking of 4014, there it is, around 10:30. A shame there won't be any fellow Big Boys for it to play with like that when it goes home to Cheyenne, but at least it'll have 3985 and 844.
This is one of the BEST Big Boy videos ever! Love the original footage. There's a certain 'human' aspect to it. Glad to see I wasn't the only one who saw the 'Early' (Fetter's) Challenger! I went back again to make sure. I'd love to see a video of those. Union Pacific steamers are so impressive. Thanks for sharing this awesome video!
love seeing the old steamers especially the seemingly rare footage of the big boys. There used to be a big 4-8-4 that ran along the line near home when I was a kid
very nice footage Mike, it's amazing to see original color video of the Big Boys when they were in revenue service. Even better that Union Pacific is actually bringing one back. The announcement was made on Tuesday afternoon, Big Boy 4014 is going back to Union Pacific to be restored for excursion service. in the not so distant future, a mighty 4-8-8-4 Big Boy will once again thunder across the american landscape.
Pity there's no sound... But the video footage... STUNNING!!! This DEMANDS an extended version of the main theme from The good, The bad and The ugly as background music! * o * Powerful, unique, fast... and big... The steam locomotives of the Union Pacific railroad in general. BTW To everybody else: at 0:38 you'll see an EARLY Challenger backing up. This is how the Challengers looked before the Big Boys were even designed. The Challengers like 3977 and 3985 were designed AFTER the Big Boy, truely making their design Big Boy's little brother.
Cannot thank you enough for posting this. And I agree with another commenter who said they made their own sound. How wonderful to have experienced this real time.
AJ Wolff was one of the last few people to see UP Big Boy 4009. The locomotive was scrapped in 1963 and he took a very morbid picture of the engine barely recognizable as it was being scrapped. Of the 25 big boy locomotives that were built 8 were saved 17 were scrapped
Very enjoyable to observe footage of the Union Pacific rr "Big Boy" and "Challenger" type locomotives, UP had an impressive variety of specially designed locomotives during the steam era. I am very satisfied that UP 4014 has been restored back to operating condition by the Union Pacific special heritage crew as I enjoy seeing footage of that locomotive.
Gorgeous film footage! Watching this old film is like listening to classic jazz on a 78 RPM record. Th image quality isn't very crisp, but the media itself lends a quality to the images that is better than any modern 4K video. It's like stepping back in time. The only thing better will be when UP gets the 4014 running!
Truly remarkable footage. It did not escape my attention how he was able to get so close and personal on those many occasions without even a single care. Unheard of today. In overalls, conductor hat, scanner and binocs one is mistaken for a bad guy today. Sad.
Great video...............except I would time travel backwards to catch locomotive numbers.....Saw "4000" and maybe "4009" but............such is life......
nfd1960 The 4000s were also the most modern articulated steamers. They were designed to run 80+ and had fittings for passenger car heating so they were built as heavy duty, high speed locomotives. Mostly hauling freight due to the demanded power requirements, and diesels pushing steam from passenger service before freight service usually. Don't be surprised if you see 4014 running 75+ when they bring him back to life!
I would love to see 4014 pulling a revenue freight. Full tonnage behind her storming out of Cheyenne and up track 3 of Sherman Hill and down into Laramie. 4014 is definitely capable of 75 mph but I doubt we'll see her running at those speeds in this modern day. You know some old timers have said that on the Northwestern division of the U.P the Challengers would run up to 90 mph with passenger trains!
Triplex were a niche locomotive design. I think they achieved even higher tractive effort, but even their enormous boilers weren't supplying enough steam to six cylinders. The middle set was high pressure from the boiler, and the front and rear low pressure from the middle set.
Thank you for the info! In Germany these films were called "Super 8". Cameras and films were megasellers throughout the 1970s - 1980s, as filming back then was for everyone!
+john72ss I'm too young too. Never did see steam in real operational work, except for the logging trains up here (Canada) in the 60's and the narrow gauge D&RGW in its final days around Cumbres Pass in the late 60's. But Dad did a good job of capturing the final days of a lot of operations.
Mike Dunham-Wilkie I was born in 55, so I was to young to see and hear them in their haydays, but I am lucky enough to be near the sp #4449 and the sp&s #700 and have seen both of them in action, they are amazing locomotives!
There is a video in 2 parts called Last of the Giants here on youtube. There is a lot of good steam footage. Another on here is Steam was great on the Nickel Plate. Both of these are 16mm sound.
taking into account size, weight, firebox size etc, the Union Pacific Big Boy's while not the largest in any specific category were the overall largest and most powerful steam locomotives in use.
I never tire of watching these historic memories in action. Great stuff.
Little did you know 4014 would come back to life 7 years later
Wow! Genuinely awesome footage! Thanks to you and your dad for sharing!
I've only seen (so far) the 4006, and there it is full of steam in Green River. Just seeing it on display has always been an experience in itself, which will make seeing 4014 back in action absolutely incredible.
And speaking of 4014, there it is, around 10:30. A shame there won't be any fellow Big Boys for it to play with like that when it goes home to Cheyenne, but at least it'll have 3985 and 844.
This is one of the BEST Big Boy videos ever! Love the original footage. There's a certain 'human' aspect to it.
Glad to see I wasn't the only one who saw the 'Early' (Fetter's) Challenger! I went back again to make sure. I'd love to see a video of those.
Union Pacific steamers are so impressive.
Thanks for sharing this awesome video!
love seeing the old steamers especially the seemingly rare footage of the big boys. There used to be a big 4-8-4 that ran along the line near home when I was a kid
This is awesome footage! Thanks for sharing it! The Big Boys were such EPIC trains.
very nice footage Mike, it's amazing to see original color video of the Big Boys when they were in revenue service. Even better that Union Pacific is actually bringing one back. The announcement was made on Tuesday afternoon, Big Boy 4014 is going back to Union Pacific to be restored for excursion service. in the not so distant future, a mighty 4-8-8-4 Big Boy will once again thunder across the american landscape.
Pity there's no sound... But the video footage... STUNNING!!! This DEMANDS an extended version of the main theme from The good, The bad and The ugly as background music! * o *
Powerful, unique, fast... and big... The steam locomotives of the Union Pacific railroad in general.
BTW To everybody else: at 0:38 you'll see an EARLY Challenger backing up. This is how the Challengers looked before the Big Boys were even designed. The Challengers like 3977 and 3985 were designed AFTER the Big Boy, truely making their design Big Boy's little brother.
I keep watching all these videos and am amazed at these machines. I can't wait to see 4014 under steam. It will be awesome.
The big boy's and the Chesapeake and Ohio Alleghenys were some of the most largest successful articulated locomotives ever built.
Cannot thank you enough for posting this. And I agree with another commenter who said they made their own sound. How wonderful to have experienced this real time.
Thanks Bridget
AJ Wolff was one of the last few people to see UP Big Boy 4009. The locomotive was scrapped in 1963 and he took a very morbid picture of the engine barely recognizable as it was being scrapped. Of the 25 big boy locomotives that were built 8 were saved 17 were scrapped
Absolutely incredible footage. Thanks for sharing!
Thanks Ryan!
love the fact that your dad filmed it in the winter, the steam is crisp
I love dis footage the 4-8-8-4 and 4-6-6-4 were some truely amazing locomotives
Very enjoyable to observe footage of the Union Pacific rr "Big Boy" and "Challenger" type locomotives, UP had an impressive variety of specially designed locomotives during the steam era. I am very satisfied that UP 4014 has been restored back to operating condition by the Union Pacific special heritage crew as I enjoy seeing footage of that locomotive.
Strikingly beautiful. Love the Big Boys.
Gorgeous film footage! Watching this old film is like listening to classic jazz on a 78 RPM record. Th image quality isn't very crisp, but the media itself lends a quality to the images that is better than any modern 4K video. It's like stepping back in time. The only thing better will be when UP gets the 4014 running!
Chris Ackerley thanks!
4014 at 10:31!
Thanks for sharing!
thank you for sharing this
Truly remarkable footage. It did not escape my attention how he was able to get so close and personal on those many occasions without even a single care. Unheard of today. In overalls, conductor hat, scanner and binocs one is mistaken for a bad guy today. Sad.
The scene at 7:12 or so is just epic... wonderful, wonderful stuff.
How i remenber this days i was 43 years old, and now i have 112, i don't know with you guys will believe in me, but i have ALL this age
Very impressive video to watch, there's nothing like these big American steamers!
Great video...............except I would time travel backwards to catch locomotive numbers.....Saw "4000" and maybe "4009" but............such is life......
anybody notice 4014 at 10:30? its going backwards!
and great footage of 4000, or big boy #1. too bad he's not with us anymore!.
The Triplex was the largest but it was power hungry and hard to maintain. The big boy was the largest successful steam locomotive
The Big Boys were the largest at 1.5 million tons, The Triplex was smaller even though it had more drivers
nfd1960 Amen.
nfd1960
The 4000s were also the most modern articulated steamers. They were designed to run 80+ and had fittings for passenger car heating so they were built as heavy duty, high speed locomotives. Mostly hauling freight due to the demanded power requirements, and diesels pushing steam from passenger service before freight service usually. Don't be surprised if you see 4014 running 75+ when they bring him back to life!
I would love to see 4014 pulling a revenue freight. Full tonnage behind her storming out of Cheyenne and up track 3 of Sherman Hill and down into Laramie. 4014 is definitely capable of 75 mph but I doubt we'll see her running at those speeds in this modern day. You know some old timers have said that on the Northwestern division of the U.P the Challengers would run up to 90 mph with passenger trains!
Triplex were a niche locomotive design. I think they achieved even higher tractive effort, but even their enormous boilers weren't supplying enough steam to six cylinders. The middle set was high pressure from the boiler, and the front and rear low pressure from the middle set.
No sound??? I remember some early movies starring Laurel & Hardy that had no sound - but this one dates to the 1950s.
Jürgen Kuhlmann. It was filmed with a standard 8mm movie camera. Sound was pretty rare with that technology
Thank you for the info! In Germany these films were called "Super 8". Cameras and films were megasellers throughout the 1970s - 1980s, as filming back then was for everyone!
Union Pacific Big Boy, the largest Articulated Steam Locomotive ever built.
It was filmed in the 1950's, long before iPhones, using an 8mm movie camera.
I'm so glad this footage was found and preserved.
I wonder if I could add sound to this....
1:56, woah it's 4000 the first bigboy
3 dislikes? I could only like this more if there was sound! nice find sir!
+john72ss Thanks John
never did get to see them, but I have seen the #3985 a few years ago! my father was a hoghead on the sp&s
+john72ss I'm too young too. Never did see steam in real operational work, except for the logging trains up here (Canada) in the 60's and the narrow gauge D&RGW in its final days around Cumbres Pass in the late 60's. But Dad did a good job of capturing the final days of a lot of operations.
Mike Dunham-Wilkie I was born in 55, so I was to young to see and hear them in their haydays, but I am lucky enough to be near the sp #4449 and the sp&s #700 and have seen both of them in action, they are amazing locomotives!
A "Challenging" end to the clip!
Do they have any 16mm film of this kind of stuff?
There is a video in 2 parts called Last of the Giants here on youtube. There is a lot of good steam footage. Another on here is Steam was great on the Nickel Plate. Both of these are 16mm sound.
anyone know if big boy 4012 is in this?
No sound!
Retired At Last standard 8mm films in the 50’s didn’t have sound. Wish they did!
Magic. What more needs to be said?
Did anyone else see UP 4466 backing up @ 0:35?
Railroadbrony4412 I know I did!
wonderful video,
A special thanks to your father Dave for movie.
The Erie Triplex locomotives (2-8-8-8-2) were the largest steam locomotives ever built, not the Big Boy
niselat he just got schooled
But I think the Big Boys were still more impressive.
taking into account size, weight, firebox size etc, the Union Pacific Big Boy's while not the largest in any specific category were the overall largest and most powerful steam locomotives in use.
Big Boy was the longest reciprocating steam locomotive ever built and the heaviest when fully loaded
Good vid but no sound still awsome
Great video - I made my own sound...
4014 gets going again and it will look like a tornado coming down the tracks......watch at around 11:10 and see.
The era 1940-1970 was UP's finest hour,
1959 was when the sun had set for steam locomotive operations by the UP.
The steam age was so awesome, i'd like to take one of these billowing full smoke past the head office of the EPA and Al Gores house.
I feel a big…fear.
I feel a bigt…fear.
10:30 Gasp! 4014
???
ビッグボーイが現役時代、日本ではD52作って必死に戦時輸送してた時代に、アメリカではこれ使って3000tとか牽いていたんだよなー。
8動軸でD52の3両分の牽引力とか…そりゃ戦争に勝てんわ。
アメリカが開発した世界最大の蒸気機関車だけのことはあるね！
本当にデカイ…（・ω・;）
the quality is very bad
he must have used an iPhone