I do appreciate that. It will be interesting to see the differing states of the Big Boy in the coming years compared to it's current "Museum Fresh" condition. There is definitely enough good video on youtube now to compile the entire move of Big Boy.

Ed seems like a pretty cool guy. Did he know you were on youtube also?

No

It was fun. I was beat though after about 5 hours of walking around, and waiting for the trolly and just the insane amount of people to try and look out for. But it was worth it. That's kind of why I did all of these depot days videos, just to try and let people experience it to a point that couldn't go.

+fredfindl The whole point of the Big Boy was to avoid double heading. (But yes, it would.)

When I was there, i did hear mention that they had started looking over the blueprints of Big Boy. I would think the boys are itchin' to start though. I read a lot of comments on the 3985, and SteamUP caught one of the steam crew talking about the status of 3985. I keep reading anywhere from 3-15 year restoration time frame after the Big Boy is finished

3985 Caught fire in 1999. I keep wondering about 4018. I heard there's only 8 of these left out of 25.

I overheard someone mention they had already started by digging out the blue prints of Big Boy, but I don't know when the real work begins...

Nevermind, I noticed.It's getting the plumbing worked on, lol

This is a good observation because my thoughts during this visit were much the same as they just do not have the room to store all of their fleet, much less to a full tear down and rebuilt of the Big Boy in that space. They do not have any other shop they do the work in. I guess it all depends on how much really needs to be replaced. It seems to me UP needs to start thinking about expanding the Steam Shop though or build another building to house their "dead storage" locomotives which are currently in the Roundhouse.

squarerig This was just an inspection pit in a small building to have the public review the engine. It will be torn down in a backshop with overhead cranes, etc, I'm sure.

Ben Deutschman They haven't really, most work on 4014 & 3985 has been put on hold to get 844 overhauled & running by the end of 2015 as well as renovations & upgrades to the steam shops themselves to better handle these massive engines.

that seems like a long time but I can hardly wait to see it run

***** At least, it can take up to 10 for some places, but UP has a bigger budget

ok

yup

***** The Thirty Nine Eighty Five (3985) is NOT "still running"... it is classified "Dead Storage" (UPRR classification)... and "deadlined" by the FRA and will not be going Anywhere... without a whole new Boiler... a Major project & expense. Will we ever see it polish the rails again ???..... Who knows at this point in time for absolute sure.... Nothing is for "sure" anymore, considering the current "state of affairs" in our country... and the world. Heck... the Eight Forty Four (844) will be up for it's FRA mandated 15 year full blown inspection in the not too distant future again, as well... and the boiler on the 877 is not "servicable" (as a replacement, should the 844 need it.. from what I was told, anyway).... and quite a number of "spare" parts have already been cannibalized for use on the 844... mechanical parts eventually Do get to the end of their servicable "life"... so, Who knows how things will shake out in the end.

That's cool. I have no problem just brings more attention to my channel :) I blocked the others because i felt they didn't really matter anymore. Let me know what the other one was and I will reopen it. Thanks

I was actually shocked Ed has watched enough of my videos to know what my layout even looks like! haha That was a pretty funny conversation. I really wanted to chat more with him but there were so many people there, and I didn't want to monopolize his time. But it was really nice he came over and said hi. I thought I could just sneak in without him seeing me but NOPE lol

Sorry, I think they're converting it to oil. On the bright side though, it's still an operating big boy!

The plans ARE to convert it to run on No. 5 oil... same as the 3985, and the 844... that is, IF... the restoration was to go "full term". Don't misunderstand me, I want to see All Three of them running again... and ALL the other viable steamers "out there" as well, However...... My "educated guess" says "it was a nice idea, and the move to Cheyenne was a nice distraction to a portion of the US population, & even globally... just like all the different sports venues that the sheeple sit in front of the "boob tube" and occupy their time with.... while this country is being set up for "the take down"... and it IS.... watch what happens early in 2015... and the ensuing nightmare from there, on.

Actually I find him quite funny. He posts on a lot of other videos. He did share my video so I feel it would be rude but I find his comment hilarious personally. He isn't being a typical POS troll I see on youtube. But I am watching him none the less....

His comments kinda kill the fun of every video... :/

I am not sure why he shared my video if he really believes what he says. IDK I understand what you are saying though.

Nick White He also in the past seemed to have shared my channel with his classic "Junk the steam locos", which led me to believe he was trying to frame me in some way. =P

***** I just find him funny, I also find it funny how many people are replaying to his comments also lol. If he had come to my videos and said " Steam locomotives are the biggest piece of shit that should've all be scrapped and videos like this are a waste of youtube" something like that, then I would have banned him the second I saw it...

You keep out of this, this locomotive will not be scrapped.

***** It will be hit by financially desperate people who will haul off parts for CASH sales on the black market. It will be a long, long, long time before they ever find those parts again. Sounds like it will end up junk, scrapped out, cut apart & melted down. That sounds so good!

Cockroach Desperate people can find many other ways to make money. I would be aware of anything that had to do with desperate people selling locomotive parts. Union Pacific keep in mind, is a major money making corporation. So you would have no power at all to steal a giant locomotive from them, it is simply un-doable. (If that is even a word) Sounds pretty false to me.

***** True, desperate people COULD find other ways to earn money, but the easiest & quickest is to acquire & sell the parts of steam locomotives & sell them for lucrative sums of CASH on the black market. Union Pacific may be a big company, but even they have their weaknesses. It is not the steam locomotive in entirety which would be stolen, it is the parts which people want. Particularly collectors who do not have the space to display or hide an entire steam locomotive, it would be something for their den. Like the engineer's instruments or boiler water sight glasses, or the headlight or whistle or bell or the builders plate. There are many other "goodies" to be had. Sounds pretty true to me. Junk all the remaining steam locomotives! Cut them apart & melt them down.

***** Sure I realize it. I am not worried! Junk all the remaining steam locomotives! Cut them apart & melt them down.

I just know that right now the 3985 is classified as dead storage, and there is still work it needs, boiler tear down and inspection etc.. I've heard a lot of stuff back and forth on this about the 3985. SteamUP did a video of his tour of the roundhouse which he was able to get some information about the 3985. The 844 is down for probably this whole year, and the 6936 is also broke down last I saw anyway so they have their hands full with everything that is for sure.