Was an Engineer on the Big UP for 42 years and I'm sure glad our upper management realized how important it is to preserve railroad history and American history, by restoring these steam engines Northern 844, "Challenger" 3985 and "Big Boy"4014....

I could listen to this guy all day and could probably come up with a hundred questions....Whatever he makes is definitely not enough...His knowledge, enthusiasm and dedication are monumentally priceless!!!

I hope UP management realize that the quality of workmanship and dedication shown to these legacy machines, installs a feeling of corporate pride not only to UP workers, not only to Americans, but to many in other nations. Corporations that actually stand for something other than pure profits install a sense of customer loyalty.

This shop's pride in craft and devotion to quality really shows here. Thank you for a an excellent video!

Kudos to Union Pacific for understanding the importance of their heritage. We got to see 4014 up close a couple of months ago. Just an amazing machine.

I absolutely love how the UP is doing everything it can to protect and advance railroad heritage. Only the UP has the drive to take on these types of projects. I work for csx and I think we're lucky now to be able to get fuel in our locos with our new ceo. I love how the men who give tours and explanations really know what they are talking about.

I could listen to all these men for days. I have great respect for their knowledge and talent.

The UP guys are amazing not only do they do there own thing but they will help so many others. I volunteer for a steam railroad museum and the UP helped us so much in making parts or cad work, they have a lot of the old drawings so they will send them out. Amazing group love what they do I'm glad to have worked with them. Also side note they will allow people to come help if you have a knowledge of this kinda work.. So thank you for posting shows the zest and love they have for this.

Enjoyed this, cannot wait to see the Big Boy run, very excited. My grandfather is retied from the Southern Pacific. Early part of his career he was a fireman and engineer for the Iowa Central, this was around 1905.

Thanks for the tour B.R. ... easy to see why a bunch of (pipe) organ builders would be interested and understand all the processes steam locomotive function as well as restoration/remanufacturing of parts.

Thank you for preserving Steam History! Its expensive hard work but glad to know generations of people will be able to see, feel, hear and smell such history!

I'm absolutely thrilled to see that one of the great American Icons is coming back to life

Awesome video. This came up as I was watching the 4014 leave Cheyenne on it's way to Utah. Awesome sight.

This guy is a great tour guide

It is nice to have a good detailed look at what all is going on in the rebuild. So many times we rear broad generalities. In this video we get down into what is really going on. THANK YOU!

Marvelous video. Audio and Visual perfect. Thank you for recording this so there is a record of what went on to put Big Boy 4014 back on the rails. He is a beauty to see steaming along now.

Nice video thanks for the big boy 4014 update I been waiting for a new update on its progress on Restoration I hope to see 3985 running again along side 4014 😊❤️

As an "old stuff freak" of many types of gear, I'm very greatful that UP have it in their corporate heart somehow to be so dedicated to preservation and heritage this far above (and away from) what I'd have thought to be their Bottom Line! Not sure whom exactly to thank, but thank y'all whoever you are! Kudos to one and all involved! So many of your forebears put so much dedication into the business, and it's truly wonderful to see that their efforts are not being scrapped in vein! Makes me all warm and fuzzy inside!

GOLD!!! Thanks for shooting and uploading Bill!

Great explanation as to why the Challenger 3985 used to run but isn't now. I'd wondered about that. Thanks for posting!

Once the Big Boy is rolling again I am going to make a trip someplace to see it. My kids will love it.

Fantastic presentation and detail from this UP expert engine mechanic.

Fantastic filming. Thanks for posting. Very informative and not boring for one minute.

Gorgeous gorgeous video !! Love the High Def quality!! Felt like I was right there. Thanks Bill.

Watching this with my Dad who drove Stem Engines in New Zealand for years. Started when he was 16 right thru it they took them off here, then went on to drive diesels, asked him if he understood what the guy was talking about he' like ya a steam engine is a steam engine dosen't matter what country they are from. My Dad is 88 nearly 89 years old. l

Nice, very nice video, it's great to see that UP has valued their heritage.

This is the best video of the ongoing work at the UP Steam Shop that I've seen to date, thanks!

Thank you for such a clear HD video of these steam locomotives being rebuilt and the locomotive shop as well. It maybe ten's of millions of dollars to support this steam locomotive program, but Union Pacific is a BIG company which has a big history in forging United States railroad history. It likely looks cheap in comparison to high value of prestige it gives the Union Pacific. As long as the UP is a top railroad showing off its history lets more than just the corporate world take some notice of it.

Great tour. Thanks to Union Pacific for hosting it and thank you, Bill, for posting it to KZfaq.

Thanks for filming this very informative tour. The presenter was excellent and the camera work was stellar. Very interesting to hear future plans for 3985 -- good to know that they're ordering extra castings. The UP rocks. Our industrial heritage is much alive in Cheyenne!

I'd love to take the tour some day. They are Beautiful. I had an Uncle that retired from U.P.

Good coverage. The guys giving you the tour did an excellent job too! The restoration of 4014 must be costing a fortune.

Mr. Rogers, I'm not a fan Of the UP, but I do appreciate their steam program. I have to say, this is the best videos I've seen that supports them. Amazing job, thank you(really).

I like the guide's oratory skills.....he is very concise. (Edit, I think his name is "Gunner".) And then there's Ed Dickens.........He's gooooooood! (Edit again: His name is Bruce Kirk.)

I am pleased to have seen this video ... I am happy to see the big boy drive again ... great video

thanks for bringing us along for your day with U P .. that would be a cool expierience

A very interesting video. Our host for the 1st half hour is a treasure trove of information. 'Bunch o' weenies' indeed (3:39); they're everywhere. Thank you very much.

@BillRogers, this is the best video. I hope to see 4014 run someday.

Such an impressive video - I cannot congratulate you enough.

Thanks Bill, most informative as I have been wondering how far along the restoration has progressed. As the connecting rods on 844 are, I believe, manganese nickle, it would be reasonable the parts relating to the eccentric(s) would be of the same material due to the stresses involved. Mr Kirk did say he was not sure, that's fair, but I was surprised just the same as 844 has not long been restored and the same parts are being used for 4014. I guess keeping track of individual item properties is for some other person to follow. It always amazes me how gracious and helpful the UP staff are and how unselfish they are in sharing knowledge and information so that a presentation is not dry facts and boring.

If I am permitted to add something to the guide's explanations about the difference between iron and steel: raw iron has a high content of carbon, which makes it brittle. After the Bessemer method of refining iron came the Thomas method. By the injection of oxygen into the molten iron, the carbon was burnt off. Next came the addition of other materials such as chrome, vanadium, tungsten, or wolfram. These alloys were either super hard or more elastic, depending upon their later use. The hardness of these steel alloys can be proofed by the Brinell scale.

Very informative video! The big boy is so huge, I had no idea!

i met bruce at the college world series when they brought the 844 last year he's nice

Thank you U P and Ed and your crew from Johnny a pipe organ and live steam guy.

I love his American accent! Reminds me of times gone by!

Best video tour ever. Thanks for the upload

oooh ! I'm so envyous! That must have been a VERY nice tour! Thanks for uploading!

What a great slice of history this video is...... This made me think of the politics of machines.....I'm pretty sure that the best of the very best of these machines were machines that were born in market based and "Non-Socialist" economies. I'm not bringing this up to muddy up or distract from the historical beauty of these awesome machines.......but rather to point out that these machines didn't just "appear" on a set of tracks one morning. They are the culmination of work by men and women possessed of a spirit that mankind cannot afford to lose.

I always wanted to work for the Union Pacific Railroad filled out applications for jobs but, I ended up doing lots of things instead. I started out cleaning used bricks at 13 then a roofer at 15, then a drywall finisher and painter in the military at 17 . Then did structural demolition and salvage and recycled lumber and brick for 3 yrs. Then worked in a foundry for a bit. Then worked in a big welding and fabrication shop for 3 years. Then got a degree in HVAC and became a HVAC tech and installer. A refrigeration fitter ,then a Steamfitter. Then an industrial electrician . Then a Millwright / industrial mechanic. Then a machinist. I just wish I wasnt so old and worn out now but , I was rarely ever out of work except after I got out of the Air Force after my four year enlistment and was treated like crap. I just wanted to work for the railroad though, oh well.

Thank you so much for sharing this!!

I certainly hope the UP videos the reassembly process of the Big Boy and sells them to the public.

Excellent video! Thank you.

Awesome video, very informative and entertaining.

*A friend of mine bought a one off replica of the BigBoy locomotive in the 1980s. I think it was one inch to scale. The whole loco was about 5 to 6 feet long and although it was not able to be fired and run on steam we did run it on air pressure and all the drive wheels and associated machinery worked just like the big one. This old guy had spent years and years making it and it came with all these wooden pieces that he had carved and then used to make molds from which he cast the metal parts from. Where are you and your BigBoy Locomotive Greg Spranger? He paid 2000 bucks for it I think and even then we all knew that he had got a hell of a good deal on it. It might have been available for viewing in a train museum in Issaquah WA for quite a few years but when he got divorced his wife wanted half of the damn Loco.*

That was awesome thank you for posting it.

a great company to do forging and custom pieces for u-p is the custom alloy corp- in high bridge new jersey they work on a lot of great projects for everyone

Awesome vid. Thank you for sharing

i could listen all day

Excellent video very well done.

Great great video!! Thanks for sharing!

Seeing them stand next to the #3985 you can really get a sense of just how big that engine is. Just .. holy crap. @.@

Brilliant video; thanks for loading.

the dda40x was built near my house and the frame was built by john mohr company of chicago because the frame exceeded the capacity of the emd plant

Great video. Very informative thankyou.

I have been at a railroad that runs steam daily and while visiting the master mechanic he got a call from the train on the main that his engine needed to come off for repairs. I watched him light off an ice cold boiler sitting in the shop using compressed air for a forced draught and ten minutes later she was sitting at 199 pounds of steam and I was able to place my hand on the firebox side sheets and it was still ice cold at 199 pounds of steam pressure. This is not the way a steam railroad wants to fire up a steam locomotive but when you're operating a business and you need to replace a steam locomotive that needs immediate repair. Ideally a railroad will fire up a steam locomotive as this guy in the video described. By the time the train arrived and the crew walked into the engine house to get the replacement engine the boiler was fully warmed up and hot everywhere.

The 4014 would Not be in Cheyenne undergoing its "rebirth" if it were not for a very generous donor, who has underwritten 50% of whatever the final cost of restoration is, and whom to this day has chosen to remain anonymous to everyone except to those who were involved in the decision-making process of "go or no-go" with the 4014.

Great video. Thanks.

RIP 3985

The big boy's where taken out of service the year I was born cant wait to see one under is own power pulling a train.

I remember that when 3985 hauled the Ringling Bros train.

Amazed the UP is spending, what must be a ton of money, on this equipment. It's great, but just seems strange in today's business environment.

Very Cool.

Bill Rogers, I would like to point out there is one error that I know of in this video. Bruce Kirk states that there were 75 of the Centennials or E.M.D. DDA40x's Diesel-Electric Locomotives built, but that is incorrect. There were only 47 of them built! Source 1.) Publisher: Overland Models, Inc., Title: Union Pacific's Centennials in Action, Author: George R. Cockle, ISBN: 0-916160-05-X, Year Published: 1980, Source 2.) Publisher: Withering Publishing, Title: Union Pacific's Big EMDs-DD35 and DDA40X Diesel Era, Author: Paul K. Withers, ISBN: 1-881411-65-6, Year Published: 2012. This is stated at time 2.06. I also can back that there are only 47 of them for I used to own 4 of these in HO scale by Bachmann Train, then I traded them out for the Athearn Genesis Models. The Athearn model comes with a small booklet that has information on this locomotive which states there were 47 of these locomotives.

Nice video, I like these inept tours.

Bill this is pure gold! Many thanks for videoing and uploading this :D The image quality is excellent. What did you record this on please? Thanks

Dang someone get that person a cup of water @8:30 onward lol

I applaud your attempt at audio recovery.........I gather the ambient noise was terrible.

Very good video.👍🇬🇧

Makes our UK 'kettles' look like miniatures!

One thing that makes me sad is the fact that we at one time, with far less technology built hundreds of these giants in a fairly short amount of time...Today we have technology that our father's and grandfather's could only dream of...Now it takes years and millions of dollars to restore just one....

Someone should let Ed know if he ever takes a vacation he should visit the airforce museum in daton ohio if he already hasn't. They have a wonderful display of former presidential aircraft.

Excellent video. I did unfortunately miss what Ed was saying during the noise part.

I saw the centennial! UP6936 EMD DDA40X

I'm disappointed that I won't get to see 4014 and meet the crew, especially Ed, this year. I was hoping to make it to West Chicago, but I have to fly out of O'Hare two days after, and making two separate trips from Michigan to Illinois, in the course of four days, just isn't going to work. Bummed big time. I hope to see it next year, at some point. I do want to take a trip to northern Nevada, to see my brother, so maybe I can make it to Cheyenne also.

I forget: please correct me if I'm wrong! Thank you!

Thank you for this excellent, clear, video. Who tunes the whistle? (Wish it were multi-toned.)

you got the tour from god himself very nice def a bucketlist item

Bill that is outstanding video. What camera were you using?

Bill important from NH and a very big fan as well as my son, when 4014 is finished what would come to New Hampshire and when

I'm a narrow gauge steam locomotive fireman the 844 and the challenger were the locomotives that made me want to be a locomotive fireman but I know there is no chance in hell that I'll ever get to touch 4014

Dda40x 6930 and turbine 18 are in Illinois

woah they had the eccentric frames recast and the parts about 20 minutes in from scratch, thats not cheap, and shows real investment for the future to do that, as for the centennial, it was the most powerful and was the continuation of the engines that pulled the same routes that the big boys and up turbines did since they needed high power to go up Sherman hill, it is the last one that runs, now if they would bring back one of the up turbines they saved 2 of them and they sit in museums now, but up till 2010 or so it was the most powerful combustion engine powered locomotives at 8500, and at low altitude but out about 10000 hp, but they were fuel hungry, and the guide is right soo many are too willing to throw away our history, though even back then there were those that had the foresight to try to save historic things though many times there was not enough interest or funding so things got torn down, or in the case of steam engines cut up with torches and cranes, the steamers lived by fire, born of the forge and foundry, fired by burning coal or oil, and killed by the fire of the torch, and recycled, sad but true. I will go as far to say though the Wyoming Union Pacific steamshop and historical fleet is one of the best at what they do in the world, they are the only Mainline USA Railroad that still owns its own steam engines, occasionally runs revenue freight with steam, and has never retired all its steam engines, 844 was pulled from service but workers spent their own time working on her to keep her running for special occasions, so she was never retired, mind you though there are a few short lines like strausburg that also pull revenue freight from time to time with steam, but strausburgs engines are much smaller, though they do have the only decapod left running. also note with steam the harder and faster you push it the hotter the fire gets from the from the on rushing air and puffs of steam being shot up the smokestack putting draw on the fire like a blacksmiths bellows in a forge, the hotter the fire the better it makes steam and creates more expansion of that volume of steam, so it makes power better and runs more efficiently, the steam also reacts to the throttle faster then a diesel electro which applies power slower typically then the 2000 fps the steam moves at according to Gary Bensman a legend in steam restoration himself, also with running faster the engineer can use the cutoff valve so it lets it more fully expand, and uses less of it per piston stroke. and the stamping presses he speaks of for the transverse equalizer were called forges the made them under steam hammers, or forge pressed, not usually made with a stamping press per sey, more often then not today though they use a big hydrolic forge press to squeeze the metal down like a tube of toothpaste, and has better control then say a steam or air hammer, which can still be found but presses can have better control then a violent hit from a hammer, and induces less stress on the metal though it does do some jobs better then a press.

It would have been nice if UP had fully restored 4014, 844, 3985 before shutting the whole steam program down. That being said perhaps some of the historic diesel locomotives should have the same thing done with them before the expertise and knowledge slips by from that era also.

"Preaching to the choir" was a pregnant remark.

Nice Miller bobcat

Was it the coal embers that caused the erosion, or the sand that was injected into the firebox to clean the soot? I watched a video of the Challenger 3985 on coal having scoops of sand added through the firebox, which must be like sandblasting metal at high temps!

Great video, did they mention anything about the 2-10-2 they have stored with the other engines or what they plan to do with it.

Ditto Sparky's comment...

I have tuned many organs. I will tune the boring locomotive whistle.

UP 3985 does need a new firebox. Just like with UP 844 in 1999-2004.