6000 HP and it can't pull a wheelie ...

texasSlick

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... but it can pull a mile long train up a 2% grade.



Recently restored Union Pacific 4014 is on tour commemorating the 150th anniversary of the completion of the transcontinental railroad. It passed thru our part of East Texas Nov. 10, 2019.

Twenty five of the 4-8-8-4 "Big Boy" were made. Only 8 Big Boys escaped the cutting torch, and 4014 is the only one operational.

Kudus to the Union Pacific Railroad for restoring and preserving this piece of Americana.
 
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Yes sir - very impressive. I love all things mechanical and there is nothing that ticks all the boxes for mechanical fascination more than a steam locomotive .
 
Puts our twin engined Deltics in the mist. Combined hp 3,300 I think. Slightly small country to plod around. Superb engine though !
 
Yes sir - very impressive. I love all things mechanical and there is nothing that ticks all the boxes for mechanical fascination more than a steam locomotive .

+1, agree completely......
 
Beautiful, massive, early tech!
Also able to cover a small town in coal dust as it passes through.
 
Much like our bikes with the oil mist trailing behind... They both come from the same era in tech. Who was that remarking of his Norton 'pulling like a train' last month?.... Myself I take these things as compliments.

Oh... I'd like to have that big bad boy to play with too, but fear the maintenance.... An English scooter has none compared to that monster.
 
Mallard had the speed, but not that much grunt. Welsh coal helped. You bad boys over the pond just had to go bigger. As always we couldn't quite keep up, so made special toys like Nortons plus other stuff we couldn't afford to develop. You guys had the money to get the job done.
 
Mallard had the speed, but not that much grunt. Welsh coal helped. You bad boys over the pond just had to go bigger. As always we couldn't quite keep up, so made special toys like Nortons plus other stuff we couldn't afford to develop. You guys had the money to get the job done.
Yeah but I always liked your stuff better - E-Type Jaguars , MGA’s , Lotus’s , Spitfires ( the aircraft - not the car )
 
Their brews are excellent when served at the proper temps too. Lots of HP in them also... Don't leave out the SMLE either. A most admirable piece of work.
 
Puts our twin engined Deltics in the mist. Combined hp 3,300 I think. Slightly small country to plod around. Superb engine though !

A Deltric could run at 100 MPH all day long which was more than a A4 could do, as it had to keep slowing down to 60mph to pick up water and nearly run out of coal more than once on the Non-stop London to Edinburgh Flying Scotsman. 22 Deltrics replaced 66 Pacific’s . Look it up if you don’t believe me.
 
Ooh Peterborough was the place to go and look at the Deltics. Royal Scots Grey used to be at the museum near Wansford . A British beast in its day.
 
'Torque wins races'. If Big Boy had a close ratio, 40 speed gearbox, it would be a real winner.
 
Mallard had the speed, but not that much grunt. Welsh coal helped. You bad boys over the pond just had to go bigger. As always we couldn't quite keep up, so made special toys like Nortons plus other stuff we couldn't afford to develop. You guys had the money to get the job done.

And the money to buy those wonderful toys made in England.
 
Mallard had the speed, but not that much grunt. Welsh coal helped. You bad boys over the pond just had to go bigger. As always we couldn't quite keep up, so made special toys like Nortons plus other stuff we couldn't afford to develop. You guys had the money to get the job done.
Welsh coal disagreed with the similar A3 Pactfic on the exchange trials with the great western loco, thought for some reason they start a fire from cold, in the now private owned loco on Welsh coal. The EE electric Deltric prototype was a private venture to build a 3300hp loco because ITO the 2000hp diesel that BR were attempting to build was underpowered. Google blue Deltric for images.
 
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