Union Pacific Big Boy #4014. Built in 1941, it is the largest and heaviest steam locomotive ever built. It was restored in 2019 by the Union Pacific Railroad. It now runs on used motor oil (rather than coal). The 24-wheel locomotive and the 14-wheel tender weigh 1,200,000 pounds and are 133 feet long. The locomotive develops 7,0000 horsepower and has a top speed of 65 MPH. The locomotive drive wheels are 68 inches in diameter. A massive machine!
It is kind of funny how the motor oil thing worked out. I spoke with Steve Lee a long time ago and I asked him why the U.P. did not have a Big Boy restored to operation. He told me that oil just did not have enough B.T.U.'s to keep up the boiler; that coal was just too impractical. I wonder how they resolved that situation?
Very Nice Shots!!!
There is much debate about largest and most powerful though.
https://www.steamlocomotive.com/misc/largest.php But it certainly is the largest operating today, which is great for all of us...
JayRay wrote:
Union Pacific Big Boy #4014. Built in 1941, it is the largest and heaviest steam locomotive ever built. It was restored in 2019 by the Union Pacific Railroad. It now runs on used motor oil (rather than coal). The 24-wheel locomotive and the 14-wheel tender weigh 1,200,000 pounds and are 133 feet long. The locomotive develops 7,0000 horsepower and has a top speed of 65 MPH. The locomotive drive wheels are 68 inches in diameter. A massive machine!
All nice photos--the fourth one is my favorite.
bpulv
Loc: Buena Park, CA
jaymatt wrote:
All nice photos--the fourth one is my favorite.
Great photos, but although the Big Boy is the largest operating steam locomotive in the world, there is an argument as to the largest locomotive ever based on the definition of "largest." The DMIR (Duluth, Masbi, and Iron Range) RR M-3/M-4 2-8-8-2 Yellowstone challenged the "largest" title. The Yellowstone engine was heavier than the Big Boy, but the Big Boy beat it on the combined weight of the locomotive and tender.
A very early Eire and North East Railroad 6-foot broad gauge engine of which no photographs remain, was largest of its time
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Erie_Gauge_War.
Great shots of a grand old engine.
Nice set of photos and an amazing machine....
Thanks Notorious T. O. D.!
Thank you for also for providing the interesting article!
bpulv wrote:
Great photos, but although the Big Boy is the largest operating steam locomotive in the world, there is an argument as to the largest locomotive ever based on the definition of "largest." The DMIR (Duluth, Masbi, and Iron Range) RR M-3/M-4 2-8-8-2 Yellowstone challenged the "largest" title. The Yellowstone engine was heavier than the Big Boy, but the Big Boy beat it on the combined weight of the locomotive and tender.
A very early Eire and North East Railroad 6-foot broad gauge engine of which no photographs remain, was largest of its time
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Erie_Gauge_War.
Great photos, but although the Big Boy is the larg... (
show quote)
Thanks bpulv!
Thanks also for providing the additional information and the link to the interesting article!
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