U.P.#4014 - July 2024 Westward Bound Tour

Union Pacific #4014, a 4-8-84 "Big Boy," is the world's largest operating steam engine. U.P. required #4014 back in 2014, completely rebuilt it, and for the last three years, it's been the flagship of the railroad's "Heritage Fleet," along with #844. The engine pulls excursion trains, a little freight on the side, and operates as U.P.'s public relations ambassador, and shows the "flag" all over the system.

In July 2024, #4014 embarked on a tour from Cheyenne, WY west to Roseville, CA, over the old Western Pacific line heading west, and east back to Cheyenne over the Overland Route. Lucky me, as I'm not only a railfan, but a resident of Roseville.

Photo: Thursday, July 11, 2024, U.P. #4014 was scheduled to leave Portola, and arrive in late afternoon on the old Western Pacific line, now in the timetable as the "Canyon Subdivision." I hadn't railfanned the Feather Canyon since the mid-1980's, but when it comes to photo locations, I have a good memory, and I remembered the east of Kramm siding, M.P. 214.5 offers sweeping views and curves. So, around 10:00 in the morning - well before #4014's anticipated 14:15 afternoon arrive time in Oroville, I set up shop on a hill overlooking the siding, with a view nearly as far as Elsey siding.

After enjoying the scenery, around 11:00 or so in the morning I was rewarded with U.P. #7482, leading a mile-plus long mixed train westbound. This was a great way to get the day started, with a little bit of canyon action before the big event.

Photo: There were two GE ES44AC units on the point, two DPU's in the middle, and another DPU at the end of the train. This train was LONG... well over a mile, but the superbly engineered Canyon Subdivisions boasts a ruling grade of 1%, so the long manifest train wasn't a problem on this hot July morning.

By the time #4014 arrived, the temperature had climbed to 114 degrees... thank goodness for a shade chair and an ice chest full of ice water!

Photo: A couple hours later, I was greeted to an eastbound work train, most likely headed to Paxton, powered by U.P. #8983, an EMD SD70AH. This guy was forced to wait in the siding for well over an hour until #4014 appeared.

Photo: Shortly before 14:00 in the afternoon, #4014 appeared pulling a small train westbound, with U.P. #1983 acting as a DPU or a backup. She pulls two water cars, each with a capacity of 28,000 gallons, as steam engine infrastructure is rare along mainline railroads in 2024.

Photo: Heading into the curve near the east end of Kramm. Note the golden, dry grass and the foothill vegetation. It's really pretty, but boy was it hot today!

Photo: #4014 rounds the curve heading into the east end of Kramm siding, a few miles outside of Oroville, CA. We were treated to hear lots of whistle blowing, which is simply an amazing sound.

Photo: Fast forward to about three and a half hours later, and I'm at M.P. 97.7, near Plainhaven Spur, along Roseville Road, near McClellan Park, in the greater Sacramento area. Cars are parked nearly bumper to bumper along the road, and hundreds of camera-toting folks are waiting the arrival of #4014.

Photo: It's around six in the evening when #4014 roars down the #1 track, at about 45 mph. Those two ladies are definitely too close to the track for safety.

Photo: #4014 east travels through signals at M.P. 97.7 on the way to the Roseville yard, and display in the "City Yard" in downtown Roseville.

Photo: Here's a seldom seen sight in 2024... a caboose at the end of the train. As the train pulls through, railfans are already packing up to leave.

#4014 tied up in Roseville for two days of free, public display, thanks to the generosity of the Union Pacific Railroad public relations team.

Photo: It's a little past 09:00 in the morning, Friday, July 12, 2024, and #4014 is coupled to a long string of passenger cars, and tied up in the "City Yard," in downtown Roseville, CA for public display.

The display proved to be super popular, as at the opening time, there were THOUSANDS of people taking photos, and checking out the behemoth of the rails.

Ten years of so when U.P. #844 came to town, there was maybe 10% of the crowd I experienced today. Perhaps social media has evolved exponentially over the last decade?

Photo: The crowd seems to be admiring "Big Boy's" 68" driving wheels and running. This steam engine is simply massive, and awe inspiring. As mentioned before, it's the largest operating steam engine in the world.

Photo: Compare the massive length of the engine alone with the crowd, and you can truly see how massive this is. Add the length of the tender, and you have a big steam locomotive.

Photo: Union Pacific Railroad #1983, a SD70ACe, tagged along as a DPU, and a "helper" in case of any difficulties. The unit is painted in Western Pacific colors, and is known as a "Western Pacific Heritage Locomotive." Like #4014, it's mostly used for special excursions and publicity work. U.P. acquired Western Pacific in 1982.

Back on Monday, March 19, 2007, I had the opportunity to photo this fine unit on the point of a westbound freight train, entering the Roseville yard. Click on THIS LINK to check out the photos I took of #1983.

Photo: I was amazed, as I walked down Atlantic Street at the crowds admiring this amazing steam engine. Here's a view of #4014 as she is displayed in downtown Roseville, near the corner of Atlantic and Jefferson Streets.

Photo: It's Saturday morning, July 13, 2024, a little after 8:00 AM, and nearly an hour until "Big Boy" is open for public display. Although I "opened up" the event, I wasn't alone, as there were thousands of like-minded railfans, curious spectators, and those who appreciate massive machinery.

Photo: Public display opened exactly at 09:00, and the crowd engaged themselves in taking photos of the engine, photos of friends and family, and lots of "selfies." If you wanted a pristine photo of #4014 without people, you were sorely out of luck both yesterday and today.

We were in luck, as it wasn't triple digit temperature like yesterday, and when the display opened at 09:00, the temperature was a very pleasant 75 degrees or so.

Photo: This massive steam engine is always a crowd pleaser, and is the "ambassador" to the masses for Union Pacific Railroad, and an effective public relations tool.

Photo: Fans were taking photos of #4014, photos of friends and family, and lots of "selfies" with the engine in the background. Note the cameraphone photo on the right, as the photographer attempts to get a photo above the crowd, but his composition missed the mark.

Photo: The engineer relaxes in the cab and chats with the crowd, answering many questions. He had fired up #4014 with just enough steam to blow the whistle, to the delight of the crowd, who would clap, whistle, cheer and raise their arms.

I suspect that pleasing the crowd was only collateral, as the train was scheduled to leave at 09:00 tomorrow morning, and he was most likely getting up a little steam to make his job easier in the morning.

Photo: After checking out "Big Boy" for a second day in a row, it was time to enjoy a burger, fries and a beer at Goose Port Public House, which happens to be one of my favorite restaurants in downtown Roseville, Today, I enjoyed a "Downtown Burger," fries and a Modelo beer. Click on the link or the photo to enjoy my visits to this amazing restaurant.

Photo: To celebrate #4014's visit, the City of Roseville opened the Civic Center to craft vendors, food trucks, a beer and wine booth, and a live band, Sacramento Little Big Band, who entertained the crowd with big band music. The city also turned on the water jets, much to the delight of the young generation. This was a fun, family-friendly event, and a great way to spend the afternoon after marveling at "Big Boy."

Photo: It's about 09:20, Sunday morning, June 14, 2024, and #4014, a.k.a. "Big Boy" leads Union Pacific Railroad's "Heritage Fleet of passenger cars east at Rocklin, CA. Photo was taken on Sunset Ave. on the bridge that crosses the railroad tracks.

I'm not alone, as there is quite a crowd, but the bridge afforded a high vantage point, which is the kind of photos that I like to take.

Photo: My best shot of the day, as #4014 heads east at Rocklin, CA.

Photo: Later I moved over to M.P. 159.9, which is at the end of Casa Loma Road, between the sidings of Midas and Baxter. As other railfans and I were waiting, U.P. 8746 west showed up, hauling a double stack train.

The non-railfan locals call this location "Rawhide," and I've railfanned here many times, as it's my favorite photo location on the Roseville Subdivision. Click on the photo or THIS LINK to relive one of my many railfan trips to this great location. I was truly surprised so many people showed up, as this location is far off the beaten track. I guess I can attribute it to the power of social media.

Photo: It's 3:00 PM, and U.P. #4014 heads east, with the "Heritage Fleet" of passenger cars, three hours behind schedule. Near Auburn, she tangled with a tree branch, which the railroad refereed to as a "track issue." It took the talented team nearly three hours to get her going again, in style!

There many disappointed railfans and onlookers, as the scheduled stops in Colfax and Truckee were cancelled, in order to make up time to get to Sparks, NV at a reasonable hour.

Photo: U.P. #4014 heads east, with U.P. #1983 acting as a DPU, but I suspect she was just idling, as the consist of a few passenger cars were nothing for "Big Boy." #4014 was built to haul long, heavy coal trains over the Wasatch Mountains, so she was just loafing along, despite the 2.25% ruling grade at this location.

Photo: The observation car at the end of the train makes a happy ending for my four days of enjoying the awesome beauty and power of #4014.

For railfans who are a lover of steam power, there is nothing else like #4014 on the planet! You'll simply be in awe of the majestic beauty, poise and grace of this huge, beautiful machine, which is truly a marvel of human engineering...