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I doubt very much if 4018 will leave Texas. Number one, 4-8-8-4's haven't
operated in about 50 years. The track is a lot sharper, bridges are lighter
than they used to be, and clearances will be a big problem. I doubt if UP is
willing to pay for all of these improvements just to send a Big Boy to
Sacramento. (The heaviest engines that operated on the Sunset Route were
2-10-2's. And the few Cab Forwards that operated on the western part of the
Sunset Route were much lighter than the UP 4000 class.) The UP's own program
of steam is in jeopardy as the operating department tries to makes some sense
out of the mess in Texas and other parts of the former SP system.
What is even more surprising is that this movie producer is willing to
spend
$2 million to restore a 4-8-8-4 to full mechanical operation. You ain't gonna
do it with $2 million. More like $10 million to $20 million to put a 4-8-8-4
back in service. Then comes the cost of keeping one hot and fired all day. A
big reason why UP put the 4-8-8-4's into retirement. Much of the western
parts of the UP system are no longer friendly to coal fired engines, since
cinders will ultimately cause trackside brush fires, and upset the Department
of Interior. So can a 4000 be converted to oil fire? I think I read
somewhere one 4000 class was tried on oil, but couldn't be kept hot and was
converted back to coal.
Finally I ask this question. Why not contact the Union Pacific and
make an
agreement to use UP 3985 for this movie? The 3985 would be a lot less hard on
the track, is in a stage of overhaul, but can be brought up to operation soon
for the filming of this movie if the producers are willing to spend the money
for the overtime the people at Cheyenne shop would incur. I'll bet the
producers will be closer to their budget if they would use 3985 instead of 4018.
Or is it all April Fool's 19 days late??
Sam Reeves
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Visit Sam Reeves Photography http://www.sysresearchassoc.com/trains.html
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