UP 4014 Big Boy Inside & Ed Dickens Interview

[@stephensmith799]

Ed Dickens is not only a first class engineer and manager but also a great communicator and broadcaster. I hope to have a chance to shake hands with him and some of his crew one day.

[@Beltfedshooters]

Ed Dickens and his entire crew is a national treasure for restoring these beautiful machines.

[@NewsMagazineChicago]

He also was such a nice guy to have interview as well.

[@brooksculpepper712]

@kevin Simala your a asshole

[@NWR1991]

kevin Simala - The general public and some enthusiasts aren’t going to be concerned about a Big Boy being an oil burner instead of being coal fired.

[@brooksculpepper712]

@kevin Simala look a here you sob I've graduated high school in 2018. So don't tell me I don't know English.

[@brooksculpepper712]

@kevin Simala go f your self

[@DelayInBlockProductions]

This was fantastic. Preservation needs more people like Ed Dickens.

[@jtq69]

I met Ed back in May out in Ogden. He is a first class gentleman hands down.

[@andypettit5869]

I met him just before the move down in Panama, he opened the gate so me and my dad could go in and see what's going on, and kinda like a private tour... I grew up as a little exploring that locomotive.

[@jamessbca]

Team of NINE???!!! That is insane. Those are probably 9 of the hardest working people in the country. Unreal.

[@cats0182]

There's so much stunning about this, it's had to know where to start commenting. UP has a "Heritage Operations" Department and a "Steam Team"? That UP is willing to commit resources to this kind of effort is remarkable. It demonstrates UP's desire to keep it's history alive. I don't know if BNSF, or CSX or NS have made that kind of commitment. If they haven't, that's sad. The UP Big Boy was built by the American Locomotive Company in Schenectady, NY. To me it is the ultimate symbol of what American design and workmanship could accomplish. We have allowed that to fade away and it will never return. And, to add frosting to the cake, they've returned this locomotive to operation after 2+ years of hard work.

[@johntoner1967]

Could not have said it better.

[@PalpatineExOrder66]

The 500 employees they laid off and furloughed helped pay for the restoration.

[@juschu67]

Joey Joe It has been on a drive to improve its operating ratio for several years. Job cuts have been a part of that: Late last year, the company cut nearly 500 jobs and eliminated 200 contractor positions. In late 2017, it cut about 750 jobs, most at its Omaha headquarters. And in 2015, it cut “several hundred” management jobs. MANAGEMENT AND ADMINISTRATIVE JOBS REDUCTION THUMBS UP FOR THAT i would wish the same could happen in switzerland

[@PalpatineExOrder66]

Yeah they were top heavy and they knew it. But everyday because of psr more and more get furloughed.

[@RailPreserver2K]

Actually one of Norfolk Southern's predecessor roads the Southern Railway started their steam program with 4501 back in 1964 I believe and that program lasted from then until 1994 by that point Norfolk Southern had steam locomotives from both the Southern Railway and the Norfolk & Western Railway in operation for excursions and out of all of the locomotives they used for the program I think only 630, 611, and 4501 are still operational but a lot of the steam locomotives they used in that program still exist in preservation The predecessor railroad that make up CSX like the Chessie system and the Seaboard system did run Steam excursions at one point or another but after CSX came around I think they stopped steam excursions all together for quite some time and I think it's only been recently that they've been willing to try and give steam another chance as far as excursions are concerned Burlington Northern Santa Fe I think has always been okay with steam excursions

[@dianevarsek3740]

I was able to see 4014 in Gurnee, Illinois and a couple days later, spent the day checking it out and taking photos in West Chicago, Illinois. I’m impressed. I really enjoyed this video, listening to Ed as he explained many details about 4014 and mentioning West Chicago. Ed was very friendly when my adult son and I talked with him. Thank you for making this video

[@euclideszoto997]

It's not just a steam locomotive. It's a work of art!

[@stevenspaziani9159]

Ed and his men will go down in history as some of the greatest Railroaders in modern history. I've been a fan of the Big Boy since I was a child and remember seeing I believe 4012 at Steamtown in Bellows Falls VT. I hope when I retire from CSX next year I'll get the chance to see it in person.

[@MrRailroader03]

Worked with Ed out of the Denver service unit, great guy!

[@antiussentiment]

You have to love a manager that is so "hands on" that his work collar has stubble chafe. Nice work NMC, this is one of the best news segments I've seen about 4014.

[@davestucker7149]

Excellent film. ED is great, you can hear his passion, he is proud of this " powerhouse of a locomotive", and later he introduces it as a "fabulous magnificent locomotive". And the praise for his steam team of 8 others, he is a true coach and leader, he said it was a hard job, but we just had to work harder . Thank you Ed and the steam team for rebuilding what others said could never be done!

[@warrenjbrown4898]

This gentleman is a bright, dedicated, class act!

[@davestucker7149]

I second that! U.P. this man is worth millions !

[@kevinyancey958]

Ed, you're both lucky and very skilled to have the position you have with U.P.R.R. Thank you for all your work, both in the restoration, operation, and education of 4014! American thanks you!

[@markreno2252]

One of the most well-produced stories for television I've seen about this restoration. Great job!

[@Voucher765]

Awesome job Ed, Along with Ross Rowland and other steam entrepreneurs he's among the top list.

[@mrlionel1965]

This is fantastic. As someone else posted, it’s edited just right, and has all the info needed. Ed does have the coolest job on the face of the planet right now! I wonder what 2 morons gave this a thumbs down? Seriously??

[@regal105]

That was 2 People pissed that 611 has nowhere to run

[@jameskimball7939]

Thank you Ed and your crew. I wish my dad could have seen the Big Boy running

[@2quintly]

Ed Dickens - ELOQUENT. When the man speaks, people want to listen. Can't thank him & the steam crew or the Union Pacific Railroad enough.

[@chrisackerley1842]

This is such a miracle! Every time I see a video of the Big Boy operating, I have to shake my head to believe it's real! I'm 60 years old. A Big Boy has never operated in my lifetime. Until now, that is. I've loved trains my whole life, and my greatest dream has always been to see this locomotive under steam. UP has done it! I must have died and gone to heaven!!

[@aaronwilliams6989]

I would love to see one and see it pull some serious freight.

[@johnruskin4330]

Thank you for publishing this,Full credit to Ed Dickens and everyone involved truly Legendary team and people in bringing back to life the Icon and era this locomotive belonged too,

[@e020443]

Nicely shot & edited video. I've followed the progress of the 4014 since it left California, and Ed and the guys did a hell of a job. Thanks for posting this.

[@robertmcdonnold3038]

A very well put together film. The commentary and video were edited just right. A lot of information in a short film. Thank you.

[@NewsMagazineChicago]

Thank you for your compliment!

[@jeffstrains4014]

I agree! Best one I have watched.

[@andypettit5869]

Me and my dad came to see the 4014 off when it was at the fairgrounds, but came a day late, but Ed unlocked the gate and let us inn. So glad to see this beautiful piece of American history back in action. Thanks Ed, and crew...

[@HobbiesRfun]

When 3985 is overhauled/rebuilt it would be so cool to see Ed and his gang do a Golden Spike 4014, 3985, and 844 triple header excursion between Cheyenne, and Ogden for the Golden Spike celebrations.

[@mikehammer8737]

While that sounds cool it would be to expensive. However if Big Boy pulled a loaded freight into Ogden just to show everyone what it was built for that would be cool. And then the other 2 pulling the passenger cars to show them all off I could see that. Or have either 3985 or 844 pull another freight and have 1 of them pull the passenger cars. That would be not only cool but economical.

[@Mr.AtheTriggerGalleon6310]

@Exodriver Unfortunately Locomotive 3985 will never run. Its said,Ed had a choice of either Big Boy or 3985 to restore,So Ed picked Big Boy. It cost $7,000,000 U.S dollars to restore Big Boy. So I highly doubt they will restore locomotive 3985. Sorry to say.

[@mikehammer8737]

@@Mr.AtheTriggerGalleon6310 3985 has been running for at least 15 years that I know of. It was shopped for the mandatory rebuild late last year. In fact I saw it run across Nebraska about 10 years ago. And 4014 is currently using it's tender until they get 4014 tender ready to go. So we will see it back on the main line in a year or 2.

[@jamesyates9378]

That would be awesome.

[@Commissar0617]

@@mikehammer8737 i was toldthat they were not going to rebuild 3985, by the engineer of 4014 while they were in st paul

[@vgrof2315]

Bravo! You can just see 4014 feeling like the benevolent emperor of all it has ever passed, and will ever pass. It does live! Thank you, thank you, Ed and UP.

[@ramblingsadrift6477]

Great description

[@scottpool4777]

Big boy you could put them all to shame. Beautiful articulated one of a kind and is one of a kind amen.

[@scootergrant8683]

I agree in many ways and am very happy to see the steam world making a comeback, even in Japan in some places but to think the chassis idea came from a 150 year old railway in the north of Wales with a 1 foot 11 1/2 inch gauge and now influences the world is kinda weird.

[@tabomst3k851]

I witnessed it in person in West Chicago and I'm still amazed at the size of it, it's was a beautiful thing to see.

[@michaelbaumgardner2530]

My hats off to Ed and the crew,that is one grand train.!!!

[@rameshd1366]

This is simply fantastic.I am from India and place on record for the dedication and hard work by MrEd Dickens and his team to get the BigBoy 4014 back to working condition in an awesome time span of two and a half years.

[@joeh5059]

Just a beautiful machine and THANK YOU ED FOR RESTORING 4014.

[@walterhicksiii3525]

Now, all that's needed is a restored " caboose" to finnish this masterpiece!!!

[@MrSdmckenna]

Not a passenger train Walter! But let's pull some freight!

[@dalehead5397]

Exactly what I was thinking Walter.

[@Bigbuddyandblue]

Nice to see that this is out of Chicago! My HOME TOWN!

[@msr1116]

Mine, too!

[@RobertSmith-wf9te]

No doubt you know that Big Boy never came into Chicago on its Midwest tour. There were operational concerns, but it still would have been cool to see it on display in the city.

[@msr1116]

@@unfoldingrain9985 ....Unless you're in line for a direct hit from Hurricane Dorian, there's no need to be Mr. Crabby Pants. It's a holiday weekend. Be happy if you can, OK?

[@unfoldingrain9985]

msr111 sorry

[@noneofyourbusines9976]

It spent 60 years as a museum piece. The locomotives at Knott's berry farm built in 1881 (Baldwin C19's) were only out of service a matter on months before being put back in service at Knott's in 1952 where they operate to this day . That's got to be some sort of a record.

[@d.e.b.b5788]

On my bucket list to ride behind this magnificent beast! Unfortunately, there's no Milwaukee Road to rebuild an F7 Baltic, no NY Central to rebuild a 4-6-4 streamlined Commodore Vanderbilt Hudson, no Pennsylvania RR to make a state of the art GG1. In this respect, I'm happy that Union Pacific is still in business. Maybe CSX will make us a new Allegheny?

[@sfranklin9073]

So much pride in a restoration. A truly functional restore. Congrats to all involved.

[@ViburaBlanca]

Was pulling pins on the east hump and they came through Bailey Yard. Nice guy.

[@ColAngus]

Thanks for your hard work and dedication Ed and crew! Magnificent.

[@robertemmons2260]

My wife and I had the privilege of seeing this beautiful machine up close when it was in Ogden May 11 2019. Then my daughter and I had seen it up in Cheyenne when it was running the Great Race of the west. If and when it runs through Utah or Wyoming again I'll be there to see it. A steam train enthusiast just can't get enough of this magnificent piece of history.

[@MrSdmckenna]

Marvelous! I have seen a thousand pics and videos. Saw the BB pass through Wheaton IL. Saw it static in West Chicago. Ed is a showman! My favorite interview is from Houston. Maggie in the Morning. She did a few interviews, actually.

[@wphubert]

Thank you for such great video coverage. No doubt in my mind, Ed for President and UP has created a whole new page of history!

[@Dog.soldier1950]

Thank you UP

[@thomasavensjr.2790]

I am very satisfied that Union Pacific rr decided to restore one of their "big boy" class locomotives, I really like these locomotives and am glad to see one example return to operation during my lifetime.

[@timinla64]

What an absolute beauty. So, now y’all have the tooling and the expertise...LETS DO ANOTHER ONE!!

[@Iconoclasher]

Nice video. The vintage photo at 0:24 was edited. It's not the 4014, but the 4021. Note the number on the UP shield. 😏

[@rwhb1]

Great interview!

[@NewsMagazineChicago]

Glad that you liked it!

[@georgesealy4706]

Great job and video. I was fortunate to see #4014 in Casa Grande, AZ on Oct 16, 2019. Beautiful machine, no doubt.

[@matthewlastrapes8104]

He's back all right and bigger than ever

[@Ratkill9000]

I'm disappointed that it wasn't kept as a coal powered steam engine. Just saw it today in Fremont, Nebraska. It's incredible in person. American Engineering at its finest.

[@veliapustetto5068]

I agree!

[@smeagolplaysgames4517]

True, but if it ran on coal, it wouldn't be able to go all the way out to these far-flung places on the UP. I personally don't think it detracts too much from the fact that these guys managed to restore a Big Boy.

[@veliapustetto5068]

On the tube I've seen a Challenger pulling 143 heavy freight cars with no help. Moreover, one of the Boys has been converted to burn oil in the 50ies but the experiment was totally unsuccessful. And the stocker with the air compressed air system shooting the coal into the burner was a great piece of engenering...

[@yankinga]

@@veliapustetto5068 The oil conversion on 4005 was not "totally unsuccessful". As initially configured, the fire was uneven in the firebox causing stresses and broken staybolts. After the burner placement was refined and the firebrick rearranged, the engine steamed properly. Ed Dickens used the engineering diagrams created from the 4005 experiment to convert 4014. There was no need to reinvent the wheel. FYI,. he keeps saying the Big Boy weighs 605 tons. That is simply NOT TRUE. It weighed 594.75 tons filled with fuel, water, lubricating oils and sand as constructed. Conversion to oil firing involves removing the heavy coal grates, ash pans and other parts related to coal firing. As converted, the oil burning Challengers weighed less than they did when they burned coal. The same applies to the 4014. It probably weighs about 590 tons as it's configured today.

[@Ratkill9000]

What I've read was the reason they converted to oil was because with how much power its putting out it would burn through all 24,000 gallons of water and 56,000lbs of coal in 2 hours. That's insane.

[@rolandharmer6402]

Wow! That’s fantastic. And to rebuild it in two and half years from cold is brilliant. It is great that the engineering skills are still there!

[@Ballenxj]

Thanks to you guys, the team of nine, for restoring this piece of history. I love steam loco's. Thumb up.

[@robertcuny934]

A VERY impressive machine; especially when close enough to touch it!

[@machia0705]

Good old American ingenuity🇺🇸

[@djhaloeight]

Man that thing is serious. What a work of art!

[@ericheine2414]

Iron American Dream on KZbin. Basically without the steam locomotive, without iron, there would have been no Wild West. No 6 shooter, no Harley-Davidson.

[@globin3477]

If I could go back in time, I would try to enter this thing in the Rainhill Trials. I'm fully aware that this thing is far and beyond the weight limit... but I imagine it's also much heavier than any of those folks thought a train would ever get. I would love to see the looks on their faces.

[@youtubevlogproductions7579]

It looks newer now than when it was at the Rail giants Museum

[@victoriaradut6386]

Bravo.Super .Congratulations.

[@KevinBower-gy5be]

Incredible achievement. Huge respect and admiration to all concerned - including UP for throwing some corporate pride towards their heritage. Just brilliant in every possible way - and that's coming from a Brit :)

[@davidcaro8217]

Boy oh boy you really get a sense of scale when it showed those 2 workers stand right next to the drive wheels,, they looked tiny compared to it!

[@qracetrackkid4399]

Wonderfully shot and edited video. Good work securing the interview and the behind-the-scenes.

[@rickenbacker315]

I wonder if the "Big Boy" ever made it as far east as Chicago back in the 50's? My guess, this is the first time east of the Mississippi, except for delivery from ALCO.

[@JerryWick]

Rick Barnes no, this was the farthest east it has even been

[@michaelclark2840]

Damn good job. Beautiful locomotive. Interesting about the sand in the cab.

[@2quintly]

PHENOMENAL, Big Boy 4014.

[@euclideszoto997]

Thank you for restoring the BigBoy!

[@RNJuiceable]

Ed sounds like Super Dave Osborne. I keep expecting him to yell at Fuji :D

[@florjanbrudar692]

Since I discovered the UP Big Boys, I was always curious if they suffered boiler explosions

[@conantdog]

Great job in saving and restoring one-of-a-kind technology. Seeing this beauty is at the top of my bucket list 🛠️🛠️👍👌

[@henryjewell3900]

The BigBoy markings are missing from the smokebox here.

[@johntoner1967]

Just gorgeous. I have fond memories of travel by train. The dining cars, club cars, sleepers, and observation cars. Amtrak isn't even in the same league. One question. I hear the bell ringing but it isn't moving?

[@Towing417]

The bell itself is stationary however the dinger inside is pneumatic and moves from inside.

[@lausd3562]

It would be wonderful is this restoration led to the restoration of more Big Boy's.

[@youtubevlogproductions7579]

Run it again next year!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! My brother wants to see it so please run it again!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[@wq6737]

A dream of most beautifull technic. Power as a picture.

[@lovejago]

2 years ???? I was told 11 years when it came to Tucson AZ last week????

[@ZachPumphery]

They didn’t even pull it out of the museum in California until early 2014.

[@Mike-01234]

It's difficult to see just how massive this locomotive is on a video until you see the 2 men working next to it at 3:11 in the video.

[@sr633]

Who could believe this engine could come back ? So much repair work only known by so few..

[@curtnicholson7771]

If it was two and a half years to rebuild it I wonder how long it was from start to finish to build ti originally, and how many men or women worked on it?

[@ransome51]

What an amazing machine.

[@nursesteve2004]

They should now get all the remaining Big Boys operating now.

[@jamesshanks2614]

Time for her to earn her keep. FREIGHT!

[@aaron-prime117]

Many people said it wasn’t possible to restore a big boy and even if it were to be done it would take almost a decade many said or something else yet it only took the team 2 1/2 years and that’s probably a record for a locomotive restoration and overhaul, and compared to flying Scotsman‘s overall that took 10 years to complete when she returned in 2016

[@b3j8]

Great video! I have looked thru the posts, but nobody has mentioned the chain-drive contraption connected to the front engine valve gear. What's that about?

[@bigskypeach406]

This is the drive for one of four Macha iCal lubricator which provide a constant lube feed to high wear/friction points on the locomotive

[@b3j8]

@@bigskypeach406 Sean thank you! For some reason I didn't get a notice

[@Anthonyinkz]

Beautiful boy, sonnds off history

[@robertwillett9204]

Utterly, utterly gorgeous.

[@chuckstewart9102]

ED DICKENS FOR PRESIDENT!

[@kevinyost5635]

I hope it comes through idaho some day

[@FQP-7024]

I wish somebody would want to rebuild the super Hudson from the Newyork Central system that would get a smile on my face. 😊😢

[@Bigbuddyandblue]

Fernando Queiroz Popovic Maybe some day!

[@FQP-7024]

@@Bigbuddyandblue I don't think so there where only a hand full of people just rebuilding the big boy the most famous locomotive in history the NYC maybe some tine ago was still known but now...there are almost no people that even know where the original New York-Chicago route was I have no big hopes but of there where people I would have a smile on my face again.

[@Toledo1940]

Fernando: It is possible: the New York Central System Historical Society has a complete set of blueprints for the J-3 Hudson. You would need only around $25 Million Dollars or so.

[@FQP-7024]

@@Toledo1940 are you kidding me no wonder nobody would do it it costs almost 2 times more than the big boy it self.

[@Toledo1940]

Fernando: I would do it, if I had the money. To build a Big Boy from scratch today, the cost would be huge due to the amount of custom work that would have to be done. ( I wonder if Warren Buffett is a steam guy.)

[@philbox4566]

I'll hafta try that sand idea in my diesel motor. ;)

[@johnnyjames7139]

Phil Box I wouldn't if I were you wink 😉

[@PanzerBuyer]

I still don't understand how that works.

[@philbox4566]

@@PanzerBuyer Well the sand is blown through the boiler tubes and knocks any build up of carbon off the insides of the tubes. The sand particles may only be small but the velocity of them rattling down the tubes is enough to clean the insides.

[@billpotokar360]

...to get all the bearings clean, make sure throttle wide open and you use alot of coarse sand...(maybe gravel)...but NOT ballast...(now THAT would be stupid)...

[@danielnicolaszavala2983]

2:06 It's saying it has 7000 hp, But why did the 4014 have 6290 hp at the beginning?

[@kennethwise7108]

Thanks

[@youtubevlogproductions7579]

Are the controls original

[@alexboxall18]

Hopefully next year the big boy will come back again

[@aaronwilliams6989]

I wish I was there for that.

[@MrSlim1959]

At 0.25 has two different numbers 4014 and 4021.Bad photo shop ?

[@thomasbush5778]

That same picture is at 2:23. Look closely, the number has 4021 on it. So being a regular service photo i would suspect that during a shopping it got the wrong number plate and headlight put on it, or the wrong classification boards were applied. Someone more well versed than I am could probably explain further.

[@mentalstampede]

@@thomasbush5778 In service, the number boards on the leading engine were changeable by crews to show the train number. The in the picture, 4021 is coupled onto the head end of 4014's train as a helper. Since the train number The X prefix denotes that the train is an "Extra", meaning not part of the railroad's regular timetable. So train number "X4014" is being pulled by Engine 4014, with 4021 assisting. So 4014 is in the picture, but it's actually the trailing engine.

[@mikejuba9228]

Ed Dickens; if Mr Rogers was a steam locomotive engineer. :D

[@juschu67]

when can we see a full speed run from it

[@LectronCircuits]

Folks must have excellent training to run with the Big Boy. Cheers!

[@ojofelixnm3608]

"We Can Handle It" UPRR

[@mohammaddebrahiem2863]

What a monster😎

[@adamchancellor9011]

Yo Ed Dickens have you guys thought of painting 4014s front coupler black?

[@HaddaClu]

FRA regs say that couplers, drawbars, axles, and I think pins cannot be painted as paint could be used to cover up damage like stress fractures