probably the single greatest big boy video of all time // UP 4014 @ Keddie Wye (2024)

joined up with ‪@OrangeHeartRailfanProductions‬ to catch UP 4014 ("Big Boy") - we got a shot at Keddie Wye, and I used an insanely janky setup to record a shot for the ages (I hope) and of COURSE I'm showing you
LICENSING:
- Individuals: Free to use, so long as you conform to fair use laws. Basically, don't profit off of it if you don't do anything meaningful with the video.
- News publications (ex. Popular Mechanics, Trains Magazine, etc.): Contact me at "[e-mail]" - please specify the publication in your subject, that way I can set rates accordingly. Train-focused or -adjacent publications can get a lower rate than a mainstream outlet.
If used, credit "@heyitzrare" as the photographer/videographer. Do send it my way as well, I would love to see what you do with it!
P.S.: if you don't agree with the title, that's fine, but do not be an ass about it. It's just a silly video title at the end of the day, don't make this about you and your "higher standards" because at the end of the day, it's just a video. It's not gonna hurt you.

[@iowa_don]

A steam train whistle echoing in the mountains is an awesome sound!

[@heyitzrare]

FOR REAL

[@GageTucker-of2wd]

No, a big boys whistle🥵

[@CoIdHeat]

Merely the sound of trains on the railroads is so iconic, powerful yet relaxing all at the same time.

[@cacambo589]

Why don't you know what "iconic" means.

[@CoIdHeat]

@@cacambo589 Not sure what youre on about. The dictionary tells me it means exactly what I wanted to say.

[@benfarneyjr8854]

Great shot...thanks...been waiting for the video's to start rolling out of the UP4014 running on the feather river route. Awesome

[@heyitzrare]

Definitely watch for the more edited ones, that phase is not one I will be attempting lol

[@ChrisJones-gx7fc]

@@heyitzrare how crowded was it, and how bad was the railfan traffic heading from Portola down to Roseville?

[@heyitzrare]

​@@ChrisJones-gx7fcCROWDED crowded. The railfan armada was really long, but that was not the biggest issue. It was mass construction hell running down the canyon that really did people in

[@ChrisJones-gx7fc]

@@heyitzrare sounds like you were pretty lucky then to get the shot you did. I remember chasing 4014 and 844 out Echo Canyon in May 2019 following the Golden Spike 150th celebration, and just how bad the traffic was on the little two lane highway that parallels the tracks (as it was on I-80). They stopped the train several times which allowed railfans to get ahead. I was only able to catch it at the dual truss bridges east of Echo, where a massive crowd of railfans had gathered. After that there was little to no chance of catching the train again.

[@heyitzrare]

@@ChrisJones-gx7fc That's how it goes unfortunately...glad you got a good shot though! My first chase was in 2023 out of Cheyenne, this shot is actually vindication for one of those failed shots - it got ruined by a cattle trailer parking _directly in front of me._ That one hurt haha

[@theamericane2655]

Is this the railfans version of the solar eclipse?

[@heyitzrare]

LOL YEAH

[@earthlingjohn]

👍🤣

[@eligebrown8998]

Even better

[@ratbait5471]

Foamer paradise

[@AAAskeet]

Yes,and it’ll be by me sept 8th!

[@oxhog5925]

I asked for the 1983 Western Pacific heritage unit to be added to the consist for the run through the Feather River Canyon and they did!

[@heyitzrare]

we take these Ws

[@vickielewis3848]

Excellent. Historical. 👋👱‍♀️🇺🇲

[@adler000]

Awesome 🚂 The construction of the bridge itself also seems to me to be something special.

[@AlexanderSkinnerVids]

I was just off to your right shooting stills through one of the gaps. Had to get there ninety minutes before 4014 came through, still can’t believe how many people were there. Glad we got to see it!

[@heyitzrare]

Hey, awesome to see you here! Super happy to have seen the Steam Man with you :)

[@dwjr5129]

My grandfather was a huge steam engine fan. Were he still alive today I would be showing him every video I could find on them. He would love everything about 4014. RIP old buddy. ❤🚂

[@wenchance]

Hey! I was the guy with the bigger camera set up in the back. I think I met you and the others early in the morning. Glad to see the footage turned out great! I'm still working on mine.

[@TigerDominic-uh1dv]

I Like The 2 Bridges

[@ToyManTelevision]

Perfect 😊😊❤🚂🚂. Wow.

[@heyitzrare]

5 hours and it was all worth it :D

[@ToyManTelevision]

@@heyitzrare amazing. Really I hope you get 1 million views!!

[@ToyManTelevision]

I sent it to Ed Dickens. He loves it!

[@ToyManTelevision]

Shared your link to Facebook. Getting some views. To your video! Not copied.

[@heyitzrare]

​@@ToyManTelevisionunlikely but that would be INSANE

[@christopherbuckley94]

It must have been crazy there. I was there in the last week of June 2024. There were numerous construction sites along the highway. There isn't much room where you are standing and the parking area near the Wye bridge isn't that large. I'm glad you were able to capture it.

[@heyitzrare]

ohhhh it was PACKED. I think I only got the spot because me and OHRP got there 5 hours early when there were only 4 or 5 people waiting? There must've been a solid 100 people at this one spot

[@heyitzrare]

AND THE CONSTRUCTION, DEAR GOD

[@Eddie07S]

Great shot! But I am not sure which is more impressive the Big Boy or the double trestle that it is going over. However, I am sure there is no argument that having the 2 in one shot is more than doubly impressive.

[@heyitzrare]

one need not be more impressive than the other ;)

[@timcampbell4528]

Thanks for posting. Amazing!

[@heyitzrare]

I straddled life and death for this one, you better BELIEVE it's going up on KZbin lmao

[@LearnwithJanice]

Hello from Kansas 🇺🇲

[@frederickschulkind8431]

Magnificent view from the top of the tunnel. Interesting that the diesel's radiator fans weren't spinning.

[@Txloganc]

they don’t always

[@piknick111]

It was not currently operating when I saw it out of the canyon.

[@heyitzrare]

​@@piknick111 not sure what you mean? the diesels are only there to make sure the Big Boy doesn't obliterate itself

[@Greatdome99]

They cycle on and off based on engine coolant temp. As this is a one percent downgrade, the engine was just idling and there just for dynamic braking and backup power.

[@AndreiTupolev]

You can hear it was running

[@theblackbear211]

Thanks! I've been anticipating this shot ever since I heard they were headed through the Feather River Canyon.

[@heyitzrare]

happy to have provided this for you :)

[@6allmotivepowers363]

Awesome shot - hope someone recreates that famous photo of the final Cab Forward run over Donner Pass!

[@heyitzrare]

haven't seen that shot myself, but I hope so too! Just make sure it isn't as dangerous as this one lol

[@rrsteamer]

While I’m not familiar with the route, kind of surprised there were no guard rails on that bridge to the left. An unusual shot of 4014 and train and what great weather! Thanks for the effort!

[@heyitzrare]

Happy to provide, I'm so so glad you enjoyed the shot!! 💖 For the guard rail, the working theory is that BNSF, the owner of the leftmost track, decided the curve was gentle enough to not add guard rails, while the right/center UP-owned track does have guard rails due to the curve's more aggressive angle. Definitely

[@tedmaas3588]

Beautiful shot, outstanding!

[@heyitzrare]

please do not attempt to replicate this shot, it is VERY dangerous

[@jjaagg5050]

Sweet catch! Well done!

[@heyitzrare]

Please for the love of all that is holy do not attempt to repeat this shot lol

[@jjaagg5050]

@heyitzrare Well, I'm in Indiana so not likely. We know you worked hard for the video and we appreciate it!

[@heyitzrare]

​@@jjaagg5050Thank you so much 💖

[@alaskawhitewolf5816]

Perfect -- and not just for the video. You got awesome sound -- listened to it just now on a good sound system and the deep bass notes resonate soooooo good!

[@heyitzrare]

as an audiophile myself I strongly approve of this comment ;) no but seriously I was worried about my sound, very glad to know I made it work :)

[@bnsd40-2]

❤ BIG BOY HAS SPOKEN❤

[@Dulaman107]

Looks great! I tried to get a video of it today, but couldn't because of scheduling issues caused by the accident in Auburn

[@adamc1966]

I used to go there back in the good old days...meaning back in the 90s 😅

[@jLjtremblay]

Agreed! Fantastic video!!!! Many thanks!

[@heyitzrare]

happy to grab this for you!! please do not attempt to replicate the shot though lol

[@fredtracy3931]

Nice, 2 trestles in the Y!

[@dianefiske-foy4717]

The big engine and cars and the tiny car at the end. Couldn’t tell if it was a real caboose or not. Cool looking train 😻🥰‼️

[@gotchagee3315]

You video is very good don't get me wrong. Great view. There is a video out there from UAS of 4014 crossing Lake Huron bridge from two years ago that is amazing.

[@heyitzrare]

I can only imagine - my first chase was in 2023, also with OHRP lol

[@GR10Productions]

Great shot! Heard how packed it was there from some friends, glad I just let other people get the view for me 😂

[@heyitzrare]

"packed" is an absolute understatement LMAO

[@Engineerrick]

Big Boy in 2024 and people still complain. Beautiful video of a classic spot. BTW I’m drinking coffee in my easy chair 1000 miles away.

[@heyitzrare]

baaaaaaaased. hope you're having a good chuckle at how sad the foamers are over nothing lol

[@thomasmaughan4798]

Shiver me timbers! What a catch!

[@heyitzrare]

that's what I thought too!!

[@herbward5240]

Fabulous video perspective. Would love to model this on my layout, don’t have the space though.

[@heyitzrare]

if you ever find the space to, I would love to see it!!

[@michaelformaini7053]

You aced it! Greetings from downunder in Australia.😀

[@douglaskaiser9933]

A film of any kind does not do it justice. The 4014 and the other Big Boys can only truly enjoyed IN PERSON.

[@davidcrook5511]

What a location!!! And what an engine great video thanks greetings from UK 😀

[@RandomRailfan828]

You’re right man, that was one great shot! Hope to see it next year lol

[@WasatchGarandMan]

Yeah id say thats a pretty good spot! Nice catch

[@heyitzrare]

I would not recommend getting it though, it is incredibly dangerous

[@WasatchGarandMan]

I do. Our grandfathers walked into active rail yards to hunt coons with .22's. Reclaim your birthright. Hunt and fish in Railyard drainage ditches

[@benlewis4241]

That whistle certainly says get out of my way! If this were a video game you'd certainly get chased down that bridge by it.

[@railyardfilms6491]

You will have super memories with this always

[@heyitzrare]

for sure, for sure

[@Thegameztransit]

Nice! Im heading to chase it on the 14 ( tmmr ) from Rosevile - Colfax!

[@heyitzrare]

Best of luck to ya! Make sure to get there early so you get the best shots :)

[@k6ul]

I’m probably going to follow it all the way up the mountain. I am not a rail fan per-se so I’m not familiar with all the spots along the way. Any recommendations on places for good pictures?

[@Thegameztransit]

@@k6ul New Castle would be a wonder full spot along with the Rocklin Train station! I also Reccmoend Truckee and the Keddie wye. You might see me at Rocklin, New Castle and Colfax!

[@k6ul]

I’ll be there! Thanks. Any idea when it leaves Roseville?

[@andyjay729]

Excellent shot! How long did you have to wait to beat the crowds that would inevitably gather at such a famous location? Also, any word on when/if Big Boy will be visiting the Northwest, or East Coast? (Or is it too, well, big for Eastern clearances? It'd still be super cool to see it cross the Hell Gate Bridge though.)

[@heyitzrare]

5 hours! We got there at around 5:30 and the Big Boy arrived at 10:30, and indeed it was PACKED. Unfortunately it can't visit the East Coast in any capacity, since UP doesn't have track rights over there. As for whether or not it'll visit the Northwest, they keep talking about doing it, but it keeps getting cancelled for one reason or another. Fingers crossed for '25?

[@Tricia1869]

That was a very good shot. You said same time next year...is it coming back again this way by chance?

[@heyitzrare]

Schedule hasn't been released, twas mostly banter with some of the other railfans around

[@drizzache6663]

​@heyitzrare where do I find the schedule for these trains? It'd be cool to take my son. He's gotten the whole family railfanning.

[@heyitzrare]

​@@drizzache6663Big Boy does its run once every year, UP typically posts the schedule a few months in advance - if you can plan fast, you _might_ be able to catch this run, but I'd personally wait until next year to really buckle down and prep a chase

[@drizzache6663]

@heyitzrare where is it posted tho

[@heyitzrare]

@@drizzache6663 I don't know its specific location on the Internet unfortunately, but I would imagine it's on UP's website somewhere

[@GoofyVirginian630]

Absolutely Beautiful!

[@user-jk2hb5qq8r]

I love that sound!!❤❤❤

[@Scaletrains]

Wow! Great video.

[@heyitzrare]

the gods have blessed this video, life is good

[@alcopower5710]

Outstanding……thanks for sharing 👍

[@dw.7655]

Well, that was great , thanks for the video.

[@bhushanarora3078]

Great video and steam engine’s wistle is nostalgic

[@mec253]

Excellent. No caboose, NO train.

[@heyitzrare]

wdym by "no caboose, no train" exactly?

[@NathanielPiscian]

That the best part it did had a caboose 🥹

[@mec253]

@@heyitzrare I'm older and remember when cabooses, hacks, vans, buggys, etc where on the rear of every train. When the markers were hung on the cabooses, at that time, the train was officially a train. I still believe in that philosophy. You can believe whatever you want. This is my opinion and I know it's shared by many of us old timers. Thank you.

[@heyitzrare]

​​@@mec253 ah, I see - well, my standards are lower in that regard, but I'm not one to judge! I was just curious as to what you meant - at least we both agree Big Boy is as train as trains get haha

[@failranch9542]

Yet another great thing to come out of Schenectady, NY.

[@STi_Studios]

Now we just need the challenger on the other side of the wyw

[@BRIANumber7-RCandModels]

The heritage unit was fitting

[@heyitzrare]

that it was :)

[@DaaYay]

Awesome shot, but why does the "Y" only have a frog on the right hand side but not the left?

[@thestudentofficial5483]

Beautiful curve beautiful train

[@russellbaker9459]

Yup, epic sound! (Note, headphones mandatory…that bass lets you hear the power (and awesomely the difference between Big Boy and the fancy new turbo diesel) I know you guys were exited but the fangirling kinda ruined it.

[@goodkarmechanic]

Fantastic!

[@wesgtx440]

Why are there no guard rails on the BNSF side? Nice video!

[@heyitzrare]

Working theory is that BNSF decided the curve was gentle enough to not add guard rails, while the right/center UP track does have guard rails due to the curve's more aggressive angle

[@SB5SimulationsFerroviairesEEP]

Cool! Stéph.

[@eligebrown8998]

I think I just shed a tear. Buitifull

[@anthonys4159]

I like the caboose on the end!

[@archviewcondominium8512]

😊

[@coasterblocks3420]

That’s a really cool and unique Y bridge.

[@steelman86]

An interesting angle from up so high above, but didn't really highlight the engine unfortunately!! Great shot though for someone else to incorporate into their video from ground level for contrast!! Love To hear that low sounding whistle, lovely but not as throaty as the ESPEE DAYLIGHT!!!! IMHO!!!

[@Baribrotzer]

While I'm not a trainspotter at all, one look at the thumbnail and I recognized the location. There's no other place that looks like that, with those twin forked railroad bridges, and I've been there.

[@user-kz6ui9yb2o]

Keddie CA? Just a few miles outside of Quincy? My hometown! Haven’t been there in 50 yrs

[@paulnadolski2814]

*Supposedly* (from what I've read) the Western Pacific did consider buying their own Big Boys back in the 1940s. Seeing this makes me wish they had!

[@Rail_digital]

nice video thanks

[@dogsbyfire]

Awesome!

[@O-sa-car]

That diesel unit looks futuristic

[@heyitzrare]

Past, present, and future lol

[@O-sa-car]

is it a protoype?

[@heyitzrare]

​@@O-sa-carprobably not? I'll get a second opinion for you though

[@heyitzrare]

​@@O-sa-carSecond opinion gotten, it is not a prototype - the diesel is actually about 19 years old, which incidentally is how old the Big Boys were when _they_ were retired (not to imply it's being retired any time soon, since modern diesels aren't being replaced by anything just yet lol)

[@O-sa-car]

@@heyitzrare ah ok - cool, thanks. I guess it's just an unusual paint scheme

[@Bob-ed9tc]

That’s cool. But, it would be nice if we could see some former SP equipment over Donner. What do you say Uncle Pete?

[@heyitzrare]

do you hear us borg??

[@jefff6167]

Beautiful ❤

[@gregbrooks2691]

OMG, WOW !!!!!!! ❤

[@vickielewis3848]

A nod to history at the Keddie Wye. Ed Dickens is a virtuoso on that deep throated whistle. The iron horse. 👋👱‍♀️🇺🇲

[@chuckcronmiller8752]

That one in the snow was great.

[@user-mf4xm2sf6v]

Outstanding ! And where is This !?

[@ItzAtrain2905]

Absolute perfection. 👌😔

[@fishingpatriotisback]

Wish it was closer in on the train

[@kevnrob1]

They should add a fully restored caboose.

[@Railfan-uf9mw]

NOOOOOOOOO you didn’t OH MY GOD OOOOH SO JEALOUS

[@heyitzrare]

oh yes I did, please do not repeat this it is EXTREMELY dangerous

[@janwilliams5285]

Love the sounds of a steam engine

[@solarusthelonghaulerrailfa3226]

I thought that they were running without the diesel

[@heyitzrare]

Out of Cheyenne yes, but this run was always intended to have a diesel

[@maestromecanico597]

Beautiful. WP should NOT have gone to the UP but still beautiful.

[@cherijim2911]

Never noticed that only one of the wye's has guard rails on the trestles. Any ideas why?

[@heyitzrare]

The left rail is owned by BNSF, all the rest is UP!

[@JimRohrbach-kw2fe]

@@heyitzrare You'd think that guard rails would be a good thing regardless who "owns" the rails.

[@heyitzrare]

​@@JimRohrbach-kw2fesir I am not a railroad executive, this was not my decision

[@JimRohrbach-kw2fe]

@@heyitzrare Wow, it was just an observation. Lighten up!

[@Greatdome99]

Look closer especially at the shadows. Both bridges had guard rails. Trestles were built at different times; the mainline around 1908, the Inside Gateway around 1927.

[@Gfysimpletons]

Great video

[@Justin-ve5mg]

Can anyone explain why only one of the two trestles has extra guide rails? I thought those were standard for bridges.

[@alwhalen3488]

And the bridge said, "dude, you gotta loose some weight !"

[@ianspeckmaier9565]

At 0:41 you can see the articulation working.

[@NathanielPiscian]

If only that bridge was a perfect triangle shaped bridge then it be the perfect big boy / big girl video in the history of America railroad But it had a caboose so this was the best big boy/ big girl video ive ever seen 🥹

[@heyitzrare]

Keddie Wye is a crazy spot in and of itself though, it's also...uh. terrifying.

[@NathanielPiscian]

Oh yeah? I’d just assume they were on a bridge above the rails to me

[@BjornStyrmir]

Why did they add a diesel locomotive to the consist? When it left Cheyenne it didn’t have one.

[@heyitzrare]

The WP heritage was added because of the location, but those diesels are to allow for dynamic braking - the Big Boy's brakes need to remain as pristine as possible since the parts are insanely rare nowadays

[@BjornStyrmir]

@@heyitzrare who needs braking????🙄🙄 lol 😂😂😂

[@heyitzrare]

​@@BjornStyrmirtell that to the Portola railroad museum

[@BjornStyrmir]

@@heyitzrare I was being a smart ass, I operated trains for a few years so I understand importance of dynamic breaking.

[@HEHE-dx9og]

@@heyitzrare Not buying the rare brake parts. Is some are needed they are fabricated. The bog boy was restored. Thousands of new parts were fabricated for the restoration.

[@tedfisk1211]

good video. interesting that the UP has guard rails and the BNSF doesn't. Hmmm

[@markwilliams2620]

What more do I have to say about that? No idiot ruining the sound with the "shutter" on his camera going off.

[@anyhung76x1]

Nice trainZ

[@timothyjones74]

❤❤❤

[@libertyvilleguy2903]

Great video. What are all the cars she is pulling? I thought her tour was purely for show. Seems she is getting some work in.

[@heyitzrare]

The cars were empty, sadly - iirc it's all to help with braking, the diesels are effectively adapters to allow for this while also helping with power

[@tinoruelke4671]

👍👍👍👏The Things Johnny Cash sung about!

[@PAcentralRailfan2102]

Dang thats cool

[@karynfelix-the-Cat]

WOW!!!!!!! AMAZING VIDEO!!!!!! I just subscribed!!

[@heyitzrare]

bad time to mention that 1) Side B is not my primary account, and 2) I am not an active railfan

[@user-jn3vg3ts4f]

Maybe if my name was Sheldon Cooper!?😮😅

[@Greatdome99]

I couldn't help but notice the jerk (always in a red jacket) ruining everyone else's photo, trespassing on the other bridge just to get 'the shot' Glad you learned how to focus just in time.

[@AlexanderSkinnerVids]

That was actually a BNSF worker, he left his truck on the other side of the canyon and walked out onto the bridge for inspections before 4014 traversed the structure.

[@bobharrison7693]

It would have been but for the diesel helpers. Hardly any smoke or steam coming out of the stacks.