1959: Big Boy was a King of the Rails. 2019: *Big Boy is the King of the Rails.*

@alexanderleach3365

10 ай бұрын

2023: Big Boy still is the King of the Rails.

@T128Productions

4 ай бұрын

2024: Basically the same thing as 2023

I must have watched this on VHS hundreds of times as a kid. That last long whistle blast as the train disappears into the sunset still brings a tear to my eye. There will never be anything else quite like a steam locomotive.

@phillyfan-182

Жыл бұрын

So have I!! My grandfather had this vhs back in the day

Yesterday Big boy 4014 ran under its own power for the first time in decades

@makinbacon7070

5 жыл бұрын

It really is a spectacle to watch it's almost as if it was a living being

@thunderturbine8860

3 жыл бұрын

Any idea as to why they have diesels pushing from behind now? That just spoils the look of the glorious Big Boy locomotive

@urmad378

3 жыл бұрын

@@thunderturbine8860 doesnt really spoil it, the fact that a 4000 moved under its own power in our lifetime is already a miracle as it is... anyway the diesel is for dynamic braking and switching, and as a backup in case of a problem with the steam loco's, etc. Whole host of reasons, really

@thunderturbine8860

3 жыл бұрын

@@urmad378 OK That's a fair point. Dynamic braking wasn't a thing in steam locomotives back then.

@844SteamFan

3 жыл бұрын

That was more than a year and a half ago. Wow

No computers, no electronic calculators. Superior people using their skills as designers, machinists to make a magnificent machine.

I can never get enough of Big Boy's three chime steam whistle. It makes me feel like I went back in time.

Hard to believe the Big Boy is back in service. I never thought I would ever see it happen.

@thunderbird1921

5 жыл бұрын

When I see the clips of 4014 now running, the opening theme music here comes into my head. It's almost like a superhero's theme.

@blackbirdgaming8147

3 жыл бұрын

None of us did

@rjalexander4765

3 жыл бұрын

Americans can do anything!

@stanfischer6175

3 жыл бұрын

@@blackbirdgaming8147 I'm 68 and since I was 15 I would go to this place near down town Houston called Eureka Junction. It was where the MKT and the SP met. Was fortunate to have seen the earlier GP's and even a few Katy "F" units plus their really odd ball Baldwin/EMD road switchers. I came of age during a post steam era, was born too late. I first knew and understood what a "Big Boy" was when I was about 12, when I would wonder off on my bicycle to either the SP or MKT just to watch a train go by. Never in my wildest dream, even then would I have dared dream a mighty 4000 would slowly go thru Eureaka Junction curve but in Nov. 2019 it did!

@blackbirdgaming8147

3 жыл бұрын

@@stanfischer6175 Very cool! I was born way too late for steam myself, I’m 19 lol. I hope to see 4014 next month in Fort Worth.

On a trip to see my grandmother in Pittsburgh I was watching a steam engine in the rail yard near her home. My dad came down to sit next to me. He said, “Take a good look, son. We won’t be seeing those much longer”. I can still see, smell, feel and hear those wonderful machines.

@patguzman3132

11 ай бұрын

I n my perot saw BIG BOY 4014 in action just east of L.A pulling UP passenger cars n before then BB 4014 was rnr we saw it in pamona by race track next to another giant DD A40X 6922 with few other locos

Big boy pushed a stalled diesel consist up a hill, this is how its done

1:18 “And the thrill of seeing a mammoth engine at work was to be only a happy memory of childhood.” 60 years later, that mammoth engine has awoken.

@khanlo4f333

4 жыл бұрын

And the smoke breathing Dragon rumbles down the tracks oncemore.

@T.G.G.123_shorts

3 жыл бұрын

Boss music starts

@ammo8713

2 жыл бұрын

GREAT MEMORIES GROWING UP WITH THE STEAM ENGINES... USED TO PUT PENNIES ON THE TRACK AND PICK EM UP AS FLAT PIECES OF COPPER AFTER THE TRAIN PASSED ! 👍😁

@dennisyoung4631

2 жыл бұрын

It says, “Soot…Soot…SOOT!”

@WesternOhioInterurbanHistory

2 жыл бұрын

Saw it on person. Was absolutely epic.

The return of the KING of the high iron.

I am absolutely delighted by the fact that, in a month, many of us will finally be able to say that we were one of the lucky boys to see them in action, an opportunity I would have thought disappeared forever.

"It's was the last of the giants" Until today!

@thunderbird1921

5 жыл бұрын

4014 in a way truly is the "Last of the Giants" (unless Steamtown someday brings back 4012). Fun fact, the opening music of this film was in my head for almost all of 4014's first trip. Truly fitting for the king of locomotives!

@christophercarey3232

3 жыл бұрын

Pentrex said that it wasn't likely for a Big Boy to ever pull a train again. But BOY did UP prove them wrong.

@christianjohnson9190

3 жыл бұрын

@@thunderbird1921 ah I see you have good taste

@reasonableconservative4497

3 жыл бұрын

How much did UP spend to get him up and running?

@tomcoppess1986

2 жыл бұрын

@@thunderbird1921 👩‍❤️‍👨i

man I remember watching this 10 Years ago when I was 5 and still into thomas. Now I'm taking my first steps into serious model railroading. Finally remembered the title of this amazing documentary.

Good to see footage of 5511 running

@phillyfan-182

13 күн бұрын

Soon enough 5511 will be back up and running again like old times.

This is my favorite classic railroad film of all time, along with Norfolk and Western 611 "Going Home." I'm glad UP has chosen to restore 4014, I hope they get many good excursions out of it.

@WesternOhioInterurbanHistory

3 жыл бұрын

fuck excursions It needs to pull freight

@pointingdog7235

2 жыл бұрын

@@WesternOhioInterurbanHistory No matter what they use those beautiful beasts for I'm happy to know they are in use.

@nathancorcoran5347

2 жыл бұрын

@@pointingdog7235 let’s please don’t say that. Let’s just say they are Beautiful Giants.

I remember back in the 50's as a young man going to Spencer, North Carolina, and seeing the steam engines at the repair yard. Spencer is now a museum where you can see round table and shop that repaired the trains and at times ride on a steam train.

This film features several survivors: 1243 (4:56) 2295 (3:44) 9000 (8:38) 3985 (9:35) 5511(5:18) 4012 (14:54) Drive Wheel 'L8' only. I'm guessing backmost axle, left wheel? and a special appearance by the original Big Boy 4000 at 14:29 and again at 17:30, although it did not survive into preservation. There are many background engines that I could not identify, so some of them COULD be survivors for all I know.

@PianoGuy1226

Жыл бұрын

I watched this video many times as a kid. I just came back from the Durham Museum in Omaha, Nebraska, and Union Pacific #1243 is there on display!

@Thatguybob5

Жыл бұрын

At least we may see 5511 and 3985 run again since they’ve gone to be worked on

@lucasquintanilla1673

11 ай бұрын

While it isn’t in this film union pacific 844 would’ve been a contemporary of the scenes of what we see here and it would have either just ended its original era prior to being withheld from retirement around this point, or it would have just embarked upon its long excursion career. I kind of wish we got to see some very early footage of 844 in this because I have found that I pretty much can’t find any footage of 844 prior to 1960 and even then it’s almost impossible to find any footage of it before 1970 as a 1966 era Trip is one of the first things that I know for certain was recorded on film other than the 1960 snow plow experiments it was a part of.

@ericurbane99

7 ай бұрын

4466 also appeared pushing 4012 to the wash.

@T128Productions

4 ай бұрын

@@ericurbane99 The locomotive pushing the 4012 looked awfully big to be 4466, or one of her sister engines.

The Union Pacific Big Boy is a legend!

They say they do everything bigger in America... That just brought real meaning to that statement...

Thanks so very much for this documentary, the Big Boy engine as with all steam locos was a living breathing mass of metal that has a beauty all of its own, fabulous machine and thankfully was saved and restored. To work on one of these each day must have been hard work at times but wonderful to look back on.

im still trying to get my head around the amount of service this engineering masterpiece needed, i mean what do you expect, its just massive

@haydendraycott7897

3 жыл бұрын

Indeed, to think that today one single crew engineer can control a whole 2 mile long freight from one cab over whole distances, these needed 5-6 men minimum just to get the train out of the yard; engineer, fireman, conductor and then (usually at least) 2 or 3 brakemen, nowadays even an extra conductor is becoming a thing of the past

@wrongfullyaccused7139

Жыл бұрын

@@haydendraycott7897 Yet, the Big Boy pulled five miles of cars.

@Wilett614

Жыл бұрын

Just THINK of the MANUFACTURING Process at ALCO American Locomotive Company ! NOT one single solitary PART was made OUTSIDE of the UNITED STATES of AMERICA

We got tired of double-heading the trains, so we built one engine with double the power.

This was a great documentation on steam history, I would love to see more. I'm 56 years old I never seen steam power in it's day but I seen 844 I think 3 times come thru Kansas, 3985 at least once and I have been fortunate to see 4014 from Grand Island earlier this year going to North Platt, Than now to find out she is going to be in my back yard on Nov.21 for 45 minutes. Thank you Union Pacific for all the great work and recreating this for all of our younger generation people to experience. The first time I saw 844 etched memories in my head that I can't forget and it's part of our history that formed this country, I feel greatly privliged to see all three engines in my lifetime, I know it costs tons of money to restore and operate these old historic engines keep up the great work and God Bless America

@JTrailroadinboi12

2 жыл бұрын

I was in Salina, KS when Big Boy 4014 came thru, being a young buck, I was in awe when I saw it up close and when it was running

It's amazing seeing these beautiful machines. It astounds me that my great grandpa got to fire the 844.

Soon you will be able to see a Big Boy when 4014 is back to service.

@geomodelrailroader

9 жыл бұрын

East Coast Rail Chasers yup and Last of The Giants is his story

@harrimanfox8961

5 жыл бұрын

Today is that day

@DAViDD767

5 жыл бұрын

@@harrimanfox8961amen

@andrewlakatos1301

5 жыл бұрын

And that is now

I recognize some of that country, Cheyenne to Laramie. Drove it a lot during the early 80's.

I had this as a VHS when I was a kid, and dreamed of the moment in the beginning where a young kid sees one rolling by. It's so awesome to watch now, 30 years later, and see they only got the "happy memory" part wrong, with 4014 now operable.

14:21 Steam Shop back in the day it was a hive of activity when those engines came in. now there are only three #844 #3985 and BIG BOY.

@youtubevlogproductions7579

3 жыл бұрын

Yes Big Boy 4014

@timnewman1172

3 жыл бұрын

Nice to see 3985 in this film!

@timnewman1172

3 жыл бұрын

428 is currently under restoration in Illinois...

Just today, 4014 once again did what it was meant to do and pushed a stalled Manifest up a hill.

This documentary was my favorite thing to watch as a kid, im now 21 and still love watching it every now and then, seeing 4014 live is a definite bucket list must see

My maternal grandfather was a UP mechanic from WWI to 1965. @ 1960, when the last steam locomotive was to be retired, UP put together a special train for employees & families...Wonderful experience..

The Union Pacific restored both the Challenger No. 3985 a few years before they restored the Big Boy No, 4014. Many other railroad companies have restored many more steam locomotives and use them for passenger excursions.

This is the video that introduced me to my favorite type of articulated steam locomotive, the Union Pacific "Big Boy" & I have been fascinated with this locomotive type ever since I was a young child about 25 years ago.

Some priceless footage, one of the best BigBoy videos on here

Only footage of UP 5511

@TheSudrianTerrier653

Ай бұрын

Not anymore at least, there’s a video of it and 3985 being towed to the RRHMA, and in the future once it’s restored, it’ll run again for the modern generation to see

@Strasburg_Railfaner611

8 күн бұрын

It’s pulling freight in this but according to bennyboi there’s a clip in this of it burning tires in its firebox

@craigmccully9179

4 күн бұрын

18:26 ​@@Strasburg_Railfaner611

This film deserves an HD restoration.

I live in Schenectady, NY, the home of the former ALCO plant...birthplace of the Big Boys. Love seeing them run and the sounds.

This is a moving tribute to these creations.Really wonderful.

How many watching in 2021 Saw the 4014 Big Boy pass thru mu local today..amazing...!!

@raybosailor

2 жыл бұрын

She was quite majestic steaming thru Kirkwood!

A NECESSARY film for ANYONE who is a loyal fan of steam locomotives!

1:10 - 1:24 With #4014 up and running, the thrill of seeing a Big Boy in action is no longer just a happy memory of childhood. :)

@Island_Line_Rail_Productions

5 жыл бұрын

Yup

@Gdayhomie

5 жыл бұрын

Agree. I saw her before and after her revival

22:11 Narrator: "The rumble and roar of Big Boy will seem still to echo from the high country of Southern Wyoming." Union Pacific 4014: *I'm about to ruin this man's whole career.*

@cbolanz1

3 жыл бұрын

You just won the videos best comment award

One of my favorite railroad videos!

I grew up from the mid-40’s -1060. In the 50’s I rode steam train almost everywhere. In 1949 me, my brother and mom road a steam train from Denmark,SC to SF, Ca on our way by ship to Guam. I just wish young people could ride steam trains like I had, it was a great time.

@fluxthelycanroc9603

2 жыл бұрын

if you rode from denmark that must mean you must have rode on the southern part of the way. it must have been nice. seeing as i live in columbia and back when i rode my bike around id still see alot of their bridges and such i always wondered what it was like to ride the southern back then. you ride a named train?

My grandpa and dad both worked for the ICRR Illinois Central. Grandad was a crew chief and dad a laborer. At 25 cents a day dad worked around the coal steam locomotives. It was a good job if you could get it. The RR gave Grandad a IC Railway house right 20 yards off the mainline, big Ol barn. As a kid my dad liked the smoke and cinder flying back by the window where he rode the line. Big trains Big drive wheels, lot of action and fun!!

Guess whoooooos baaaack!! 4014 is out of the shop and has a fire in its belly. Its ALIVE!

I have this film and still do. Its part of a box set of videos. This happened to be my favorite

@HotboxHolton

7 жыл бұрын

Same

What a lovely film! And that music from the 50's! I love these films.

I notice Big Boy 4013 was a predominant fixture in this video. it's a damned shame that loco was sold for scrap shortly after it retired in July, 1959. Total bummer. But alas...we all have 4014 back on the rails as a object of our awe and wonder!!!

@stanfischer6175

3 жыл бұрын

Of the 25 Big Boys 8 are still in existence. Across the world their were great steam locomotives classes that where totally eradicated.

@venturamichael50

2 жыл бұрын

The beginning of the film showed 4009 which also got scrapped

@Stickycarp28284

Жыл бұрын

there are photos of UP 4013 being scrapped

That closing shot of the sunset sky is stunning. Hooray for Kodachrome! I have a recording of SP&S 700's whistle in the Rockies that is note perfect for what we hear here. Hear here! :P

@Mildcat743

8 жыл бұрын

+up4014 steam train fan Spokane, Portland, and Seattle if I'm not mistaken

@deadfreightwest5956

8 жыл бұрын

Correct, yet they never really went to Seattle, except as part of the "pool trains" passenger service. UP, NP, GN and SP&S shared passenger train duties between Portland, OR and Seattle.

Haven't seen this one before. Magnificent machine and superb production. Thanks to all who contributed to this production. And special thanks to those who made the biggest steam engine ever come back to life. Marty Jasper

The scenery in this looks like a painting.

I used to watch this as a kid, thank you for having this up.

One of the best steam locomotive videos I've ever seen!

I saw 4014 on the 190th anniversary of the transcontinental railroad in Ogden, Utah. I love her whistle but it's so loud

@nicoletorcolini5316

3 жыл бұрын

You can feel it in your bones.

This is a great documentary, Thank You!

1:16 "For by 1960 the age of steam had virtually ended, and the thrill of seeing a mammoth engine at work was to be only a happy memory of childhood." *Not anymore.*

@T128Productions

4 ай бұрын

Too bad the people that worked on this video never got to see the 4014 return to operation, since they died long before Ed Dickens was even in charge of the steam operations.

Wow! Big Boy was some magnificent masterpiece. Being able to move rolling stock 5 miles long is a real feat of power⚠️ I'm glad there is still one in existence to be able to be viewed.

@jasmijnariel

Жыл бұрын

5miles... its insaaaane

@JacobGrimaR761

10 ай бұрын

more than one preserved but only one that is operational

@victorcontreras9138

10 ай бұрын

@@JacobGrimaR761 thanks for information! Good to know that there is more than one around of these great machines 👍

@JacobGrimaR761

10 ай бұрын

@@victorcontreras9138 Your Welcome, The More the Merrier

Bravo film!! More electrifying than many fight scenes in today's movies ...at least I think so. I lost my sleepiness and sat up to watch this! Some of those rail cars, box cars, gondola's ...study in railroad history ...for my Model railroad. Loved this.

I have a photo of the 4004 I took in Wyoming in about 1976 on a trip to Vegas. Love trains.

@UP4014SteamTrainFan

8 жыл бұрын

+Robert Brunner I saw 4004 in in the second week of march for spring break im thinking next year me and my dad should go back to the steam shops and check the progress of 4014 if anyone has question ask im start about trains!!!

@hakeemsd70m

7 жыл бұрын

up4014 steam train fan What ever happened to UP 4013? I saw him in this video. Will 4014 really be ready for the sesquicentennial of the golden spike in 2019?

@britainluver431

5 жыл бұрын

@@hakeemsd70m Sadly 4013 was among the scrapped Big Boys.

@hakeemsd70m

5 жыл бұрын

@@britainluver431 I figured. Too bad they couldn't preserve a Big Boy for The Ohio Railway Museum.

4:56 Union Pacific 1243 [Narrator] With this museum piece with its six churning driving wheels was new in 1890. It was considered a Samson of the rails. 5:04 [train whistle]

God that whistle... I think that 3 chime whistle is my favorite whistle to ever get put on a locomotive. It is both haunting and powerful. (Fixed whistle-type error)

@AirchimeLTDproductions174

2 жыл бұрын

The 4000s actually wore 3 chimes not 6 chimes

@ethancederberg718

2 жыл бұрын

@@AirchimeLTDproductions174 wow, you're right. I don't know how I made that mistake, thanks for pointing that out.

@AirchimeLTDproductions174

2 жыл бұрын

@@ethancederberg718 Np yeah the 4000s wore Hancock Longbell 3-chimes. But each had a different tone character as 4014 still wears it's original Hancock 3 to this day.

Amazing technology and creative engineering. Never ceases to amaze me how something so heavy is able to move. Mind boggling!

If #5511 at 5:18 looks like its smoke isn't being lifted very high, that's because it's not actually steaming. That locomotive was out of service by the time the movie was made, but to make it appear operational, the railroad set some tires on fire in its smokebox and pushed its train from behind with a diesel locomotive. The visibly weak puffs come from the valve gear being moved by the rotating driving wheels. You'll also note the lack of steam coming out of other places on the locomotive--compare it to the film segments just before.

Got to see the bigboy 4014 the other day. Stopped right near my home on a frontage road. Got to take plenty of videos and photos of it! Truly amazing to see!

Incredible seeing 3985 in revenue service.

@WDI2008

5 жыл бұрын

Every now and then the Union Pacific Steam Locomotives will haul Mainline Freight Trains in addition to Excursion Service.

@davidng2336

5 жыл бұрын

Just have to be patient for 3985 to come back, if they choose to bring it back that is.

@Gdayhomie

4 жыл бұрын

In January they announced 3985 will be officially retired due to 4014 being in the fleet but most importantly it's boiler is in bad condition

@johnmichaels2495

3 жыл бұрын

​@@davidng2336 My guess, and this is only a guess, is that the reason the 4014 was restored is because getting the 3985 back into operating condition will be so cost prohibitive that it isn't worth it. If the 3985 has major structural issues with its boiler (which is what I have heard), then it may be a case where restoration cost would come close to the cost of building a new locomotive.

@adamwall1966

3 жыл бұрын

I hope to see 844 3985 4014 pulling loads hope they restore 3985 at some point I know 3985 is in bad shape Maybe for125 anversy

21:19 Okay, guys, so the Union Pacific's steam fleet wasn't made out of atoms.

@ThePainTrain765

8 жыл бұрын

+RockyRailroad Productions Because 50's LOL!

@Istoleyourtoast743

8 жыл бұрын

+ThePainTrain765 well hello I'm one of your subscribers

@theodor12

5 жыл бұрын

everything is made of atoms mate

@Gdayhomie

5 жыл бұрын

@@theodor12 living things are made of cells

@theq4602

4 жыл бұрын

It was assumed that atomic trains planes and automobiles would be on the way. Ford had the concept nucleon, the air force extensively researched atomic planes and the navy has nuclear subs. Atomic trains never really got anywhere.

he's back

There is just nothing around nearly as glorious as these Big Boys!

what a majestic and awe-inspiring creation was 'Big Boy:' a work of art that thrilled one with its bully and bluster; man Oh man!! Memories are made of this

You gotta love the serendipitous music with the cartoon. Brings back so many memories.

Poetry in motion. Great video of these marvels!

At 9:35 is 3985. They had no idea how significant she would become. It's a shame she can't join 4014.

Brilliant Postings.. 🙏 Thank you for your time.. ❤️

What a great film! So reminiscent of the ones I enjoyed in grade school in the 50's. Nothing says WWII America like the "Big Boy".

Wow, this documentary screams the time period in which it was made. You don't hear such flowery language in today's documentaries.

What an awesome documentary!! I watched on a DVD I just bought at the train store and we were just amazed!!!!

I've gotten to see two of the 8 surviving Big Boys. Those being the 4017 in Green Bay, Wisconsin, and the 4012 in Scranton, Pennsylvania.

@britainluver431

5 жыл бұрын

Me too. I saw 4004, and 4014.

@andrewlakatos1301

5 жыл бұрын

I never got to see any big boys

@railfanjackson4531

5 жыл бұрын

I’ve seen 4006 at the Museum of Transportation in Saint Louis and am planning on hitching a ride on 4014 within the next year or so.

@jwrailve3615

3 жыл бұрын

4005 in Denver 4014 when it went through Texas, in the spring I’ll see the one in Dallas

@nicoletorcolini5316

3 жыл бұрын

4012 at Steam Town in 2008 then rode the train in California pulled by 4014 in October 2019.

It's great that 4014 rolls again, representing a living tribute to the pinnacle of steam.

Last of The Giants is the story of BIG BOY's life from when he left ALCO in 41 to his first day on the job at Steam Shop. BIG BOY pulled the stuff that won WWII. when the war was over BIG BOY was sent to the museum in Pomona. Now he is back ready to conquer Sherman Hill once again.

@jamesshanks2614

8 жыл бұрын

The big boys ran until 1960 when the last f them were in standby service they were not retired after WW II Late 1959-1960 is when they ran their last miles in service

@brycelacsina4063

Жыл бұрын

4014 was restored in may of 2019

We lived within 2 blocks of a Railroad "Roundhouse". I actually saw steam locomotives when I was small. I could hear those lonesome whistles all thru the night.

I still got this VHS in my collection. The Big Boy is one of the biggest and mosey insane steam engines ever made and I really hope to get an HO model of it.

Finally a Big Boy documentary showing what these engines were built for (around 19 minutes in) , hauling (racing) armaments like tanks, and munitions to the coasts. mb

I LOVE this engine! One day I hope to be able to book a ride aboard one of it's excursion trips!

I think it is a shame that 4000 was scrapped.

@Stickycarp28284

Жыл бұрын

yea it should have been preserved

*09:46* DID ANYONE HERE NOTICE 3985?!

@TheTrainGuy1355

3 жыл бұрын

RIP 3985

@NishnaValleyRailVideos

3 жыл бұрын

@@TheTrainGuy1355 not dead just retired

@TheTrainGuy1355

3 жыл бұрын

Rails and Sirens Of Southwestern Iowa I know but still a sad thing to recognize that we might not see 3985 operate for a long time

@NishnaValleyRailVideos

3 жыл бұрын

@@TheTrainGuy1355 Well it’s sad but she got her turn and it’s time for 4014 to shine

A beautiful sympathy of power and grace.

Wow, the announcer speaks so eloquently of the romance of the iron horse - and all I see is that huge sooty exhaust cloud spewing up into the pristine Western air - still, a cool machine

@rayray-bo1mv

9 жыл бұрын

***** Pristine? Since when.

@SupernalOne

9 жыл бұрын

ray ray better than back east, anyway

3:01 to 3:08 with that qoute the moaning of its chime whistle, is once true again with 4014 #LONGLIVETHEBIGBOYS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I got an N-scale Big Boy for my birthday, and fast forward a few days later, I bought some freight cars for him. I’m really excited once we build our full railroad layout to see him pulling some cars!!! I can’t wait!!!

Super Film. Thank you.

I saw 4012 in steamtown it was so awesome to witness a behemoth like it

Great show.

I can't believe I just got to actually see one of these operate again 😍

Its been 8 years since the last time i saw this show. Im so glad i found it again

Great video, thanks..

"Every inch of Big Boy radiated majesty." Ain't gonna get scriptwriting like that now. Did anyone notice that some of the background music was employed in the Hanna-Barbera cartoons of the same era? And the resonant confidence-inspiring voice of the narrator, typical of the early post-WW II era. Note that the film regretted that the age of the Big Boys had passed, but that there was a better future coming. Alas, it didn't happen.

What an amazing piece of American 🇺🇸 machinery.

While designed for smooth operation up to 80 mph to avoid beating itself up hauling freight at track speed, no Big Boy has ever hit 80 and revenue speeds hardly exceeded 50 mph, mainly because their mainstay was the steeper grades. The fastest reported speed on a Big Boy was 72 mph on a test run. Still impressive if you ask me, and still faster than the Challenger's official top speed of 70 mph (I still love the Challengers though). Though neither the largest nor most powerful steam locomotive ever built, it still ranks among them and it goes without saying that they are legends. Definitely more than worthy of preservation. So glad 8 survive. The Big Boy was probably the first locomotive I got to know about and study, having first heard of it as a child and they still fascinate me to this day and is my favorite steam locomotive (tied with the Norfolk & Western J 4-8-4).

Much underappreciated "technology" of the day scoffed at by today's younger generation mesmerized by their little electronic gadgets.