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I've done trains three times in my life and now with a new grandson I purchased a Lionel train set to go around the Christmas tree. Of course I had to try it out when I bought it and I can't wait to set it up again. I've also bought more track for it and a tunnel too. As well as building model cars I'm working on an airplane kit which is something I haven't done since the 50's. So far I'm enjoyin' the trains and planes along with the cars.

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I don't know if you are aware of this or not but I thought I would add it to the discussion. Big Boy 4014 has been moved from the Pomona fairgrounds in LA to Cheyenne for a complete restoration. You will once again get a chance to see this beast in it's full glory running the rails of America. I remember it well. My uncle was a yard master in Cheyenne for many years when these ran over Sherman hill and I remember seeing them head out of town or coming into town. Here is a link to the restoration web site. http://www.up.com/aboutup/special_trains/steam/photos_videos/bigboy/2014_may.shtml Until you see people standing next to the behemoth you really have no concept of how huge this thing really is! It will be a fitting companion to the Challenger that the UP takes on tour from time to time. A real part of American history!

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I don't know if you are aware of this or not but I thought I would add it to the discussion. Big Boy 4014 has been moved from the Pomona fairgrounds in LA to Cheyenne for a complete restoration. You will once again get a chance to see this beast in it's full glory running the rails of America. I remember it well. My uncle was a yard master in Cheyenne for many years when these ran over Sherman hill and I remember seeing them head out of town or coming into town. Here is a link to the restoration web site. http://www.up.com/aboutup/special_trains/steam/photos_videos/bigboy/2014_may.shtml Until you see people standing next to the behemoth you really have no concept of how huge this thing really is! It will be a fitting companion to the Challenger that the UP takes on tour from time to time. A real part of American history!

Saw her in Pamona during my 2011 visit to So Cal.......I want to see her and 611 J both run someday. I have ridden behind 611 and been in her cab......seeing Big Boy would be great!

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I live near the National Railroad Museum in Green Bay, Wisconsin & they have Big Boy #4017 on display in it's own special building. It's an awsome piece of machinery up close. They have quite a collection including Eisenhower's war train that he used in Europe. We do have other things to see & do besides the Packers.

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I don't know if you are aware of this or not but I thought I would add it to the discussion. Big Boy 4014 has been moved from the Pomona fairgrounds in LA to Cheyenne for a complete restoration. You will once again get a chance to see this beast in it's full glory running the rails of America. I remember it well. My uncle was a yard master in Cheyenne for many years when these ran over Sherman hill and I remember seeing them head out of town or coming into town. Here is a link to the restoration web site. http://www.up.com/aboutup/special_trains/steam/photos_videos/bigboy/2014_may.shtml Until you see people standing next to the behemoth you really have no concept of how huge this thing really is! It will be a fitting companion to the Challenger that the UP takes on tour from time to time. A real part of American history!

I live in central Nebraska right on the UP line and see the challenger quite often. There is also a big boy on display in Omaha right on the Iowa border.

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@Steve- The firebox bricks were taken out of that Big Boy and were reused in the Milwaukee Road 261 when it was first restored...which is recently back on the rails after a couple of years off for a boiler rebuild and other mandatory work. Just a bit of useless trivia on the fire bricks. But anyway, I guess the big question is...is Big Boy 4014 going to be restored as a coal burner, or converted to oil burning? UP tried the oil burning conversion on 1 or 2 Big Boy's way back when, but it was too inefficient and converted it/them back to coal. I know UP Challenger 3985 is oil burning and it works, so maybe with the same newer technology they'll do the same on the Big Boy.

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@Steve- The firebox bricks were taken out of that Big Boy and were reused in the Milwaukee Road 261 when it was first restored...which is recently back on the rails after a couple of years off for a boiler rebuild and other mandatory work. Just a bit of useless trivia on the fire bricks.

Thanx for the tidbit. I knew it wasn't operational.

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I live in central Nebraska right on the UP line and see the challenger quite often. There is also a big boy on display in Omaha right on the Iowa border.

Andy, I grew up in Sidney and am old enough to remember when the Challengers were still the main engines for the UP. My Mother was from Vermont and I remember traveling on the train to go visit her parents. Nothing like the old passenger service. I can still remember the smell of the trains from the steam engines. Very unique and not at all unpleasant.

Edited by Pete J.
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Dug mine out....a bit beat up and dusty. This is the DM&I version of the kit....issued only once. Different boiler front etc. Wish I had a mint kit now.

What scale is that Dave? Beautiful build and weathering.

I have the HO Rivarossi in mint condition but would like a larger scale.

I love these monsters-the GG-1 also a fave.

Edit: pardon my ignorance but who was DM&I?

Edited by Cato
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  • 4 weeks later...

The loco in Omaha, Ne can be seen on I-80 westbound from Iowa. It is displayed in the botanical gardens there. One should look for the coverage of when they moved it from the museum on 10th st over to I-80. It was big news back then. Sorry about the history lesson, Omaha native here.

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