Big Boy on the move tomorrow (Updated with pictures)

Coyote · Post by **Coyote** » Fri Mar 11, 2005 2:53 pm

OWH wrote:Iron horse heading for new pasture

Big Boy won't be riding the rails to its resting spot atop a bluff. The steam locomotive - one of the largest ever made - will take its final trip Saturday hoisted up on dollies.

Big Boy No. 4023's lofty place is being prepared in what will be the new Kenefick Park, named in honor of former Union Pacific Railroad President John C. Kenefick and his wife, Hani.

Centennial No. 6900, one of the largest diesel locomotives, will be moved later to the park, which is under construction at Lauritzen Gardens, at First and Bancroft Streets.

The two locomotives each will be moved on six hydraulic-drive dollies, operated by remote control at 3 miles per hour - about walking speed. The locomotives will be placed on temporary track at the park until their permanent displays are completed and they can be winched into place.

The locomotives have been stored behind the Durham Western Heritage Museum since being removed from the former Kenefick Park along Abbott Drive to make way for the Qwest Center Omaha.

Saturday's trip - from near Eighth and Pacific Streets down 10th Street and along Bancroft to the botanical center - could take up to eight hours, said Dave Scribner of Scrib's House Moving.

Streets will be closed only while the locomotive is passing through, and police will oversee the route.

The locomotive's tender has been removed and will be towed by a truck. The company has moved other locomotives but hasn't used the hydraulic-drive dollies, Scribner said.

"We have a lot of hills to climb and go up and down, and I thought this was the safest way to transport it," he said.

Scribner said he expects to see 300 to 500 spectators along the route, knowing that "there are a lot of rail fans."

Rain or snow could postpone the trip.

"Cold won't bother me," Scribner said, "but moisture will. We have to take it up a real steep incline at the gardens."

Workers lay timbers and sheets of steel Thursday around railroad tracks outside the Durham Western Heritage Museum in preparation for moving the Union Pacific Big Boy locomotive.

jsheets · Post by **jsheets** » Sat Mar 12, 2005 10:02 am

I heard from a good source yesterday that the Discovery Channel is going to be filming the move today. They are going to do a whole show around the engineering of moving the engine over the hills and into place. A lot of HDR engineers were working on this, from what I was told.

Coyote · Post by **Coyote** » Sat Mar 12, 2005 2:45 pm

A few pictures I took this afternoon:

jsheets · Post by **jsheets** » Sat Mar 12, 2005 4:33 pm

Wow, that is an impressive sight! Nice pictures

Coyote · Post by **Coyote** » Sat Mar 12, 2005 5:50 pm

OWH wrote: Big Boy makes a big move to new home

Big Boy never made a more sluggish journey.

The legendary steam locomotive, built to carry heavy material and troops during World War II, trundled Saturday with aching slowness south of downtown Omaha.

Union Pacific hired an expert in moving buildings and huge objects to take one of the biggest locomotives ever made from Eighth and Pacific Streets to a bluff that will overlook Interstate 80 at Lauritzen Gardens.

David Scribner, owner of that David City, Neb., hauling company, said late Saturday afternoon that he would park it on Bancroft Street just outside Lauritzen Gardens.

"We've got all day tomorrow (Sunday) to rassle with it," Scribner said.

Hundreds of train buffs and simply curious folks lined the 1.8-mile route. The process was terribly slow, and the only things that ran were noses in the cold air.

"At least they're saving a piece of history instead of junking it," said Tom Workman, who watched the first part of the move with his little dog sticking her head out of his parka.

The locomotive, resting on 18 dollies, often sat still as utility lines were raised, street lights were moved and corners were negotiated.

Six of the 18 dollies supplied the hydraulic power used to move the l.2 million pound locomotive. Each dolly contained eight tires, which meant Big Boy sat atop 144 tires.

The locomotive had been on display at Kenefick Park along Abbott Drive before the city redeveloped the riverfront. Then it was moved behind the Durham Western Heritage Museum, and now to the bluff, where it will be visible from Interstate 80. A second locomotive, Challenger, will be moved to the same spot early next month.

Former U.P. Railroad President John Kenefick, 83, watched the process Saturday morning. He sympathized with Scribner's task.

"You don't whiz around with this thing on the streets," Kenefick said of the locomotive.

Big Boy makes its way down 10th Street after turning off Pacific Street.

Zephyr · Post by **Zephyr** » Sun Mar 13, 2005 1:22 pm

Thanks for the cool photos, Coyote! I'll have to check out the new locale when I'm back in town.

Coyote · Post by **Coyote** » Sun Mar 13, 2005 4:22 pm

Here's where they left her this evening:

TechnicalDisaster · Post by **TechnicalDisaster** » Sun Mar 13, 2005 5:38 pm

Fantastic pictures Coyote! I wanted to make it out there and photograph the move. Maybe I'll get shots when they move the other one? BTW, what camera/lens combo where you using? Those where very clean and sharp pictures. (Almost like my Canon 20D

)

Post by **Brad** » Sun Mar 13, 2005 6:57 pm

Is that close to the final restingplace? It is a lot farther from the interstate than I expected.

Coyote · Post by **Coyote** » Sun Mar 13, 2005 7:34 pm

Thanks guys. I have some more from today that I'll post later (in Photography).
They will be moving Big Boy to the north tomorrow (left). but where it sits now is about where she'll reside. There were quite a few HDR helmets out there. One told me that after they are placed in a permanent settlement there will be grading so the interstate can see it better.

Also there was a BBC crew there making a documentary. They have a program about moving large objects. Rumor has it that Discovery will pick it up here.

Bradley414: I used a Sony F717 5MPixel. The past days have been very overcast so I had to take it to Photo House to clean it up.

DMRyan · Post by **DMRyan** » Mon Mar 14, 2005 9:24 am

This is just cool anyway you slice it. Thanks for the photos Coyote. The final resting spot is a little further away from the interstate than I thought it would be, but I'm sure the money wouldn't be spent to move this sucker if it wouldn't be plenty visible.

With a team of engineers on the project, I'm sure all the angles have been covered.

TechnicalDisaster · Post by **TechnicalDisaster** » Mon Mar 14, 2005 10:43 am

The other Train is going to be moved sometime next month, so if you missed this go around, you'll get another chance. (I'll be sure to make it next month.)

Coyote--what is Photo House? I assume it is software, does it remove Digital noise like Neat Image or Noise Ninja? (I use Neat Image)

Coyote · Post by **Coyote** » Mon Mar 14, 2005 12:26 pm

bradley414 wrote:Coyote--what is Photo House? I assume it is software, does it remove Digital noise like Neat Image or Noise Ninja? (I use Neat Image)

Photo House is a simple program from Corel that I've used for years. It came with something - I can't remember what. I've looked at other programs but the good ones are too d@mn expensive.

Coyote · Post by **Coyote** » Mon Mar 14, 2005 1:05 pm

OWH wrote: Big Boy's long journey finally ends

Big Boy - a legendary World War II-era steam locomotive - arrived Sunday at its new home overlooking Interstate 80.

It took two days to move the 1.2 million-pound locomotive from the Durham Western Heritage Museum to the bluff southwest of Lauritzen Gardens. The site will become the new Kenefick Park.

Big Boy was moved to the museum when the land for Kenefick Park, near Sixth Street and Abbott Drive, was taken over for riverfront redevelopment.

About 200 people gathered at Lauritzen Gardens on Sunday to watch the last leg of the locomotive's move, said Spencer Crews, executive director of the gardens.

The final push on the 1.8-mile route included a steep climb.

"I think everyone was very interested to see how it was going to go up that hill," Crews said.

The move went smoothly, with 18 dollies and a Caterpillar pulling Big Boy uphill, Crews said.

"It probably went up that hill easier than most everywhere else," he said. "There weren't any obstacles, and it was nice and smooth."

After doing some grading to get the site ready, movers set Big Boy into place about 4 p.m.

A second locomotive, Centennial, will be moved next month to the future park, named in honor of retired Union Pacific Railroad President John C. Kenefick and his wife, Hani.

almighty_tuna · Post by **almighty_tuna** » Mon Mar 14, 2005 1:05 pm

Photoshop Elements is also a good editing program. Its akin to a Photoshop-Lite. Most of the popular and useful consumer functions are available and its much less than full blown Photoshop at only $99.

TechnicalDisaster · Post by **TechnicalDisaster** » Mon Mar 14, 2005 2:19 pm

Man, photo house is a fossil. The latest information I could find on it was a tutorial from 1997. I second Photoshop Elements 3.0. Not very expensive and has almost every feature that full blown photoshop has. I have an extra un-opened retail box of PE3 that I could sell you for $60.00 (I was going to sell it on Ebay). You could also look at "The Gimp." It is a free ware program that can do everything Photoshop CS can do. The Gimp is a little more complicated to use, but free is free!

~Chris

Coyote · Post by **Coyote** » Mon Mar 14, 2005 3:42 pm

Bradley - I'll take you on for that offer.

As for the view from the interstate - (sun in wrong direction):

Remember this will later be elevated on tracks.

From the very South East section of the gardens parking lot (see above):

almighty_tuna · Post by **almighty_tuna** » Mon Mar 14, 2005 4:04 pm

Ugh, those views won't be very good in summertime. The leaves of the trees will effectively block many views of the locomotive.

DMRyan · Post by **DMRyan** » Mon Mar 14, 2005 4:18 pm

That's a pretty easy problem to solve. It looks like it would take a crew of lumberjacks less than a day to take to those little saplings down.

Coyote · Post by **Coyote** » Mon Mar 14, 2005 4:29 pm

One of the HDR dudes told me they were going to grace the slope after everything is set up.

TechnicalDisaster · Post by **TechnicalDisaster** » Mon Mar 14, 2005 4:36 pm

Is there any art renderings of what the monument will look like? I remember seeing one a while ago, but I can't find it.

Coyote, I sent you an e-mail about PE3

~Chris

Coyote · Post by **Coyote** » Mon Mar 14, 2005 4:53 pm

http://www.eomaha.com/gallery/develop/112/

Post by **Brad** » Mon Mar 14, 2005 8:03 pm

Look at the proposed renderings and look at Coyote's pics. The renderings are definately not from the I80 bridge, they are much closer.

Also, I agree they need to cut down some trees.

Coyote · Post by **Coyote** » Mon Mar 14, 2005 8:11 pm

Here is a rendering from the bridge:

TechnicalDisaster · Post by **TechnicalDisaster** » Mon Mar 14, 2005 8:41 pm

thanks for posting those renderings. That is going to be a great addition to the Gardens. when is the project going to be finished?

Coyote · Post by **Coyote** » Mon Mar 14, 2005 9:12 pm

Supposedly - late summer 2005

www.omahabotanicalgardens.org/kenefick wrote: The monument will be approximately 10 feet high and 130 feet long with a series of panels highlighting Union Pacific’s contributions to Omaha. Design and construction are underway and completion is expected late summer 2005.

Post by **Brad** » Mon Mar 14, 2005 9:26 pm

After seeing the second rendering it really needs to be lower and closer to I80. Where its at are you even going to see the "Welcome to Omaha" sign

PapioGrandpa · Post by **PapioGrandpa** » Sun Mar 20, 2005 11:56 am

It's been a very busy week so it took a while to get my photos of the move up to my web site. There are a few short videos mixed in for good measure.

Here's the link:

http://georges.smugmug.com/gallery/443099

See you later, gs

Post by **Brad** » Tue Dec 11, 2012 7:20 am

Not the same Big Boy, but I wasn't sure where where else to put this...

12/7/2012 Article
Union Pacific studying Big Boy restoration project

http://trn.trains.com/en/Railroad%20New ... rvice.aspx

Trains Magazine wrote:POMONA, Calif. – Union Pacific may be bringing back the ultimate steam machine, an Alco-built 4-8-8-4 Big Boy, the last of which steamed more than 50 years ago.

Company spokesman Mark Davis told Trains News Wire Friday that the company has been approached by and is working with a third party interested in restoring and operating a Big Boy. He said the railroad is evaluating the condition of preserved UP Big Boy locomotives and that it believes two might be available for restoration. Davis declined to name the other party or give a timeline for the project. But at least one organization is already talking about its potential to put a Big Boy back on the main line.

12/10/2012 Update
Union Pacific, museum continue Big Boy talks

http://trn.trains.com/Railroad%20News/N ... talks.aspx

Trains Magazine wrote:John Mastrobuoni, treasurer of the Southern California Chapter of the Railway & Locomotive Historical Society said discussions Saturday with UP did not yield an agreement on the chapter's 4-8-8-4 Big Boy No. 4014, which has been on display at the Los Angeles County Fairgrounds since 1962. UP said Friday that an unidentified third party is interesting in partnering with the company to restore the locomotive to operation. Mastrobuoni said UP still wants to acquire and move the locomotive in early 2013 and that the railroad plans to present a proposal by Dec. 14.

Interesting development to a rumor that has been floating around the internet forever!

.

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