Union Pacific Big Boy

The American Locomotive Company (ALCO) 4000 Class, also known as the Union Pacific Big Boy, is a 4-8-8-4 "Mallet" articulated type of steam locomotive built specially for the Union Pacific (UPR) railroad between 1941 and 1944.

## History

During World War 2 in the 1940's, railroads in the US were in dire need of larger steam locomotives to deliver long and heavy trains (which became longer and heavier due to the stock market boom as a result of the US recovering from the Great Depression; aside from having more materials needed to built vehicles and weapons to supply troops in combat), to whom the economy skyrocketed after the Great Depression, and many companies relied on trains to deliver their goods.

Hence, railroads like the Union Pacific needing larger locomotives to haul such long and heavy freight trains through their long routes. Which meant the request from ALCO to design a much larger version of their 'Challenger' type of 4-6-6-4 articulated steam locomotive for conventional horsepower.

The 4000 Class dominated the steam locomotive market by having less wheels and more power and length compared to other Mallet types of steam locomotives (such as the "Erie" Class from the Erie Railroad), which meant that they were easier to maintain, yet they were very expensive to operate because of how much water and coal they consumed, as well as how much time, effort, and money used to mold the metal and other materials for the steaming giants (yet, more purchases led to -AL-CO-'s large earnings).

Once they were purchased by the Union Pacific; and when they were still in production, most railfans,

train enthusiasts, locomotive builders, and railroad employees nicknamed the giant type of steam locomotive the "Big Boy". (Yet the name; however, was rumored to have began as a simple nickname stenciled in the boiler of an ALCO employee during the construction of the first one built in early-1941). But their times hauling trains on the Union Pacific system unfortunately came to an end during the 1950's And The New Chapter Just Beginning in the 1970's to the Present, when the GE G.TE.L. Gas Electric Turbine super-powered diesel turbine locomotives began to replace the Big Boy's during the end of the Steam Era. Hence The Only 1 out of the Other 17 big Boys By Union Pacific. Conrail and CSX Railroad Saved Union Pacific Big Boy From Scrap as #4002 and Donated to The Kentucky Railroad Museum in Louisville, KY as Part of The New Chapter Just Beginning in 1979 Where it will be Put On Display for Replacement of The Fully-Restored Santa Fe FP45 #95 as CSX Railroad FP45 #95 Now Sold away for Restoration So it can Return to Service and Never to run Again Ever, Then in 2021, 32 years Later The Engine Was now Restored for The 1,610 Train to Service in The Remake of The Century-DVD Edition: of Imperiumtrex Which Will Rereleased in 2099.

9 only Saved of the 25 beasts built. All which are currently on static display in various museums throughout America, except for the 4014, which is now at UP's Cheyenne, WY steam facility.

## Trivia

Ironically, the Big Boy also has more steam valve controls than any other type of steam locomotive.

Most average people and train enthusiasts often confuse the Challenger and Big Boy for one another. The main differences are the position of the boiler number plate, and the wheel arrangement. (Aside from the length and size.)

No Big Boy's are in operating service now, however UP and GSMR plans to restore the 4014 and 4002 to service by 2019 and 2025.

Very few Big Boy's were occasionally assigned to passenger service.

Most crew members who drove Big Boys often used auger drills to drill the coal stored in the tender because of how long it often sat due to the tenders size. Hence, coal being refilled every month or so.

The Japanese anime TV series "Galaxy Railways" features a space train named Big One using a Big Boy as its basis.

The Big Boy's smokestack were actually two smokestacks combined and covered with smoke deflectors.

There has only been one wreck in Big Boy history, involving a lazy switch track controller and 4005 pulling a heavy freight train of boxcars.

9/25 existing engines their numbers are: 4002, 4004, 4005, 4006, 4012, 4014, 4017, 4018, and 4023.

There have been numerous recent rumors which revolved around restoring UP 4014 to operating condition, yet would require another members parts and convert it to run on oil and saving the Union Pacific Big Boy #4002 for CSX Railroad for Display in Louisville, Kentucky as part of The New Chapter Just Beginning Right Now Starting From After 1978 to The Present for Replacement of CSX FP45 #95 Which is now Sold for Restoration so Santa Fe/CSX FP45 #95 Will Return to Service to join Louisville and Nashville K-1 Pacific #152, Chesapeake and Ohio Kanawha #2716, Chesapeake and Ohio #1309 and Norfolk and Western K Class #133 in 2035.