UP 4014

https://www.hornby.com/uk-en/rivaro...y-of-the-first-transcontinental-railroad.html

 

What is the brass thing on top of the boiler, whistle is on top of the smokebox???

 

The safety-valves I assume

 

There is a bell as well.

 

On top of firebox crown, going to ask on the UP forum what it is!!!

 

Interesting that the model only comes with a coal tender, for an up to date look, an oil tender would be a nice touch, she currents runs with UP 3985's tender, as her own gets converted.

 

Tickets about to go on sale from Cajon Pass excursions out/ return to LA.

http://www.railgiants.org/Big-Boy-Excursion-Info.php

 

Details of 4014's Sept/Oct trip to California and back published yesterday : https://www.up.com/heritage/steam/schedule/index.htm
Ray.

 

Worth noting the return trip on 13th October, is now being advertised to UP Steam members at 50% discount.

 

Updated schedule for 4014's trip to L.A. posted https://www.up.com/heritage/steam/schedule/index.htm
Ray.

 

Well after a weekend working up and down Cajon Pass, plenty of video clips are emerging, this one gives us a bit of an idea.
BTW, the 2 Diesels in the consist, are for dynamic braking going down the pass, one was considered not to be enough!!!

Enjoy

 

23 carriages, two diesels and two extra tenders, and it still barely coughs at times!

 

Wait until they throw 200 box cars on the drawbar, might get a bit of a chirp from her then!!

That is the next item according to UP, once this tour has completed.

 

I still look at the DVD of the Challenger taking a 141 car double stack over Sherman Hill, one of the most impressive railway feats of all time

 

It’s Archer Hill in the sequence that I think you’re recalling but no less impressive for that. It’s just mind blowing.

 

Deleted.

 

And for those who've never seen it :

 

What gradient is Archer Hill, please?
Pat

 

In that direction, apparently 0.7% for 2.8 miles - that's about 1 in 140 in British terms. The curves would add significantly to the train resistance on such a long train.

It's also about 6,000 feet above sea level, at which point atmospheric pressure is around 80% of sea level. I wonder if that is enough to have a measurable effect on the power output on a steam loco? It's certainly enough to have an impact on normally aspirated internal combustion engines.

Tom