Ed Dickens with Union Pacific Heritage Operations, during 4014 "Big Boy" visit to Kansas City

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  • Опубликовано: 22 ноя 2019
  • This was originally shot by me as a Facebook Live video for Union Station Kansas City, so is in vertical format and slightly lower quality. We interviewed Ed during Union Pacific's visit to Union Station with 4014 "Big Boy." Ed shares some great insight about 4014's restoration and about being at the controls of the world's largest steam engine.

Комментарии • 84

  • @kyereCat
    @kyereCat 2 года назад +2

    I am wildly fascinated with this brilliant and highly intelligent machine guy. I am totally in awe.

  • @Ravenscaller
    @Ravenscaller 4 года назад +31

    Ed's the kind of guy you would love to have a beer or three with and just listen to him talk trains. He's done an amazing job running the UP Heritage Program and gives great interviews. I believe the next challenge will be remanufacturing the Challenger locomotive but I hope they will take time out to go play steam trains and bring the show to the Pacific NW next Summer. I swear or affirm that I will stay 25 ft away.

    • @RickyJr46
      @RickyJr46 4 года назад +2

      Ray, while Big Boy was stopped in Tucson I got to speak with its fireman, Ted Schulte. Asked about possible future travel ideas he mentioned the Feather River route, Tehachapi Loop, and Portland as being of interest. That's not to say they will happen in 2020, or ever, but to share some of the crew's brainstorming of trip ideas.

    • @Ravenscaller
      @Ravenscaller 4 года назад +1

      @@RickyJr46 I could make it to Portland by train even. That would be super.

    • @MrLunchHour2
      @MrLunchHour2 4 года назад +2

      Ray Holden I pray they get 3985 running again. They already ripped parts off to use on the big boy and it’s sad

    • @Ravenscaller
      @Ravenscaller 4 года назад

      @@MrLunchHour2 Possibly an even bigger threat is that freight rail shipments in general are down and so is UP profits and stock prices which may put the whole steam shop in jeopardy.

    • @karlrovey
      @karlrovey 4 года назад +1

      @@MrLunchHour2 They ordered a lot of parts for 3985 at the same time they ordered parts for 4014. However, it is now considered retired. Due to decades of deferred (ignored) maintenance, 3985 was discovered to be in even worse condition than 4014 pre-restoration. The boiler had several improper patches with unapproved materials. In other words, 3985 shouldn't have even been allowed to make some of its final runs.

  • @williamhelus3522
    @williamhelus3522 2 года назад +1

    I was in Gree(z)ley, Co. on 9-7-2021. Went inbetween barrier and #4014, waited at the stairs till Ed came down. I asked him for a photo, and got Ed, #4014 and Me.
    Thank you Steam Crew and Union Pacific Railroad.
    BullyBilly.

  • @marliesyanke4580
    @marliesyanke4580 2 года назад +2

    This man and team restored Big Boy? What a great wonderful effort for us to see this special locomotive. Thank you.

  • @davemaccarter64
    @davemaccarter64 4 года назад +7

    Most of the legacy railroads have a steam engine or two to show off but none like this one. As a Wyomingite I take special pride in the fact that the UP has a special department dedicated to the steam program in Cheyenne, headed up by this fellow. It's fair to say that he has become a local legend and it fast becoming a hero to railfans all over. He obviously is the right man for the job and is a great spokesman for the steam program. Thanks for the great interview and for posting.

  • @edithdavis2848
    @edithdavis2848 4 года назад +10

    Late seeing this . Congratulations you did a super marvelous interview.
    Love the Big Boy 4014 so wish i could have seen him in person. ED. Seems like a really nice guy . Glad they made it home safely.

  • @louielopez1638
    @louielopez1638 4 года назад +15

    Big Boy is a beast. It stopped in my town for a little over a week for routine maintenance. Got to film it leaving my town...🚂👍😎😁👌👋

  • @RickyJr46
    @RickyJr46 4 года назад +7

    Ed and Ben, thanks for taking the time to do this. It has been a tremendous pleasure to see 4014 up close and speak with its crew in Southern California and around Tucson.

  • @daleeasternbrat816
    @daleeasternbrat816 4 года назад +9

    Every steam locomotive is impressive. I have seen a Big Boy, on static display, in Denver. I would like see 4014 running. A running one must be as impressive thing. The Union Pacific deserves great credit for this steam program . People get to see a genuine piece of our cultural heritage. I think I'll buy a few shares of UP stock!

  • @natgass8102
    @natgass8102 4 года назад +21

    among all of Ed’s jobs he really excels at being UPRR’s ambassador of steam heritage, as he’s got a way with the camera and holding your attention!

    • @jmeyer3rn
      @jmeyer3rn 4 года назад

      Nat Gass the Mike Rowe of Dirty Jobs.

    • @Oldlinestatetrains
      @Oldlinestatetrains 4 года назад

      Nat Gass and he has iPhones he has the I phone x or 11 and I don’t know the other I phone and I have a ipad

    • @PowerTrain611
      @PowerTrain611 4 года назад

      He certainly does a much better job with that than Steve Lee did.

    • @karlrovey
      @karlrovey 4 года назад +1

      @@PowerTrain611 Lee is the reason 3985 needs more work to be operable than 4014 did (which is why 3985 is now retired).

    • @PowerTrain611
      @PowerTrain611 4 года назад +1

      @@karlrovey I assume that's due to deferred maintenance and heavy prolonged operation? I had no idea her condition was so critical.

  • @2quintly
    @2quintly 4 года назад +25

    Ed Dickens is just so "eloquent" and personable. The Union Pacific really has a "winning team" with Ed and the whole Steam Crew.
    We ALL can't thank them enough, . . . .

  • @wayned1807
    @wayned1807 4 года назад +8

    Great interview with great questions, Thanks for sharing. You can tell he's passionate in what he does. He's right when he says to stay back 25 feet. I was probably 20 feet away (behind a fence of course) when it when by me at about 30 mph. Didn't get a very good video because of it. Oh well maybe next time. BTW, this is not HD but 240P.

  • @chuckeberth4370
    @chuckeberth4370 4 года назад +6

    Got to video the Big Boy in Houston as it left on Nov 8. Was the most awesome sight I think I've witnessed in my 65 years.

    • @stanfischer6175
      @stanfischer6175 2 года назад +1

      Chuck:
      I'm 68 and have been going to Eureka Junction since I was 14 just to watch trains, MKT and SP. Back in '67 I was 14 and knew what a Big Boy but never dared to even dream a Big Boy would go thru Eureka Junction!

    • @chuckeberth4370
      @chuckeberth4370 2 года назад

      @@stanfischer6175 I grew up in SoCal and every year we'd go to the LA County Fair in Pomona. At the entrance was 4014 on static display so I was excited when UP decided to restore it. I dearly love trains!

    • @stanfischer6175
      @stanfischer6175 2 года назад

      @@chuckeberth4370 The first time I was able to see a 4000 in person was at the Forney Museum in Denver, 4005 was the only one wrecked in the year of my birth in 1953.

  • @windwhipped5
    @windwhipped5 2 года назад +1

    My buddies my father in law was an engineer..it was interesting back in the 50's he got his BS degree in Teaching. Although trains were being supplanted by Tractor trailers at the time, (my father was an independent line-hauler) He used his intellect to move up the chain quickly to engineer..Even though he piloted diesel, it was a long time rewarding career. I always thought it was interesting both him and dad worked in competing modes of commercial transportation..Both had lots of stories, and helped build this country from coast to coast, 1 mile marker at a time..✌

  • @lisamooney8982
    @lisamooney8982 3 года назад +1

    Thank you for restoring the big boy, enjoyed seeing it and i have one of those failed videos, that is one loud whistle

  • @windwhipped5
    @windwhipped5 2 года назад +1

    He made a good point of the fire potential..i lived in Western NY and the trees and such had to be cut way back, so much of the land around was cleared 100ft back from the lines in the early days..

  • @davidng2336
    @davidng2336 4 года назад +5

    I’m hoping to travel near Big Boy one day.

  • @markmckinley5989
    @markmckinley5989 4 года назад +3

    Wow, he looks so clean.

  • @jmeyer3rn
    @jmeyer3rn 4 года назад +6

    I sure hope to see you in real life someday.
    Please please please come to Indiana.

  • @SandBoxJohn
    @SandBoxJohn 4 года назад +5

    I hope at sometime in the future Ed and his crew are invited to bring Big Boy east so us folk in the original colonies get to see it.

    • @RickyJr46
      @RickyJr46 4 года назад +2

      Since Big Boys were "born" in Schenectady, New York that would be a cool destination.

    • @euclideszoto997
      @euclideszoto997 4 года назад +1

      Would love to see it too but here in the northeast I don't think the tracks here can handle a 1,200,000 pound steam locomotive.

    • @SweetSunrising
      @SweetSunrising Год назад

      Gosh would it be a dream come true to see Big Boy & the Steam Team up in NYS❤

  • @Tony-sw2de
    @Tony-sw2de 2 года назад +1

    I wish this beauty could come to south Florida, but alas I don't know if we have the track to do it since it's just straight line runs after Orlando.

  • @TheCrewChief374
    @TheCrewChief374 4 года назад +5

    Plus you really have to be right around the 25 foot mark to get a good photo or video.
    Moreover, he should have seen the people that were setting up at the foot of grade scrambling to move back away as it moved by each stop, I got to see it at back a little over a week ago.

  • @Brianrockrailfan
    @Brianrockrailfan 4 года назад +7

    awesome video liked 🚂

  • @adamchancellor9011
    @adamchancellor9011 2 года назад +1

    Tell Ed Dickens I love them for what they do I operate Bigboy on my game train simulator 2022

  • @jtbassgambler2594
    @jtbassgambler2594 3 года назад +1

    Awesome!!

  • @charlesferebee263
    @charlesferebee263 2 года назад +1

    Well Done. 🇺🇸

  • @billmorris2613
    @billmorris2613 2 года назад

    Good evening from SE Louisiana 22 Sep 21.

  • @johntucky4185
    @johntucky4185 2 года назад +3

    The only difference between a man and a boy is the price of his toys.

  • @transmaster
    @transmaster 4 года назад +4

    Now I am hoping the Steam shop get’s started on 3985 4664 Challenger. I live about 2 miles from the Steam Shop in Cheyenne.

    • @PowerTrain611
      @PowerTrain611 4 года назад

      Thats next in line. How cool will it be to see it side by side with the big boy while they're both under steam!

    • @joaoricardoaraujogranzoto3050
      @joaoricardoaraujogranzoto3050 4 года назад

      They will restore the 3985???

    • @PowerTrain611
      @PowerTrain611 4 года назад

      @@joaoricardoaraujogranzoto3050 Of course. 3985 is part of their fleet. It just needs work done. Every 15 years, they tear steam engines down and repair anything that needs repairing before it can run again. When you have more than one operable steamer and limited facilities, time and money can become an issue. The process is lengthy and tedious, so it takes a while. But 3985 will be back.

    • @joaoricardoaraujogranzoto3050
      @joaoricardoaraujogranzoto3050 4 года назад

      @@PowerTrain611 but they are not making anithing with 3985

    • @PowerTrain611
      @PowerTrain611 4 года назад

      @@joaoricardoaraujogranzoto3050 I don't know what you mean by that.

  • @kristafoster7190
    @kristafoster7190 4 года назад +3

    Don't forget that union Pacific did make a bigger locomotive bigger than the big boy 4014 that was called the 5087 union Pacific old Maud That had 3 sets of drivers on each side of the locomotive and 3 smoke stacks and it was a bigger coal burner than the big boy I think we should look into finding 5087 old Maud and restoring old Maud and getting it running

    • @davidreyes2298
      @davidreyes2298 4 года назад

      You sure about that?

    • @stanfischer6175
      @stanfischer6175 2 года назад +1

      I don't mean to be so critical but Old Maude was on the Baltimore and Ohio, a successful engine that was smaller than a Big Boy . The Triplex engines did indeed have three sets of drivers but were smaller than a UP 4000, they were not successful and were soon converted to a more common design with two sets of drivers. Old Maude and the Triplex locomotives have long since been scrapped.
      Stay in touch! I could talk so much about locomotives you would finally tell me to shut-up!

  • @georgedoolittle7574
    @georgedoolittle7574 4 года назад

    No questions on the Turbines of the Wasatch?

  • @gloriascheaffer9120
    @gloriascheaffer9120 2 года назад

    Ed nice how u take all the credit for the engine when it

  • @pokeyrailfanning
    @pokeyrailfanning 4 года назад +3

    Here is a detail you didn’t notice... He has 2 phones in his overall pocket

    • @Oldlinestatetrains
      @Oldlinestatetrains 4 года назад

      PokeyRailFanning do you know why because he works for the railroad and gets lots of money so he has 2 phones

    • @locoluke4149
      @locoluke4149 4 года назад +1

      One is probably personal and the other a work phone. Better not be using them in the cab though...

    • @Ravenscaller
      @Ravenscaller 4 года назад +2

      @@locoluke4149 Yep. His wife calls and says Ed bring home a loaf of bread so he hooks up to ten grain cars in Kansas and brings them home so she can make her own baguettes. :-)

  • @MrLunchHour2
    @MrLunchHour2 4 года назад +7

    I love how some people started a petition to fire Ed dickens. They must be feeling pretty stupid right now 😂

    • @PowerTrain611
      @PowerTrain611 4 года назад

      On what grounds? Were they UP employees? What was their beef?

    • @MrLunchHour2
      @MrLunchHour2 4 года назад +1

      I believe it was just an online petition of rail fans. I saw that and just told myself as soon as they’re done with the big boy they’ll feel stupid. It was started in 2014 I believe

  • @danieloconnell6306
    @danieloconnell6306 4 года назад

    I have driven the union Pacific big boy

  • @pentrexvideos
    @pentrexvideos 4 года назад +1

    Hello, This is Pentrex, the railroad video people.We are interesting in licensing a portion of your video. Please contact our editor: Tim@RailfanDepot.com

  • @Oldlinestatetrains
    @Oldlinestatetrains 4 года назад

    He has 2 phones and 1 phone is I phone 11 I think and the other one I think I phone x because it has 2 cameras I would say

  • @christopherdibble5872
    @christopherdibble5872 2 года назад +1

    cellphone. Engineers don't wave from the trains anymore, not like they did back in 1954,just ask him.

  • @Schwarttzy
    @Schwarttzy 4 года назад +1

    Learn to hold phone horizontal (turn it 90 degrees), it's like your stuck in 2005

    • @benasmith
      @benasmith  4 года назад +4

      Rather than making uninformed comments, how about just not watching the video if it bothers you that much. As I mentioned in the notes above, this was a Facebook Live. For the vertical screen Facebook optimizes for in the app and to get Ed in shot without a lot of background distraction from the hundreds of people attending, vertical was a much better option and a very intentional choice.

  • @j.m.5995
    @j.m.5995 3 года назад +1

    I bet Ed gets all the babes

    • @stanfischer6175
      @stanfischer6175 2 года назад +2

      Right on! Railroad rock star.

    • @kyereCat
      @kyereCat 2 года назад +1

      Probably his picks.

  • @brianminkc
    @brianminkc 3 года назад

    Weren't there any prettier steam engines you could have restored?

  • @cindyglatthaar376
    @cindyglatthaar376 4 года назад +2

    Juju