@@1chuck96 I know they light it every morning. With the windows being shut and the engine being a bit far, that made it hard to tell when that happened.
That is for safety. Every crew member has a tag. When they are working on the engine they throw their tag up to hooked on the blue flag. The engine will not be purposely moved until ever crew with a tag on there has been cleared.
@@jz1340 since it was a display day they only light it took keep it hot. I believe Ted lit it when the windows were still shut. Hours later it did move when Jim Vena was there and they went backwards a short distance, then forward.
Actually the opposite. They use the diesel to help Big Boy with pulling the excursion cars so that they can minimize wear and tear on the large steam engine since every replacement part has to be custom made (e.g. brake pads, etc).
@hobbytinkerer6736 never see any diesel smoke coming from the engine which is common with them but I will wager it isn't used except emergency or to climb steep grades
@@Blake4625kHz Of course they have to baby it. It’s the only one running and replacing parts is insanely expensive. It’s no longer the days where you can run to your nearest shop and grab a new part where hundreds are in stock. Everything has to be custom made and that’s expensive. Be happy they resurrected it at all and we get to see such an amazing machine come alive again.
There was a period of a few weeks (months?) when the Big Boy ran without a diesel helper. What changes were made to allow that. And, why was the diesel put back on? Thanks
Great video! I have a few questions if you know the answers. I am assuming that the tags hung on the flag are the tags for the various crew members who are working on the engine and once they have finished their task the tag is removed? Also, the gentleman who is "oiling" the various parts of the engine is doing so? Thanks and this is a great video.
The blue flag is for safety. Every crew member has a tag. When they are working on the engine they throw their tag up to hooked on the blue flag. The engine will not be purposely moved until ever crew with a tag on there has been cleared. The crew member is John. He is oiling part with the various oil cans. I could see the feet of someone on the other side oiling as well. They definitely keep well maintained.
That is for safety. Every crew member has a tag. When they are working on the engine they throw their tag up to hooked on the blue flag. The engine will not be purposely moved until ever crew with a tag on there has been cleared.
Beautiful mighty steam locomotive engine. Lucky are those running this engine.
They were very talking and polite even in the 100 degree heat.
Nice to see Ted still involved with the program!
Ted is a fun one to talk with.
Wonderful video ! Details rarely seen elsewhere. Thank you !
You're welcome. It was fun to watch. Hard to film with multiple crew members scurrying around.
Stellar Fellers.... Doin what it takes... WOW 😊
They are fabulous caretakers of that engine!
Hey I was there! I remember my dad and I watched the tank truck back down the side of the train to fuel it.
That is fun and educational to watch too!
Thank You and I would Invest in "wind cover" Microphone setup. The Wind can be such a distraction when filming. All Best, Stay Safe
I did. I have now stopped using it after it didn't record sound on a video last month in North Platte.
FANTASTIC
Thank you!
Keep movin' , . . . .
A nice attachment to actually "waking-up" the engine. Any thoughts about what these guys do in the cab??
@@1chuck96 I know they light it every morning. With the windows being shut and the engine being a bit far, that made it hard to tell when that happened.
Is the blue safety flag & tags explained anywhere? I've never understood exactly how it's used and what each tag means.
That is for safety. Every crew member has a tag. When they are working on the engine they throw their tag up to hooked on the blue flag. The engine will not be purposely moved until ever crew with a tag on there has been cleared.
Train weighs a gazillion pounds; safety stops are old technology wooden wedges under the drive wheels!
That was fun to watch.
Nice video....but where's the startup!
@@jz1340 since it was a display day they only light it took keep it hot. I believe Ted lit it when the windows were still shut. Hours later it did move when Jim Vena was there and they went backwards a short distance, then forward.
@@railgraphix Thank You...
I understand the need for the DIESEL/ ELECTRIC, but isn't that just more wear and tear on BIG BOY?
Actually the opposite. They use the diesel to help Big Boy with pulling the excursion cars so that they can minimize wear and tear on the large steam engine since every replacement part has to be custom made (e.g. brake pads, etc).
@hobbytinkerer6736 never see any diesel smoke coming from the engine which is common with them but I will wager it isn't used except emergency or to climb steep grades
I think more braking, too, when required.
@@hobbytinkerer6736
Terrible, i thought big boy was doing all the work. Thats what it was built for. Sad. Everybody gotta baby everything nowdays.
@@Blake4625kHz Of course they have to baby it. It’s the only one running and replacing parts is insanely expensive. It’s no longer the days where you can run to your nearest shop and grab a new part where hundreds are in stock. Everything has to be custom made and that’s expensive. Be happy they resurrected it at all and we get to see such an amazing machine come alive again.
There was a period of a few weeks (months?) when the Big Boy ran without a diesel helper. What changes were made to allow that. And, why was the diesel put back on? Thanks
@@davidbross6942 check the live Q&A on Union Pacific’s Facebook page on 7-20-24. Ed talks about the diesel.
Great video! I have a few questions if you know the answers. I am assuming that the tags hung on the flag are the tags for the various crew members who are working on the engine and once they have finished their task the tag is removed? Also, the gentleman who is "oiling" the various parts of the engine is doing so? Thanks and this is a great video.
The blue flag is for safety. Every crew member has a tag. When they are working on the engine they throw their tag up to hooked on the blue flag. The engine will not be purposely moved until ever crew with a tag on there has been cleared. The crew member is John. He is oiling part with the various oil cans. I could see the feet of someone on the other side oiling as well. They definitely keep well maintained.
...what is the "tag" thing?
That is for safety. Every crew member has a tag. When they are working on the engine they throw their tag up to hooked on the blue flag. The engine will not be purposely moved until ever crew with a tag on there has been cleared.
@@railgraphix 'tanks! Makes sense...closest I ever came was Lionel. ;0)