Robert Swanson's photos with the keyword: nebraska

The switchman has finished setting the switch position. He is climbing aboard the locomotive that is being re-positioned. The Bailey Yard, located in North Platte, Nebraska, is the largest railroad yard in the world. Image processed with GIMP. Oh yes, 600mm equivalent zoom telephoto, taken from the observation deck of the Golden Spike Tower (viewing area). www.visitnorthplatte.com/listing/union-pacific-bailey-yard/147

Switchman throwing the switch at the Union Pacific Bailey Yard. He is helping to move locomotives around between the repair and storage areas. The Bailey Yard, located in North Platte, Nebraska, is the largest railroad yard in the world. Image processed with GIMP. Oh yes, 600mm equivalent zoom telephoto, taken from the observation deck of the Golden Spike Tower (viewing area). www.visitnorthplatte.com/listing/union-pacific-bailey-yard/147

We had seen 4014 in Nebraska in 2021, but had another chance this June. The train was headed to Omaha for an event, and traveled through mid-Nebraska, an easier drive. We found a rural crossing near Schuyler, Nebraska, and set up the cameras. The videos and photos here were taken by both myself and my wife, but she did the video composition work. Always an awesome experience to see this 1,000,000 pound machine pass by.

We had another opportunity to capture images of this remarkable piece of machinery in action. This time, June 11, 2023, we were at a rural crossing in Nebraska. This is a frame captured from a video being recorded as the train passed. Image then processed with GIMP. This should meet the "historical" Sunday Challenge. These massive locomotives were built during WW II to handle the heavy loads over the Rocky Mountains. The locomotive and tender weigh 1,000,000 pounds, the heaviest locomotive ever built. As steam was removed from the Union Pacific operations in the 1950's these locomotives became obsolete. In the early 1960's, this particular locomotive was donated to a club in Southern California, and was moved to a static location at the Los Angeles County Fairgrounds in Pomona, California. I was living in that town at the time, and as a teenager, I climbed all over this massive machine. There it sat for decades. Recently, the Union Pacific decided to restore one of the "4000" series to operation, and they chose the unit from Pomona. In 2019, this magnificent locomotive again ran on the rails under steam power. For other images and information: swansongrp.com/4014 For other railroad-related images, see: swansongrp.com/P/railroad