Robert Swanson's photos with the keyword: 4014

You can see some of the cab crew in action. Image taken from frame of 4K photo series, processed with GIMP.

Passing by our camera position at the rural crossing. The flags of the U.S. and the state of Iowa decorate the front. Image taken from frame of 4K photo series, processed with GIMP. (The locomotive was moving at about 45 miles per hour.)

Crop of 4K frame taken as the #4014 "Big Boy" steam locomotive was approaching us. Image taken from frame of 4K photo series, processed with GIMP.

The diesel locomotive that accompanies #4014. Used as signaling and electronics backup, as well as possibly pulling the whole train (should the steamer have a problem). Image taken from frame of 4K photo series, processed with GIMP.

Not carrying baggage, but members of the maintenance crew that rides along on these steam outings. Image taken from frame of 4K photo series, processed with GIMP.

Crop of a 4K frame taken as the #4014 "Big Boy" steam locomotive was approaching us. You can see the line of cars on the highway, trying to get that special photo of the locomotive in action. You can see the flags of the U.S. and the state of Iowa on the front of the locomotive. Image taken from frame of 4K photo series, processed with GIMP.

Different crop of a 4K frame taken as the #4014 "Big Boy" steam locomotive was approaching us. You can see the line of cars on the highway, trying to get that special photo of the locomotive in action. You can see the flags of the U.S. and the state of Iowa on the front of the locomotive. Image taken from frame of 4K photo series, processed with GIMP.

Another adventure for us, following the massive and remarkable #4014 through the United States. We found a rural crossing near Vail, Iowa, and after waiting for nearly 2 hours, we got our chance to see this magnificent machine pass by. In the past, 4014 was given their own clear track. In recent years, they have been required to fit in with normal freight traffic. So this video includes some MOW (Maintenance of Way) equipment, and a couple of long freight trains, as an introduction. This video was made from photos and videos taken by both my wife and myself. She did all the compositing work in KDenLive. Cameras include Sony and JVC video, as well as Panasonic GX85 units (still sequence, and HD video). (Many thanks for the favs and views, but there was a fundamental error in the titles. We had to replace the original video, which can only be done by deleting and re-installing. Again, many thanks for the faves and views.) See: swansongrp.com/4014

We were fortunate to be in Texas when the Union Pacific 4014 locomotive (Big Boy) was passing through. We set up our camera in the lovely small town of D'Hanis and caught this scene as the train approached. Image captured from Panasonic Lumix GX85 4K frame series with ffmpeg, and procssed with GIMP. See: swansonphotos.com/4014

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

This is a static display of a Big Boy steam locomotive, the largest ever built. You can view our videos of a relative of this engine passing by at: swansongrp.com/4014 and www.ipernity.com/doc/2543754/49660724//in/album/1261348 The park is located in Cheyenne, Wyoming. Note the well-placed bench for enjoying the view of this remarkable machine. There are others in static display throughout the U. S. Of course, I also have photos of the 4014, which was restored and has been running through the U. S. starting in 2019. Thank you for all of your kind comments. Yes, this was the largest, with a combined weight (tender and engine) of over 1,000,000 pounds. It did indeed create the tractive force of two locomotives, and was created partly to prevent the need for a "double header", where two locomotives were tied together to provide more pulling power. One crew could operate this "double sized" engine. These engines were built during WW II in order to haul heavy freight over the Rocky Mountains (primarily Cheyenne, Wyoming to Ogden, Utah) at a uniform speed of 45 miles per hour. That is, they maintained that speed up steep mountains and down steep canyons. Other compound locomotives were built at that time, almost as massive as the "Big Boys". In addition, very powerful non-compound road engines were built at the same time, such as UP 844 (which see). Those engines were designed to haul pretty much anything, and could achieve speeds of 90 miles per hour. Image processed with GIMP.

We "chased" this remarkable locomotive through Iowa in August 2019, and then enjoyed a pass-by in Texas in November. This video was created using OpenShot from various images taken during these experiences. More photos at: swansongrp.com/4014

D'Hanis Texas, November 4, 2019 I try to capture an image of the FRED (tail end device used by the railroads to monitor trains), whenever I take train photos. Worked out very well this time. The 4014 was pulling a short train that included passenger cars, power cars (to provide electricity for the passenger cars), and a road diesel (for signaling and as a backup in case of engine failure). See swansonphotos.com/4014

D'Hanis Texas, November 4, 2019 Frame captured from 4K stream taken with the Panasonic GX85, using ffmpeg. Image then processed with GIMP, especially to make it monochrome. See swansonphotos.com/4014

D'Hanis Texas, November 4, 2019 This is a frame captured from the continuous 4K stream from my Panasonic GX85 camera. The frame was captured with "ffmpeg" and then edited with GIMP. This is the linkage for the drive wheels of the UP4014 "Big Boy" locomotive. The blur of action shows it as the train passed us in D'Hanis. See swansonphotos.com/4014

D'Hanis Texas, November 4, 2019 Frame taken from Panasonic GX85 continuous 4K stream, using ffmpeg. Image then processed with GIMP. See swansonphotos.com/4014

D'Hanis Texas, November 4, 2019. We had seen this remarkable locomotive in action in Iowa the previous August. Fortunately, we were in the area in November, so we set up in the old downtown area of D'Hanis. The people were great, and it is a very nice small town. The school children were taken to the viewing area, and they were waving American Flags as the train passed by. Frame captured from the 4K stream recorded on the Panasonic GX85 using ffmpeg, and then processed with GIMP, mostly to make it monochrome, and to bring out the details of the machinery and wheels. This locomotive tends to be run around 45 miles per hour, so there is just a little bit of movement in this capture. (Sunday Challenge, 4 December 2022: I didn't see the email with the topic, so guessed from current submissions that you wanted a monochrome image. A 1940's vintage machine like this certainly looks quite impressive in black and white.) See swansonphotos.com/4014