Restored Union Pacific Centennial Locomotive UP6944

[Rob-F]

This is Union Pacific 6944, named "The Centennial," in honor of the 100th anniversary of the completion of the transcontinental railroad. It is part of the collection of the National Museum of Transportation in St. Louis. I had photographed it before it was restored. Then, last summer, the museum made arrangements to have it restored. The work was done, not here in St. Louis, but in Altoona, Pennsylvania. Getting it there was a job in itself, since it does not run, and had to be towed there (and back, after the restoration) by including it in trains that were heading in the right direction.

Here are two shots of it I took before the restoration:

And now for the "after" photos, which I took two days ago:

The work was done by Norfolk Southern's Juniata shop, in Altoona. They did a great job, don't you think?

Leica M8.2 with 28mm Summicron, 21mm Elmarit ASPH, 15mm CV.

 

[Robert Lai]

Gorgeous restoration!

There are some UP turbines here in the Illinois Railway Museum which could use restoration back to life again.

 

[Moto-Uno]

^ WOW , I've got a couple of motorcycles they could attend to ! Peter

 

[lynnb]

+ another WOW, what a great machine, and beautifully restored. Thanks for this thread!

 

[Graham Line]

The St. Louis museum has horribly neglected (no funds) a number of its exhibits. Nice to see this one got a cosmetic restoration. The Union Pacific retains a sister. 6936, which is in full operable condition but has not seen a lot of use in recent years.

 

[Spavinaw]

On May 30 Norfolk & Western steam locomotive #611 returned under her own power to her home in Roanoke VA after restoration in Spencer NC. There she will be providing numerous steam powered excursions. There was extensive coverage of this event on the internet, and I'm surprised someone's pictures have not shown up on RFF before now.

 

[photomoof]

The St. Louis museum has horribly neglected (no funds) a number of its exhibits. Nice to see this one got a cosmetic restoration. The Union Pacific retains a sister. 6936, which is in full operable condition but has not seen a lot of use in recent years.

There was talk of moving it to the sheds at Union Station, but sadly the sheds remain looking ridiculous and have no glass in the clearstory. Saddest use of a historic space in the US.

 

[Rob-F]

My thread title has a purple frowny-face I didn't mean for it to have. I don't know why. Mods, can anything be done to remove that?

Removed -- photomoof

Thank you!!

 

[photomoof]

Rob do you have a photo of the restored Big Boy, which is reportedly in front of 3944?

 

[Rob-F]

I have a fairly recent one, I think it was not 100% done when I took it. I'll see what I have, and get one up. It would be a good excuse to run out there tomorrow for an up to date one!

 

[Dektol Dan]

Way Cool!

Way Cool!

What else can I say?

 

[kknox]

Thanks for sharing this great story. Nice photos.

 

[Sarcophilus Harrisii]

That's magnificent. Thanks.

 

[photomoof]

I know, probably only a few of us crazy enough about trains to watch these.

6944 unrestored on the road:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_Pp8pRq_FtU

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g72_hBGKMDk

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0Jr_35K9v7A
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_WVqeE_nEYQ

And repainted:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hGFX53feVYA

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m788L9eldLI

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=II24UZcDiJU (at 3.30)

 

[Rob-F]

Here are shots of the UP "BIG BOY" 4006, recently cosmetically restored by the Museum of Transportation. The Big Boy is a "Mallet Articulated" locomotive, designed by a Swiss engineer to enable such a large locomotive to negotiate the curves, by effectively making the undercarriage "bend in the middle." To do that, it uses two separate sets of driving wheels, each shorter and more agile than they would otherwise be; and each with its own cylinder and side rods. The steam goes under high pressure into the rear cylinder, then passes under lower pressure to the front cylinder. There is a swivel joint to ease the stress as it goes around the bend; hence, "articulated". One can see, in YouTube videos, the front of the boiler overhanging to one side as it goes around the curve.

The restoration seems complete, even though the sign that says it is under restoration was still up.

I got out the 15mm Nikkor for this full side view (space is tight):

Couldn't resist a "drama shot" with the 15mm:

Here's a 2013 shot, during the restoration:

Here's one from inside the cab:

Here is the rear set of side rods, cylinder, and valve:

 

[photomoof]

Wow Rob!

When I was a kid -- loved sitting in the cabs of those great steam locomotives! I know the museum has never had enough money, but it is a wonderful experience, no kid should miss.

All that steam gone by '55, I only saw it in photos.

Thanks for sharing the photos!

 

[Livesteamer]

The UP is supposed to be restoring a Big Boy to full operation. It came from a California museum. Many Thanks to UP for keeping big railroad steam alive. I think they still run a steam special once a year from Denver up to Cheyanne for the rodeo. Joe

 

[photomoof]

The UP is supposed to be restoring a Big Boy to full operation. It came from a California museum. Many Thanks to UP for keeping big railroad steam alive. I think they still run a steam special once a year from Denver up to Cheyanne for the rodeo. Joe

UP Big Boy 4014 is the one from California, here it is going to repair.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WRxKpiD_ntY

UP 3589 ran at least until 2010
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GyZD7fJ12WI
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XhgHrDbN4EU
(2010) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZVcOPIaekOU
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vCaZgOOjNKE

The most beautiful the cab forward, 4274 Southern Pacific big boy. The can forward for the long tunnels. The air pump exhaust sound is amazing on this beauty. Almost unimaginable in todays "everything is small" era.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n_ErZ5SgkVw