Working rail roads and their tracks.

[ArlyA]

Union Pacific Steam Club Update No. 32 - Apr. 10, 2024 ​ ​ Big Boy No. 4014's Westward Bound Tour Coming thisSummer! ​ Union Pacific's famed Big Boy No. 4014, the world'slargest operating steam locomotive, will return to the rails this summerwith a scenic tour across mountain ranges and high desert vistas in fourwestern states: Wyoming, Utah, Nevada and California. Big Boy will journey from its home base in Cheyenne,Wyoming on Sunday, June 30, en route to Roseville,California, before returning to Wyoming by the end of July. It will makenumerous whistle-stops in communities along the way, with public displaystops scheduled in: July 12-13:Roseville, California July 20-21:Ogden, Utah Additional route details and approximate times forwhistlestops will be shared closer to the tour. A routemap can be found on UPsteam.com. During the tour, the Union Pacific Museum will host aspecial passenger trip. The unique experience is the annual galafundraiser for the nonprofit organization and provides a rareopportunity to travel on this historic heritage equipment. Moreinformation on the specifics will appear at www.UPtrainTix.com when they becomeavailable. This is one of two public tours planned for Big Boy in2024, with a second tour planned later this fall with stops in Texas,Arkansas, Kansas, and Illinois, among other states. Details of thesecond tour will be released later this spring. The month-long "Westward Bound" tour will honor UnionPacific's rich railroad legacy and celebrate the railroad's employeesand communities it serves. For part of its journey, the Big Boy'sconsist will include an assortment of rail cars giving spectators aglimpse into what the locomotive looked like pulling freight in itsheyday. "The Big Boy locomotive symbolizes the pivotal rolerailroads played in shaping our nation's history, and the technologicaladvances we have witnessed within our industry," said Union Pacific CEOJim Vena. "We are thrilled to share this living piece of history withour employees and the public, and we love seeing the enthusiasm thislocomotive generates wherever its whistle blows." ​ But What About the Pacific Northwest? ​ Last fall, we had anticipated including Boise, Idaho, andPortland, Oregon on the Westward Bound tour. As planning continued, wedetermined that the network capacity on our northern corridor could notaccommodate Big Boy No. 4014 along with anticipated demand on a singletrack. Our goal is to share the Big Boy with as many rail fans aspossible across our network, and we look forward to seeing everyonetrack side – 25 feet back this summer and fall. ​ That's all for now. Until next time, stay safe! Union Pacific Steam Club ​

 

[MossRoad]

Quincy mine hoist site is pretty neat especially if your into amateur industrial archeology 6 or 7 yrs ago my step kids really liked it also. Kind of ranting but a abandoned 100+ yr old railroad grade out by me up there was turned into a tourist destination, signage was put in, the remaining exposed rails were taken, the old two track was somewhat graded to allow passenger cars and last time I went up there a convoy of tourists in compact cars was up there. View attachment 861741older pics showing old rails. Now gone.

Nice cut!

 

[MossRoad]

 

[jjeff]

Speaking of old railroad bridges swam up stream from this one a few times long time ago.
One of Michigan's Oldest Keystone Bridges: Ramsay, Michigan 1891 remember my late mom telling me not to play with tonka trucks on its abandoned bridge deck put the fear of getting carried away with a tonka excavating operation I may excavate the "key" stone lol.

 

[jjeff]

Nice cut!

Yeah I found that place after some locals mentioned it to me over a decade ago. Now it can be found with the googler, a bunch of signs, and a graded two track. I liked it better when it was difficult to find, old industrial artifacts were left in place, and you needed a ATV or snowmobile to get to it.

 

[ArlyA]

Another nice rail and sail combo with CN's 0800 Two Harbors Switch included the Michipicoten anchored in the distance waiting for its turn to load for Algoma Steel at the Soo. Shoot these moves now as they will become less frequent once the new loop line is placed in service by this summer. Two Harbors, MN - April 11, 2024

 

[MossRoad]

That is such an interesting harbor.
View of your shot from above.
I see the old dock there in your shot.
Two active docks.
Old roundhouse foundation towards the top.

 

[jjeff]

North shore of Minnesota was an amazing road trip imo. But so is the u.p. lol.

 

[Hay Dude]

Must have been amazing to be a railroad design engineer back 100-150 years ago laying out these railroads with simple transits, maybe a view from a balloon or a bi-plane if one were lucky enough.
All the labor, the steel, the bridges. Seeing it in progress is fun. I had a neat time watching rails restored in 2020-21. I actually didn’t know there were companies in my area still doing such work. It’s all subbed-out by the local passenger rail companies. Our local freight railroad seems to do all it;s work in-house with some outside contractor help.

 

[ArlyA]

Great shots taken on Wednesday of the old cars arriving at Dock 6. Duluth, MN - April 10, 2024 Old one see I believe is a 1975 build.