Robert Swanson's photos with the keyword: union pacific

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

Cheyenne doesn't just have the Big Boy steam locomotive. They have preserved UP steam locomotive #1242 in Lion's Park. Image processed with GIMP

Tender for steam locomotive UP #1242, located in Lion's Park, Cheyenne. Image processed with GIMP

Wide view of the preserved UP steam locomotive #1242, located in Lion's Park, Cheyenne. Image processed with GIMP

"Big Boy" locomotive in a park in Cheyenne. Just a mile or two from this static display are the Steam Shops of the Union Pacific, in which the only running "Big Boy" (#4014) is worked on. Image processed with GIMP.

This "Big Boy" is in static display in a park in Cheyenne. Just a couple of miles away are the Union Pacific Steam Shops, where another Big Boy #4014 was restored to operating condition, and is maintained by Union Pacific. This is a wide panorama, click on image to view larger. Image processed with GIMP.

We've managed to see a number of the "Big Boy" steam locomotives. Our visit to Steamtown (Scranton, Pennsylvania) adds yet another, #4012. The locomotive is being maintained quite nicely. You can climb up into the cab, but there are barriers to prevent you from trying to start it up. Image processed with GIMP.

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

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

Pass-by of the Union Pacific 4014 Locomotive (Big Boy) at D'Hanis, Texas, on November 4, 2019. Note the school children waving American Flags. This is a very nice small town, and the people were friendly and helpful. Taken with the Panasonic GX85 and 20mm lens. On tripod, then processed with ffmpeg and openshot. See swansonphotos.com/4014