Seems many people have wanted to know what the deal with the Union Pacific 4014 is lately being there has been no further updates for a while. I have had email conversations with the museums director Steve for the last week or so and here is what he tells me. I mainly asked if a formal agreement had been reached yet and if communications still occured between the UP Steam Team and the museum. The replies direct from my email below:
Hyde,

Very few people have asked via our website in recent months.

A decision has not been made regarding the #4014's future.



Steve McFerson
Director, Website Editor,
RailGiants Train Museum - Pomona California
The Railway and Locomotive Historical Society, Southern California Chapter


Here is the reply I got a couple days ago when I asked if communications were still ongoing:

Hyde,



Discussions between our organization and U.P. have been ongoing since December, and I expect communications to continue.





Steve


I also visited the museum about 2 weeks ago and the volunteers that weekend there told me the exact same thing.

Thank you for the update. While I concur, 4014 is in terrific shape, with all that is required to bring a locomotive up to operating standards, I'm kind of surprised retrieving this locomotive would be the first choice. There are other Big Boys more easily accessible. Of course, U.P. may also be in talks with custodians of those locomotives as well.

That's what everyone has seemed to wonder, why UP has decided to go after 4014. I believe it's almost solely on her condition and that she's been well maintained. I mean it's already going to cost what 2 million? I do agree that at that point it wouldn't matter what engine is chosen but if you have the opportunity to save $100-$300,000 in restoration costs solely upon the condition of the engine, you'd take it.
Glad you liked the update! Thanks for appreciation!

I've wondered why the UP doesn't go after the 4018 in Dallas. It's all lubed up and ready to roll, at least to a facility where they can get her in good shape for the trip to Cheyenne. Granted that it doesn't appear to have been as well maintained as the 4014, but the climate isn't that much worse than Pomona and as you say, it'll have to be torn down and completely rebuilt anyways.

BTW, major kudos to the RLHS group on the restoration of the Outer Harbor Terminal #2. While I like the big stuff, that engine has always been my favorite.

Why 4014? Well, there are many points to consider:
1. Location in relation to active rail. Cranes and lowboys cost money, especially if you're nowhere near a line that will allow a ferry movement over it.
2. Cooperation of the owner. A locomotive ready to run means nothing if the owner won't let you run it.
3. Overall condition. Just because a locomotive 'looks ready to roll,' doesn't make it so. You need to judge stuff you can't see just by walking around the outside...

Okay being I see people on trainorders.com continuously asking about a 4014 update I continued my email conversation with the museum director Steve. Here's what he told me when I asked about an update. And I would appreciate it if people who have a trainorders account, (being I don't) to pass on this update as I don't like peoples snarky responses I've seen over there.

Seybold,

No decision yet.

As far as I know, it's still under consideration. But there's a lot of
gathering of knowledge and information involved which takes a lot of time.
Can't compare this to signing papers at an auto dealer and a few hours
later, driving home with a new car.

The #4014 restoral potential is not dead at this point, so it could go
either way.



Steve McFerson
Director, Website Editor,
RailGiants Train Museum - Pomona California
The Railway and Locomotive Historical Society, Southern California Chapter

So many Big Boys, so much time!

I think with this update people need to realize it's not going to be a quick decision like what we saw with the Fire Up 611 campaign.

To me, the more interesting and potentially dispositive questions relating to this or any other Big Boy are:

1. Where on the modern UP system can you run it? Where can you not run it?
2. Where can you turn the locomotive on the modern UP system?
3. If the answers to questions 1 and 2 above are very limited, will you get enough use out of the locomotive after 15 years to justify the expense?

By the way, posting photos at 640x480 in size makes things easier.

Sorry about the photos. As far as I remember mainly Cheyenne was where it would centrally operate, more in Wyoming then anything else. I'm just connection from the museum to the forum world, I'm not the one to be asked all the technical details of its' operation. I know about the planned restoration and what they seek in the deal but that's about as far as I will go.

I'm sure if the principals actually involved had more to say than vague statements, they'd find a better conduit than you to disseminate the message.

Excuse me David but I don't see any one else making an effort to find out what the deal is. All you end up seeing are snarky comments, peoples opinions or rumors. That's not what I'm giving so if you can't appreciate that just don't bother commenting!! This is for updates and questions pertaining to it only! Not a place for opinions cause quite frankly I don't care what people have to say about this whole thing. I just give the updates as I can.

Mr. SPSteamBuff is no longer with us.