Age Of Steam Roundhouse. Some one asked a question awhile back. Is the facility big enough to handle a locomotive the size of a Big Boy. If you go to their web site, You can view the photos of their shop. Jerry J. would probably take on a large project if the money was right.

Hey I was just posting some thoughts on the subject. Then further down some people act like they are taking it personal. We could all be a bit more civil on this web site. Sometimes you get your head bit off for posting something.
Just be nice guys.


Just saying.
Traincrew

It is quite the facility, they just uploaded more pics in the last day or so. That makes it two updates within a month!

A big boy restoration likely could be carried out there seeing the size of the cranes and work areas he has. Seeing that there's mention of restoring several of his own steam engines and diesels I'm not sure how much space would be left to redo a big boy at the same time. Maybe in the future?


As one side note, I hope they do a diesel roster too and maybe some of the other equipment he has. I know it focuses on the steam side of it but he does have many vintage diesels and other stuff that I and others find interesting and would like to see more info posted on.

Um... wouldn't a Big Boy restoration be carried out at UPRR's shops? A 4000 isn't THAT much bigger than a 3900.

That depends on who owns it and whos paying for it.

We're getting into areas of which nobody knows nothin'.
The remaining Big Boys are all owned by private organizations or communities. Nobody has sold any one of them to anybody. If Union Pacific wants to run one, Union Pacific will want to control the whole deal, as they do with their other heritage locomotives. They may sub-contract aspects of maintenance, but they will be in charge.

AOS is a private roundhouse collection, at least for right now.

A little research reveals the following:

I'm sure there is more than enough room to have a Big Boy in the AOSR's shops and roundhouse. I cant speak for Mr. Jacobson, but I think he has his hands full for a little while....

*Edit* Actually, the roundhouse would not be able to house a Big Boy as the wheelbase of a Big Boy is 117.58' long. (Steamlocomotive.com)

Richard hit the nail on the head. AOS is a private roundhouse collection. And after talking with people involved with the project, it will probably stay that way. I'm not slamming JJJ in anyway whatsoever. It's his stuff and his right to keep it to himself. What I'm saying is even if he got one, the general public will never see it anyways. Where would he run it? The curves on the old W&LE Sugarcreek line would prevent it from going anywhere anyways. Way to many close clearances. The boiler overhang would hit too many obstacles (hills, signs, structures, etc.) The shop may be set up to do it but there would be no way of getting to the shops or out of them for that matter.

Ok.... that's sort of like asking which shipyard can rebuild the Titanic when they raise it.. the one way a #4000 is going to be restored in the near future is if the UPRR is doing it.

I agree with traincrew that in if the money is right, he could do it. The thing about AoS, however, is there are other locomotives like NKP 763 and CP 1278 that also have yet to be restored either cosmetically or mechanically along with a bunch of 1st and 2nd generation diesels. That is a ton of work and upkeep to do, and I'm glad JJJ and his staff have put themselves up to the task. I guess what I'm trying to say though is that it is feasible, but there are too many other things at the moment to worry about acquiring a Big Boy or any other articulated steamer for that matter.