It's been reported that the 24 dome car seats for the first-ever steam excursion behind a Union Pacific "Big Boy" on May 12th sold out in a mere 12 minutes after going on sale yesterday--at $5,000 each........

As of a few minutes ago there were still $3,000 non-dome seats available for purchase........ Non-refundable, non-transferable.......

https://spike150.org/train-excursion/

Pretty steep, for a 4-hour train ride.

Now......if they'd stop and do half a dozen runbys at scenic locations with great light.....I'm all in. :o) That would beat the heck out of chasing with all of the crazies.

.

It could be a period style dome. Canadian Pacific had them for a while.





Source:

http://www.trainweb.org/oldtimetrains/p ... g/four.htm

Well look at that! the things you learn around here. I never knew such a thing existed.

Looks like they took two cabooses and a coach and kind of jury-rigged/melded them together into one carbody...

I highly doubt tickets for this excursion were purchased by normal folks with cash wanting to ride behind a Big Boy. I would guess some entity (like UP) with deep pockets purchased these tickets and passed them out to someone (like customers) as a gift.

When I first caught wind of the ticket prices, I assumed something was not as it might appear.

Hopefully others in the near future will get a chance to ride. I'm just happy a big railroad like UP sees the publicity factor in restoring and running a steam loco. I sure wish CSX, NS, BNSF, and CN/CP would also see the benefit.

I just hope for UP's sake that they are able to get the 4014 running successfully in time for the event, and that the folks who elect to try and chase it all act safely and responsibly. I could envision this being anything from a great celebration of a momentous event in our history to a public relations nightmare.

/Kevin Madore

Mr. Kaplan, I doubt that I'm the only railfan who isn't one of the insiders who gets to ride for free before the public is allowed to buy tickets, but who is saving up money for a chance like this.

It's an interesting deal... the Big Boy has yet to move on its own and it will be in a consist with another large steam locomotive and at least one diesel (I'm guessing?). That's alot of money to pay to ride behind a Big Boy that may or may not be doing any of the work.

Since this line is historic to the engine, and up-grade, I could see myself paying $3k for the chance if it was just the Big Boy and a long train.

It also brings up an interesting point on the legalities of substituting equipment. If you buy a ticket for a specific locomotive and it is substituted.. I know the ticket says nothing is guaranteed... but is that legal? Can you advertise something and then just not have it and not offer people refunds?

I just think about what if the Big Boy doesn't make it in the consist for one reason or another... that's a really expensive ticket if the Big Boy isn't involved.

"I highly doubt tickets for this excursion were purchased by normal folks with cash wanting to ride behind a Big Boy. I would guess some entity (like UP) with deep pockets purchased these tickets and passed them out to someone (like customers) as a gift."


Why on earth would UP buy their own tickets? They have the rest of the train that they are already using for guests, executives, etc. I know several people who bought these tickets and some are not what I would call rich, but this was important enough for them to pull money out of savings.

What you have to remember is this trip is a 'benefit' and a large portion of the 'ticket price" is tax deductible, as happened with the 844 trip from Omaha to North Platte a few years ago and that one sold out in about 10 to 15 minutes.

Also, through my grapeline, I've heard of another benefit trip with the 4014 that is expected to operate this July.

Bob H

I saw on another forum that the ticket sales go to "Spike 150", which is not a 501c3, so you cant technically write these off..

Either way, this is a big, corporate fundraiser, not a railfan excursion.

As an FYI, for those of us who can't afford to go out there in person (or frankly don't want to go) to see 844/Big Boy, this live-streaming webcam from Virtual Railfan in Laramie, WY should do nicely...

https://youtu.be/HOAkrKVqLrc

Seeing how UP claims they will be touring the system with both 844 and 4014 through the rest of 2019 (schedule to be announced), does anyone know the process to 'sponsor' a part of the trip, for the purposes of selling tickets. Seems prudent to get 'on' that bandwagon early.