Steamtown returns Big Boy 4012 to display

EJ Berry · **Posted:** Mon May 10, 2021 4:04 pm

Steamtown NHS' UP Big Boy 4-8-8-4 4012 returned to outdoor display after cosmetic restoration on May 6, 2021. The engine had been getting a thorough restoration (and asbestos abatement) for some 19 months.

The engine was placed on a gently curving track next to the parking lot between the Steamtown Core Complex and the Electric City Trolley Museum. Reading T-1 2124 and FP-7's 902 and 903 had been displayed there.

The Reading engines were moved to the spot alongside the D-L (DL&W) Main Line where 4012 had been before the restoration.

https://www.nps.gov/stea/learn/big-boy- ... roject.htm

Phil Mulligan

Richard Glueck · **Posted:** Mon May 10, 2021 4:36 pm

It's a long overdue, positive step. Thank you, Steamtown.

I have a short list of my own of locomotives to restore to operation and cosmetically, if you are stumbling over what to do next! 8-)

rem1028 · **Joined:** Tue Jan 24, 2017 10:32 am **Posts:** 292

It looks wonderful, but how long before it needs to be re-done again, on outdoor display in the PA climate?

John

co614 · **Posted:** Tue May 11, 2021 9:22 am

Good question John. Assuming that Gary Bensman's crew used top quality paint ( Imron ? ) it should last a good 12-15 years before it starts to get tired looking.

We repainted the 614 into its Greenbrier Express livery in 2011 and it still looks decent 10 years later.

Time will tell. Ross Rowland

rem1028 · **Joined:** Tue Jan 24, 2017 10:32 am **Posts:** 292

That's longer than I would have expected, and I'm glad to hear it should last that long. Thanks for the reply Mr. Rowland!

John

p51 · **Posted:** Tue May 11, 2021 1:38 pm

The sad thing is on the original Steamtown, I've read that when they asked UP for some steam, they apparently offered to send them a Big Boy and a Challenger. It'd be the only place where you could have seen both displayed to the public. They didn't have room for two engines that large. Heck, I'm surprised they had room for one.

co614 wrote:

Good question John. Assuming that Gary Bensman's crew used top quality paint ( Imron ? ) it should last a good 12-15 years before it starts to get tired looking.

Yep, if they painted it with that stuff, it should look good for a long time.

PRR8063 · **Posted:** Tue May 11, 2021 4:54 pm

I was very impressed how quickly it was done!

That being said, was there any cosmetic restoration/stabilization work done on the Big Boy or was it simply* a sandblast and re-paint?

The last engine that I remember getting a cosmetic restoration was PRR 460 (by RRMPA) which involved a lot of stabilization work which lengthened the (cosmetic) restoration process.

*and yes, I know even sandblasting and painting by itself is more simply said than done. Not trying to knock what Steamtown did... it looks beautiful!

Mike Tillger · **Posted:** Tue May 11, 2021 5:51 pm

Steamtown's website features a nice banner photo of the 4012https://www.nps.gov/stea/index.htm
Mike Tillger

Dave Lewandoski · **Joined:** Sun Aug 22, 2004 5:58 pm **Posts:** 1083

Even with a possible 10-15 year possibility, they need to at least get a roof over her.

o484 · **Posted:** Wed May 12, 2021 8:20 am

PRR8063 wrote:

I was very impressed how quickly it was done!

That being said, was there any cosmetic restoration/stabilization work done on the Big Boy or was it simply* a sandblast and re-paint?

The last engine that I remember getting a cosmetic restoration was PRR 460 (by RRMPA) which involved a lot of stabilization work which lengthened the (cosmetic) restoration process.

*and yes, I know even sandblasting and painting by itself is more simply said than done. Not trying to knock what Steamtown did... it looks beautiful!

One of the things they did was restore the lighting in the headlight, number boards, and marker lights and placed them on a timer so that they're on when people visit the park. They powered the setup with covertly mounted solar panels.