Question on UP Big Boy Cab Ride

Alexander D. Mitchell IV · **Posted:** Sun Jun 11, 2023 8:39 am

By now, I'm sure we've all looked (and maybe screamed) at the official eBay auction of a cab ride on Union Pacific Big Boy 4014 on Monday, July 3rd:

https://www.ebay.com/itm/404312120098

As I type the bidding is at $21,100 with minutes to go. (UPDATE: Sold at that price.)

My simple question:

Would an official UP excursion behind 4014 net this much in "proceeds" for the museum after operating expenses?

Kind of gives you pause to think, no?

softwerkslex · **Posted:** Sun Jun 11, 2023 1:26 pm

Wait a minute - they canceled an entire excursion?

softwerkslex · **Posted:** Sun Jun 11, 2023 1:27 pm

Alexander D. Mitchell IV wrote:

By now, I'm sure we've all looked (and maybe screamed) at the official eBay auction of a cab ride on Union Pacific Big Boy 4014 on Monday, July 3rd:

https://www.ebay.com/itm/404312120098

As I type the bidding is at $21,100 with minutes to go. (UPDATE: Sold at that price.)

My simple question:

Would an official UP excursion behind 4014 net this much in "proceeds" for the museum after operating expenses?

Kind of gives you pause to think, no?

"May not ship to Denmark"
Bummer

Alexander D. Mitchell IV · **Posted:** Sun Jun 11, 2023 10:43 pm

softwerkslex wrote:

Wait a minute - they canceled an entire excursion?

No, they just didn't schedule one, just planned to run the loco without passenger cars to and from its display.

Ed Kapuscinski · **Posted:** Sun Jun 11, 2023 11:09 pm

After running the last Conrail Historical Society excursion I realized that it'd be FAR easier to do something crazy (like a caboose ride circuit of Harrisburg PA) for a few people and charge a premium price for it.

We never did it, but nobody has shown why it WOULDN'T work.

Crescent-Zephyr · **Joined:** Wed Jan 20, 2016 1:15 pm **Posts:** 1799

$450 x 200 = $90k

Since the cars already exist and are in operational shape, and the museum staffs the train with volunteers, it’s probably not too much extra in expenses.

Overmod · **Joined:** Thu May 24, 2012 1:37 pm **Posts:** 2492

ADM IV, you again have my respect for a beautifully-phrased piece of sarcasm.

While I, personally, wouldn't have managed to participate in a PNW excursion, I think it would not have been difficult to establish to the powers-that-be at UP that ordered that excursion cancelled that there is an adequate 'fan base' to offset any amount of the operating cost that the current 'stakeholders' think would be wasted.

Mark Hedges · **Posted:** Tue Jun 13, 2023 10:15 am

Sounds like an excursion would have brought in a lot more money since apparently the winning bidder was a kid who did it as a joke, and has nowhere near $21K to his name.

I always thought this was a pretty bad idea. Very exclusionary and risky if the buyer can't pay.

Overmod · **Joined:** Thu May 24, 2012 1:37 pm **Posts:** 2492

Presumably eBay will offer the 'second chance' option to the next-highest bidder -- but at the highest offered price, not at the price that would have won had the fake high bid not been made.

Of course it's for charity, think of the children, etc. -- but it increases the fees to eBay when the amount is synthetically increased due to shill bidding.

I don't see them cancelling the auction and then re-listing. Some lessons only need to be learned once.

Alexander D. Mitchell IV · **Posted:** Tue Jun 13, 2023 11:54 pm

Mark Hedges wrote:

Sounds like an excursion would have brought in a lot more money since apparently the winning bidder was a kid who did it as a joke, and has nowhere near $21K to his name.

I always thought this was a pretty bad idea. Very exclusionary and risky if the buyer can't pay.

This allegation has been spread widely on railfan social media in the past day or so, but has anyone been in a position to verify its veracity?

NS6770fan · **Joined:** Sat May 19, 2018 10:03 am **Posts:** 195

Alexander D. Mitchell IV wrote:

Mark Hedges wrote:

Sounds like an excursion would have brought in a lot more money since apparently the winning bidder was a kid who did it as a joke, and has nowhere near $21K to his name.

I always thought this was a pretty bad idea. Very exclusionary and risky if the buyer can't pay.

This allegation has been spread widely on railfan social media in the past day or so, but has anyone been in a position to verify its veracity?

If you’re a member of “They Should Restore and Run It On The Mainline” group on facebook, there’s plenty of proof, including (now deleted) posts by the man, Alex Hoffner, himself. He reportedly thought it would be funny to put in a fake bid and then withdraw it minutes before the end of the auction, however supposedly fell asleep beforehand.

A GoFundMe was setup temporarily to assist him but taken down when his name was made a laughingstock of.

Alexander D. Mitchell IV · **Posted:** Wed Jun 14, 2023 2:23 pm

NS6770fan wrote:

If you’re a member of “They Should Restore and Run It On The Mainline” group on facebook, there’s plenty of proof, including (now deleted) posts by the man, Alex Hoffner, himself. He reportedly thought it would be funny to put in a fake bid and then withdraw it minutes before the end of the auction, however supposedly fell asleep beforehand.

A GoFundMe was setup temporarily to assist him but taken down when his name was made a laughingstock of.

I've been told that there are two separate groups with that name, differing only in the way the capitalization is farcically alternated: "ThEy ShOuLd......" and "tHeY sHoUlD...."; the one was founded by the one temperamental individual, and the other is a collective of people the founder/moderator of the first group banned for various reasons (mostly allegedly involving his thin skin for any form of criticism or whatever, ironically), the latter revolving heavily around mockery of the first group and its founder as well as other absurdities of online railfandom. As one associate told me, "That supposed GoFundMe fundraiser attracted but one pledge, of $420, if-you-know-what-that-means-and-I'm-sure-you-do......"

At this point I trust no one reporting such blather. But if there's any truth to the allegations, "that'll learn him!!"......................

jayrod · **Posted:** Wed Jun 14, 2023 2:49 pm

Two notable items in the eBay listing description:

“Seller does not accept returns.”

And “Free Standard Shipping.” ;>)

Alexander D. Mitchell IV · **Posted:** Thu Jun 22, 2023 5:19 pm

Update from Union Pacific, as posted at the NRHS Facebook page:

Quote:

UP Steam Announcement - June 22, 2023

https://www.uptraintix.com/index.html

As part of the Home Run Express Steam Tour, Union Pacific offered a rare opportunity for rail fans to bid on a ride in the cab of the historic Big Boy 4014, the world's largest steam locomotive. All funds raised were to support Union Pacific Railroad Museum, a non-profit organization dedicated to sharing American history through the lens of the railroad and connecting generations who have been impacted by Union Pacific.
Unfortunately, the contest was manipulated by an individual and did not result in an award to the highest bidder. Our goal is supporting the Union Pacific Museum, and we are now selling two tickets for $9500 each with all proceeds benefitting the museum.

Tickets go on sale at 5 p.m. central time, June 23 at http://www.uptraintix.com. We are excited to welcome these true rail fans onto the Big Boy for the experience of a lifetime.

Anyone who wants to learn more about the Union Pacific Railroad Museum or to donate can visit http://www.uprrmuseum.org.

Overmod · **Joined:** Thu May 24, 2012 1:37 pm **Posts:** 2492

It would be interesting to see how they arrived at this amount per ticket, and why it is now two rather than one. Did anyone keep a record of the bid history and timing from the abortive eBay auction?