Fan Railer

Union Pacific Big Boy No. 4014 Tackles The Allegheny Mountains Around Horseshoe Curve! (7/11/26)

READ: You guys didn't think I'd miss the opportunity to film Big Boy pounding up the Allegheny Mountains between Altoona and Cresson, did you? While I did not go to Horseshoe Curve itself, I managed to record the 4014 at two spots along the old Pennsy Main Line, with the train's stop at the Curve itself helping me to get ahead of it. The first location is just west of Porta Road grade crossing, the last road crossing before the Curve itself. The grade here is a stiff 1.8%. The second spot is just to the west of Bennington Curve, where track 1 begins to diverge from tracks 2 and 3. Here, the engine begins to ascend The Slide, which is the 2.46% grade towards New Portage Tunnel. You can see and hear the engine begin to bog down on the grade as it digs into the rail to lift its heavy train the rest of the way to the summit. The consist weighs in at approximately 2,500 tons behind the main tender (including the 2 auxiliary water cars, 5 diesels, and 16 passenger coaches), which makes this the heaviest train that has been tied to the 4014's drawbar since its restoration. For context, Big Boys were rated for 2,600 trailing tons at 10 mph on a ruling grade of 1.8%. Despite this, the diesels appear to be in notch 2 providing minimal assistance (just to keep train speed around 15-20 mph) in these two clips, leaving the big old steamer to shoulder the lion's share of load. Enjoy the sights and sounds of the big 4000 class pounding up a steep grade with a heavy train as it was meant to =) FAQ (Read before commenting): The water overflow from just in front of the rear cylinder on the fireman's side is the exhaust steam injector overflow port. Discharge from this port is normal when starting and stopping the injector, and when the injector switches between live steam and exhaust steam. The diesel locomotive, while no longer necessary for PTC compliance, will continue to periodically be used where it is expedient for steam locomotive fuel conservation and assistance on long, sustained grades for power & dynamic braking. Table of Contents: 0:00 - Porta Road 2:34 - The Slide, west of Bennington Curve