Big Boy in Western Pa.
 

We went to Altoona Friday a week ago ckg out where we get the bus to go see the Big Boy in Altoona at Rose Yard. Talked to a RR worker he said we may be able to get on the train cars when its sitting there this Thursday and Friday. There are 6 of us going Thursday at 6 am to Altoona to make sure we get the bus. Then this Wednesday we are ckg out areas around Latrobe-Derry for best long visible viewing of Big Boy. Once in a lift time viewing. Latrobe had ,shuttered now- American Locomotive Co plant. They made springs and 'tires' there I know of. A friend of my father worked there I have 4 big photos of steam engines they made. No PRR one UP not Big Boy.

Also gonna go, but need a plan to avoid crouds and get easy parking. Cresson?

Gallitzen (spelling) as it comes out of tunnel or Cresson not far a good option. This train is drawing large crowds so be early.

What we heard the Big Boy will not go thru Gallitzin tunnels aka Tunnel Hill. It will go thru the New Portage tunnel,I've never been there. Then Cresson and west. We will be going to Altoona early Thursday for the static display. I


can ask there. Funny we are getting excited like
little kids on Christmas morning. Brett who I'm
going with has a large ogauge display about 26
x40ft. 150 switches -yes- and they all operate by
the Lionel legacy handheld. He normally has 2
Big Boys running with also big PRR steam. We
can normally run 6 trains at once.He has wiring
for all this that makes me amazed. We meet
every Thursday night. My layout is 30x60 but
just in planning.

Saw BB on the July2. It spend the night in our town King of Prussia both going and coming out of Philadelphia. I grew up about 500yards from the yard in Abrams. police had it basically block off the area. I was able to drive by around 11pm. really cool looking just sitting there. Fifty years ago I saw the Freedom train a 4-8-4 pull into King of Prussia(Valley Forge) that had a large crowd also.

A woman I know.Told me she has-had a friend that was involved with the Freedom Train. He asked her years ago if she wanted to ride in the cab around the Horseshoe Curve! She said no. Now she wishes she had taken up the offer. We were just talking about this at a dance esp the Big Boy coming up.

We are here at Roseyard. There is sooo much here its unbelievable, to see. Besides the Bigboyand their cars and diesel locos. The First Responders Train we just saw a movie about NSand the future. NS has their executive train. There are people everywhere. Free water, lots of porta johns!!!! Lines for free stuff.Many medical people cruising around. The preparation is amazing. Besides the trains. I'm here with about 10 guys we will share pics later. I heard people talking, came from states away to see this display.

We got to see the Big Boy up close within 15 ft going thru Hillside east of Derry Pa. Then we decided to go to lunch going into Latrobe I see yellow passenger cars. I said look the Big Boy is at the Latrobe station! It stayed there about 45 minutes. My buddy Brett got down low video of it pulling out! It was amazing the Big Boy was hardly working and the 5 heritage diesels didnt seem to be helping as I couldnt hear them rev up!! No black smoke. I'll try to get pics here in the future. Thanks guys.

They say the diesels are there for braking and power supply for the passenger cars. Plus the length of the entire train isn't that long. If I sound like I know what I am talking about I don't!

My buddy said something about the dynamic braking of the diesels they had to control it somehow not sure how so not to slow the forward momentum. It's something I d like to find out. Why it stopped in Latrobe dont know as it was not scheduled. As we asked the one engineer in Altoona. Now the Big Boy seemed to be running a pump at the station.my buddy heard on net that Big Boy used more oil than what they planned coming over the mountains.

Went to a bridge in Cresson, before the planned Cresson stop, and saw the 4014 and diesels and passenger cars.

It was quiet, smooth, glossy, and visually impressive.

@sdbob; How cool would it be if you buddy's o-gauge is a faithful replica of the PA freight train routes!

His layout display is more of a train layout with over and unders. The outside loop has an incline at one end and a 16 ft trestle bridge at the other.The neat thing is the incline goes up but doesn't just come down it slowly comes down back to level. So all the biggg steam,rigid frames,can easily level out. Its easy to have a up incline little more thought to coming down level. The wiring just is amazing. I m usually there every Thursday night,working on it or running trains. He has a computer 3d printer we ve been using to make one off parts.thats amazing also.