This past week a few friends and I spent some time trackside to view the Union Pacific’s 4-8-8-4 steam locomotive #4014 during its visit to Louisiana. On Thursday two of us traveled west across the Mississippi River to the area south of the U.P. yard in Livonia, Louisiana to scout out some potential photo locations for the next day. On Friday morning the train would be departing from Livonia, heading down to its next destination, New Orleans. After finalizing a good photo spot, we headed north to above the Livonia yard to await the train’s arrival from Beaumont, Texas. It was due to arrive at 5:00 pm, and they arrived only minutes late.
Click on each photo below to see a larger version without the comment imprinted on it.
The train is reducing speed as it approaches the 90 degree right turn to head in toward the yard. The freight train at left (with Norfolk Southern power) apparently had been in the siding for quite some time, as a crew boarded that train just minutes before the Big Boy arrived with its train.
The train has progressed to near the yard and has stopped for the locomotive to take on water. A U.P. crew and local fire department personnel were waiting at a hydrant near the intersection of Hwy. 81 and the track. Police had the crossing blocked, but folks were allowed to walk down the road to witness the event (which we took advantage of). We were told it would be a few hours to fill the tender, along with the two auxiliary tanks.
It’s early Friday morning now and we’re at our chosen spot, a farm road a bit south of Maringouin, Louisiana. The train has finally come into view, and I captured this scene across a recently harvested soybean field. Note the “protection” SD70M diesel power behind the water cars. It isn’t needed for power in the flat-lands down here. Interestingly, it’s number is 4015.
Zooming in on the locomotive, the 4014 is just loafing along with a clean stack. That’s sugar cane in the field behind the train, and it’s getting fairly tall. They should start harvesting that in October.
And the Big Boy has cleared the farm road crossing. Several workers had stopped to inquire what we were doing standing around. When we told them the steamer was coming, they stayed nearby so as to see the train passing by.
Later today (Sunday) a few of us plan to run over to Donaldsonville, Louisiana to see the train heading back north from New Orleans on the next leg of its journey. If I’m lucky I may get a few more shots of this spectacular locomotive!
Very nicely planned and executed, Jack.
very cool
Very cool shots Jack.
Could not get up to Tulsa to see it a few wks. back.
But standing next to U.P.’s Challenger in El Reno, OK. a few yrs. back was a memory of a life time.
Those machines just do Not seem that large til you stand next to them.
Wish I was on the hunt that day down there.
Thanks,
boudreaux