Chasing Union Pacific Big Boy No. 4014 Steam Train Over Donner Pass (July 14, 2024)

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Hey fans! Join us on this historic day as we chase Union Pacific's Big Boy #4014 east over Donner Pass from Roseville to Truckee! Having just come off two display days in Roseville after dropping down the Canyon Subdivision from Portola, the 4014 has her work cut out for her. The eastbound ascent to the summit at Donner Pass is a long, 86 mile climb that includes a 49 mile stretch of sustained 2% or greater between Colfax and Norden. The consist behind the engine clocks in at approximately 1,550 tons, including the two auxiliary water cars, diesel, and 12 passenger coaches, necessitating the use of the diesel to keep train speed up on the stiffer sections of the climb. That being said, you will see in this video that the Big Boy is still doing the lion's share of the work up the hill.

We start off innocuously enough, with shots at Loomis (just east of Rocklin) and South Auburn on track 2 where the grade is 1.5% all the way to Colfax. The trouble begins just past the Auburn Amtrak station and tunnel 21 at 1005, where the 4014 collides with a freshly fallen grey pine tree across the ROW, damaging the engine pilot and golfing off the cylinder cocks on the engineer's side forward engine unit. In the following 3.5 hours, the steam crew diligently cut the tree away, assessed the damage, and, in the tool car, fabricated brand new cylinder cocks and a cylinder cock pipe for the engine. With the work complete, a rolling inspection was conducted, the engine and track cleared, and the 4014 proceeded east at 1330. Unfortunately, as a result of this delay, the UP was forced to cancel the day's public flag stops at Colfax, Truckee, and Sparks, in an attempt to get the train into Sparks yard in a somewhat timely fashion.

Continuing east, we skip past Colfax and pick the train up again just east of Gold Run, where the grade is now a stiff 2.2-2.3%. The crew stops at Emigrant Gap at 1545 for about 30 min to grease the rods before continuing towards the Summit. Just past 1700, the train reaches the top of the pass at Norden, where the brakes are set for the 13.5 mile descent at 2.2-2.3% down into Truckee. Unfortunately, as it turns out, the railroad gods weren't done screwing with the train; a stuck brake shoe on one of the coaches (Omaha) caught fire about halfway down the hill, forcing the crew to stop just past Shed 47 to put it out and cut the offending truck out. After about another 30 minute delay, the train drops the rest of the way down to Truckee, passing through just after 1800, pausing for a bit on the east end of town before proceeding the rest of the way to Sparks, Nevada. We conclude our day at Truckee, since the rest of the way into Reno/Sparks is downhill. Enjoy the action =)

Thanks to NYCTA Railfan for letting me use his footage from this trip. Check out his content on TikTok here:   / nycta_railfan   ‪@NYCTARailfan‬

Roseville Subdivision gradient chart: https://www.facebook.com/photo/?fbid=...

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 - Introduction, Roseville, CA still shots
0:07 - Loomis, CA (1.5% grade up, stack hood, silent portion due to music from motorcycle)
2:00 - South Auburn (1.5%)
3:15 - Tree strike still shots, North Auburn
3:30 - North Auburn highball (1.5% grade up)
7:56 - Pacing, Gold Run to Monte Vista (2.2% grade up)
11:51 - Alta (2.2% grade up)
14:40 - Emigrant Gap, Switch 9 (2.0% grade up)
17:18 - Norden (2.0% grade up, snow shed, stack hood)
20:09 - Truckee (2.3% grade down)