Big Boy #4014 Taking It Slow

Big Boy #4014 on the Huey P. Long Bridge in New Orleans.

As part of his southwest tour, Big Boy #4014 is shown with the Huey P Long bridge in the background having just crossed the Mississippi River.

Big Boy #4014 is an articulated locomotive. This means the steam is used once on both sets of driving wheels front and back. An articulated locomotive has the front boiler sitting on a front wheeled truck that allows the otherwise ridged boiler to pivots around curves that would normally be too tight.

Maximum speeds allowed the locomotive to operate safely at a maximum speed of 80 mph, which was unheard of for steam freight locomotives in 1941.

Peak horsepower was achieved at around 35 MPH with optimal tractive effort coming in at 10 MPH.

Let us know if you have had the opportunity to see Big Boy in person.