When I planned my layout, I made sure to use wide curves and the correct angle switches to allow the biggest models to easily handle the mainline and most of the sidings. Thus, I was able to easily accomodate the largest steam locomotive ever - the famous Union Pacific "Big Boy". Today we'll take a look at Broadway Limited's model of this behemoth - so without further ado, let's get started...
"Big Boy" History: As I mentioned in my DDA40X review, UP liked big locomotives, and thus, in 1941 (a time period that most certainly demanded the most of railroad's capabilities) UP commissioned the American Locomotive Company (ALCO) to build a new type of locomotive, a 4-8-8-4. UP had been running the Challenger 4-6-6-4 locos for several years (other railroads also rostered 4-6-6-4s) but found they needed something with more power, so their Mechanical Depertment's Research and Mechanical Standards section, headed by Otto Jabelmann, began working with ALCO to design something that fit the bill. The aforementioned Challengers had proven very successful, so they decided on essentially enlarging them, with a larger firebox, adding 2 driving axles, increasing boiler pressure, and various other changes. This resulted in a class of 25 articulated locomotives built between 1941 and 1944 that would prove to be the largest (but not most powerful) steam locos ever built, coming in at 132ft 9 1/4in overall length, and weighing over a million pounds. There would be 2 classes built, with slightly different specifications, but all, as built, would burn coal, have 68in drivers, employ Walschaerts valve gear, and top out at 80mph. They would have an extremely successful working life, but the last "Big Boy" would run on June 21, 1959. Of the 25 built, 8 would be donated and preserved. Currently, 7 are in museums, but one, UP 4014, was reacquired by Union Pacific and restored to operation (and converted to burn No. 5 fuel oil), and is now part of their operating Steam Fleet.
UP 4021 History: 4021 was built in November of 1944 and was part of the so-called 4884-2 group, which were the later batch and had these specs; 68,150 lb axle load, 545,000 lb adhesive weight, weighed 1,208,750 lbs total, carried 28 tons of coal, carried 25,000 gal of water, a 720 sq ft firebox, 23.75x32 in cylinders, and put out over 6,000 horsepower.
It would run it's last miles in 1958 and be stored in Cheyenne, Wyoming until being scrapped on August 31, 1962.
Box info.
The very questionable loco to tender conection. I'll go into detail below...
Review~
Good: We'll start with the weight, which is a very impressive 3lbs 4.7oz. The loco is overall very sturdy and well built, and all the paint, details, and lettering look perfect. The lights look particularly nice, and the sounds are really great. Also, the DCC operates just as it should. It operates very nice and smooth, and handles a train with no issues whatsoever. The articulation is also really neat to see in action (I tried to capture that in the video).
Bad: Nothing too serious here, The silver axles, a common feature on BLI steam, are really noticeable and unsightly - they really need to paint them to match. Also, it has a slight, occasional issue with the tender derailing when backing over switches, but it's fine forwards. And as alluded to above, the tender to loco connection - that pathetic plastic clip is really not adequate for such a large and premiuim model. It does technically work, but feels so fragile I'm concerned it'll fail just from regular use. If any model deserves an actual drawbar, preferably metal, it's this one. As I said, it does work, but it's so cheap, flimsy, and honestly unsightly that it truly detracts from the model.
Overall: It's a really great model - looks good, runs good, sounds good. The mentioned issues are very minor, though I could certainly see the loco/tender connection being a problem over time.
Wow what an awesomely large loco!