Union Pacific 4023

Union Pacific 4023 is a 4-8-8-4 Big Boy steam locomotive preserved at Kenefick Park in South Omaha, Nebraska. Built in 1944 by the American Locomotive Company at its Schenectady Locomotive Works, No. 4023 is one of eight surviving Big Boys and the only one that is not part of the class' first group built in 1941.[1]

Union Pacific 4023
No. 4023 in its current display site in 2007
Type and origin
Power typeSteam
BuilderAmerican Locomotive Company
Serial number72780
Build dateNovember 1944
Rebuild date1957
Specifications
Configuration:
​
 • Whyte4-8-8-4
 • UIC(2′D)D2′ h4
Gauge4 ft 8+1⁄2 in (1,435 mm) standard gauge
Leading dia.36 in (914 mm)
Driver dia.68 in (1,727 mm)
Trailing dia.42 in (1,067 mm)
WheelbaseLocomotive: 72 ft 5+1⁄2 in (22.09 m)
Overall: 117 ft 7 in (35.84 m)
LengthLocomotive: 85 ft 3.4 in (25.99 m)
Overall: 132 ft 9+1⁄4 in (40.47 m)
Width11 ft (3.4 m)
Height16 ft 2+1⁄2 in (4.94 m)
Adhesive weight545,200 lb (247,000 kg)
Loco weight772,250 lb (350,300 kg)
Tender weight436,500 lb (197,990 kg)
Total weight1,208,750 lb (548,300 kg)
Fuel typeCoal
Fuel capacity28 short tons (25.4 t; 25.0 long tons)
Water cap.25,000 US gal (95,000 L; 21,000 imp gal)
Firebox:
 • Firegrate area		150 sq ft (14 m2)
Boiler95 in (2,400 mm)
Boiler pressure300 lbf/in2 (2.1 MPa)
Heating surface5,735 sq ft (533 m2)
 • Tubes and flues5,035 sq ft (468 m2)
 • Firebox720 sq ft (67 m2)
Superheater:
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 • TypeType A
 • Heating area2,043 sq ft (190 m2)
Cylinders4
Cylinder size23.75 in × 32 in (603 mm × 813 mm)
Performance figures
Maximum speed80 mph (130 km/h)
Power output7,000 hp (5,200 kW) @ Cylinder
Tractive effort135,375 lbf (602.18 kN)
Factor of adh.4.02
Career
OperatorsUnion Pacific Railroad
Class4884-2
Last run1959
Retired1962
Preserved1963
Restored1974 (cosmetically)
Current ownerCity of South Omaha, Nebraska
DispositionOn static display at Kenefick Park in Omaha, Nebraska

History

In the early 1940s, the Union Pacific Railroad designed the only simple articulated steam locomotive with a 4-8-8-4 wheel arrangement, which would be the largest steam locomotive in the world. The first of these Big Boys were built in 1941 by the American Locomotive Company in Schenectady, New York. No. 4023 is one of the last five built in 1944, forming part of the second generation of the Big Boys which had more power tractive effort than the first generation and produced 6,250 horsepower rather than the first generation's 7,000 hp.

No. 4023 was assigned for fast and heavy freight trains through the Wasatch Mountains and over Sherman Hill. It was given a class 3 overhaul in 1957.

After its last run took place in 1959, No. 4023 was stored in Union Pacific's scrapline with the other Big Boy locomotives. In 1963, No. 4023 was repainted to be put on display for that year's National Railway Historical Society Convention in Cheyenne, Wyoming alongside 4-6-6-4 "Challenger" No. 3985 and 4-8-4 "Northern" No. 844. After the convention, No. 4023 was stored along with No. 3985 in the Cheyenne roundhouse.[2]

In 1974, No. 4023 was cosmetically restored and towed to Omaha, Nebraska, for static display in front of the Union Pacific's locomotive shops.

When the locomotive shops were closed in 1988, No. 4023 was moved to the original Kenefick Park on Abbott Drive, near the former Union Pacific shop site. After the park's land was taken for an arena and convention center, No. 4023 was temporarily housed outside of the Durham Museum in Downtown Omaha.[3]

In spring 2005, No. 4023 was moved by truck on a highway[4] to the new location of Kenefick Park,[5] where it was put on static display alongside EMD DDA40X No. 6900.[6] During one of its cosmetic restorations, several functional appliances were replaced with new, fake appliances, including the safety valves, whistle, lubricators, and a new boiler jacket.

As of 2023, No. 4023 is still on display at Kenefick Park, and it remains the only Big Boy known to have been moved by highway.

References
  1. Wrinn, Jim (February 15, 2018). "Where to find Big Boy locomotives". TrainsMag.com. Retrieved 2020-03-30.
  2. "UP No. 3985 - The Challenger".
  3. "Union Pacific Announces Location of New Kenefick Park". www.uprr.com/. Retrieved 2022-01-07.
  4. "Big Boy 4023 Omaha". www.uphs.org. Retrieved 2020-04-27.
  5. "Lauritzen Gardens - Omaha Botanical Center". www.lauritzengardens.org. Retrieved 2020-03-30.
  6. "Union Pacific Big Boy 4023 & Centennial 6900". www.asme.org. Retrieved 2020-04-27.
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