Union Pacific 'Big Boy' #4005 Live Steam 7.25' Gauge Locomotive in New Zealand

The Union Pacific 'Big Boy' #4005 previously owned by Tom Millar of the USA, has now made it's way to ownership by Shane Marshall of Tauranga, New Zealand. The 7.25" Big Boy #4005 originally built in the United Kingdom in 1982, has run at the Tom Millar Estate in Portland, Oregan for over three decades, before being sold and shipped to Shane in New Zealand. Here we see it running alongside 17 Scale Freight Cars, also from Tom Millar, at the Tauranga Model Marine and Engineering Society track, on November 10th 2018.

This video follows some backstory of the locomotive, the steam up process, some amazing video of the locomotive running, and the steam down process. It's not easy for #4005 weighing over 1.5 tonnes, but many hands make light work. The immaculate engineering and detailing of this 'Big Boy' contribute to making it one of the best in New Zealand, and the world!

Thanks to Shane Marshall for allowing us to video his beautiful engine, and share it in such detail. This video is shared in memory of Mike Treloar, who flew with Shane to Portland, Oregan to collect #4005 a few years back. Unfortunately, Mike lost his battle with cancer just over a year ago. He served as a big inspiration for Shane to finish re-gauging the locomotive and bringing the boiler to New Zealand codes.

All footage Copyright of Valve Gear Productions (Unless Stated Otherwise)

[mschrage]

I think this is the coolest rich guy hobby I’ve ever seen. Forget a boat. This takes the cake.

[thejerseyj]

The Union Pacific "Big Boy" is an engineering marvel. This model is no less. The details on such a scale are astonishing. Simply beautiful.

[TrainTrackTrav]

Just think, here in the States we'll have the 1:1 scale version of sister loco 4014 running soon!

[anasevi]

I love it how train blokes looks the same the world over. Always the look about a true enthusiast. Also that model is an absolute wonder. Kudos to the those who built it and those who keep her going now in NZ.

[simonchaddock]

I too had the privilege of ridding behind this at Dobwalls, Cornwall UK. The Dodwalls track had considerable inclines as well as tunnels and the smaller locos had to work quite hard pulling upwards of 50 people. Compared to other narrow gauge style locos the Big Boy looked quite small but of course with great length and it had little difficulty setting off with even more people (every body wanted to ride!) with just a modest beat. It was coal fired then and seeing the fire being dropped at the end of the day was quite a sight.
Nice to see it still looking in such perfect condition.

[johntipton]

Good to see 4005 Big Boy model is still serving its owner well. I was the pattern maker working for the company involved in the building of the model in the eighties, in the UK and its good to read the comments regarding the workmanship

[Dadified]

We’ve seen 4014 here in the US operating on excursion runs but this thing is so technically impressive at this scale! Amazing!!

[Mildcat]

The real 4005 was the only Big Boy to ever derail in revenue service. A misaligned switch by a track worker sent her tumbling onto her right side. She was ultimately repaired and returned to service, and is preserved at the Forney Museum in Colorado.

[rainmaker]

4004 was my play toy! I grew up in Cheyenne Wyoming and my Brother In Law William Bill Riley Sr operated out of NP Nebraska dedicated runs to Cheyenne Wyoming!! He even operated 8444 before she became 844 that you see today!! My dear Brother Bill Posthumously received the extremely Rare Golden Spike Award! You can see more, much more at the Golden Spike Museum in Bailey Yard North Platte Nebraska

This video is incredible! Thank you for sharing this video with us and the history!!

Yes us kids would love to ring the bell on 4004 Big Boy Steam Locomotive long ago Prior the days of fenced off!

[RogersRamblings]

The locomotive was built by Severn Lamb in Straford-upon-Avon, England. A group of friends and I were able to visit their workshops in 1982 and saw 4005 almost complete up close and personal. It's a seriously impressive machine.

[michaelnaisbitt]

Just think when 4014 takes her first breath the world will seem a little happier. I salute Union Pacific and all those men and women involved in her restoration 🚂🚂👍👍

[opiumextract]

I work for union Pacific, can't wait to see 4014 go by our yard someday. Very nice piece you have down there

[redhen]

That whistle on the live steam model sounds beautiful. Nice video!

[justandy]

Man this video brings back some childhood memories. I grew up in England and when I was 6 or 7 years old this locomotives sister 4008 was running at 'Dobwalls Adventure Park' in Cornwall, UK. I don't know what happened to 4008 but its great to see 4005 in gleaming running order. Can't beat a bit of nostalgia :)

[donnamarie]

Excellent production, what an amazing locomotive, and to see all that scale rolling stock is a privilege.

[ThegruntUSMC]

Awesome. A bit of Big Boy trivia for the #4005. The #4005 is the only Big Boy out of the 25 built which was involved in a derailment crash in 1953. The locomotive, tender, and first 18 cars derailed killing the engineer and firemen. The #4005 was restored and placed back in revenue service.

[burdizdawurdOfficial]

When the live steam model receives as much care as her full size sister getting rebuilt in Cheyenne...

[ll-youm]

I saw this locomotive in 1994. It was during the NMRA National Convention at Portland, Oregon. We were told that ours was the first public group to be allowed to visit.

Tom couldn’t find a US builder willing to take on a project as large and as time consuming as the Big Boy. An outfit in England accepted the challenge. It took two years to complete the project. He visited the build a couple of times a year.

Not including shipping and handling, the locomotive cost $250, 000.

It was packed into a 20 foot shipping container for the trip to New Jersey. From there it was trucked to Oregon.

The Big Boy was pulling a 40 car PFE reefer train.

The railroad itself was rather impressive. He said that you should expect to get some strange looks when you apply for a permit to build a 410’ long tunnel on your property, with a vertical air shaft halfway through...

They just figured that he some sort of survivalist. Next was a 400 foot long bridge that was 18 feet high, and crossing a small stream.

His workshop had digital controlled drill presses and at least one digital lathe. Everyone in the group was in awe because this was not your normal home work shop in 1994.

We saw the beginnings of a K-36, 7 1/2” gauge and 2.5” scale.

Tom wasn’t satisfied with the coal available in the US. He determined how much coal he would need for the rest of his life, and ordered twice as much as he needed.

He imported a 20 foot container full of coal. He kept half. He sold 5lb bags of the extra coal via mail order. The income paid for all of the coal.

He did not like the rail to tie fasteners available at the time, so he invented a better one.

ʎɹɹɐ˥

[TheThepeter]

I rode behind this many times as a kid in Dobwalls Cornwall, im glad to see it being used again

[jenniferwhitewolf]

Many fond memories of riding behind this beautiful masterpiece at Tom's place... so nice to see it finally back up and running. I must admit some sadness at knowing I will likely never set my own eyes upon it again, or any of the other magnificent collection.