All About Pocket Knives

LKSKNIVES wrote: ↑Thu Jan 08, 2026 9:39 pm Thank you Ike,
Already gave them my email and am in the club.
At least some of the track this side of the Mississippi is able to handle the Big Boy it rolled by my work in 2024, I was standing outside when heard the lonesome whistle scream and yes Jonny Cash is one of my favorites. I have a Lionel Jonny Cash box car. Only problem is it is not autographed. I will not miss the Big Boy the next time it rolls through my neck of the woods.
Steve

Yeah, anxious to see the schedule/route when they get things hammered out. I have seen it twice in the last 5 years, don't know if I will get that lucky again.

If it comes to WV, VA, PA or MD, I'll be there.

1967redrider wrote: ↑Fri Jan 09, 2026 2:17 pm If it comes to WV, VA, PA or MD, I'll be there.

So....what you're saying is that you will drive anywhere within 6 to 7 hours for a 5 second glimpse of Big Boy steamin' by?

I can understand that.

Waukonda wrote: ↑Fri Jan 09, 2026 3:09 pm

1967redrider wrote: ↑Fri Jan 09, 2026 2:17 pm If it comes to WV, VA, PA or MD, I'll be there.

So....what you're saying is that you will drive anywhere within 6 to 7 hours for a 5 second glimpse of Big Boy steamin' by?

I can understand that.

Yep, basically, but ideally I would like to see her stopped somewhere.

I was fortunate to see one of the static examples in Cheyenne Wyoming several years ago. My grandson thought it was the neatest thing in the world..

bighomer wrote: ↑Fri Jan 09, 2026 7:47 pm I was fortunate to see one of the static examples in Cheyenne Wyoming several years ago. My grandson thought it was the neatest thing in the world..

BH your Grandson is spot on it is absolutely one of coolest to see. You don't see much of it when it blasts on by but you can feel the rumble.

Those old leviathans are so cool. I still enjoy going through the engine building at IRM. they are all lined up one after another well worth the walk.
Steve

The ultimate experience for me would be seeing U.P. 4014 parked beside WMSR 1309 at Western Maryland Station in Cumberland. I would probably stroke out.

1967redrider wrote: ↑Fri Jan 09, 2026 8:19 pm The ultimate experience for me would be seeing U.P. 4014 parked beside WMSR 1309 at Western Maryland Station in Cumberland. I would probably stroke out.

Well John this will have to do for now.
The only problem is my K-Line Big Boy is the small version. My Red Ball express that I call it is my favorite Command engine but I still can’t post videos so you only get a picture.
My favorite post war engine is behind the WM the J. It runs and smokes great. All of those engines were York purchases so many years ago.
Steve

LKSKNIVES wrote: ↑Fri Jan 09, 2026 11:08 pm

1967redrider wrote: ↑Fri Jan 09, 2026 8:19 pm The ultimate experience for me would be seeing U.P. 4014 parked beside WMSR 1309 at Western Maryland Station in Cumberland. I would probably stroke out.

Well John this will have to do for now.
The only problem is my K-Line Big Boy is the small version. My Red Ball express that I call it is my favorite Command engine but I still can’t post videos so you only get a picture.
My favorite post war engine is behind the WM the J. It runs and smokes great. All of those engines were York purchases so many years ago.
Steve

Thanks, Steve! I recently picked up a N&W 612 J, Liontech era, and I love it. With the diecast tender it's almost 9 lbs.

John
Nice multi loop Christmas layout. Is that two sets of the Budd cars? Are they post war? The post war set I have I bought from Stout auctions. Have the three boxes with the paper. No set box.

LKSKNIVES wrote: ↑Sat Jan 10, 2026 5:58 am John
Nice multi loop Christmas layout. Is that two sets of the Budd cars? Are they post war? The post war set I have I bought from Stout auctions. Have the three boxes with the paper. No set box.

Thanks! The Budds are an MPC era Service Station box set plus 2; 2 powered and 3 dummies, in Baltimore and Ohio livery and sequentially numbered. They are smooth runners. It all comes down today.

As Paul Harvey used to say, "And now, the rest of the story."

1967redrider wrote: ↑Sun Jan 11, 2026 11:22 pm As Paul Harvey used to say, "And now, the rest of the story."

Good stuff, John, thank you for posting.

Waukonda wrote: ↑Mon Jan 12, 2026 2:02 am
Good stuff, John, thank you for posting.

I'm still hopeful U.P. 4014 will visit the East Coast. I know CSX would never let her run on its trackage. Probably CPKC would protest as well.

The maker of the video failed to mention CPKC and CN as Class 1s, not sure why?

redrider, your new engine is about the sleekest locomotive I have ever seen. 9# with tender is some impressive heft.

Quick Steel wrote: ↑Mon Jan 12, 2026 1:52 pm redrider, your new engine is about the sleekest locomotive I have ever seen. 9# with tender is some impressive heft.

Thanks, QS! Modeled after the current running N&W 611 J that pulls the Powhatan Arrow excursions in central Virginia. 611 is housed in Roanoke at the Virginia Museum of Transportation and I hope to ride it one day.

1967redrider wrote: ↑Mon Jan 12, 2026 2:06 am

Waukonda wrote: ↑Mon Jan 12, 2026 2:02 am

The maker of the video failed to mention CPKC and CN as Class 1s, not sure why?

I read an article recently and it also only metioned the other class 1s. Further down, it brought up the CP and CN names and made specific mention that they were headquartered in Canada.

Waukonda wrote: ↑Mon Jan 12, 2026 2:18 pm

1967redrider wrote: ↑Mon Jan 12, 2026 2:06 am

Waukonda wrote: ↑Mon Jan 12, 2026 2:02 am

The maker of the video failed to mention CPKC and CN as Class 1s, not sure why?

I read an article recently and it also only metioned the other class 1s. Further down, it brought up the CP and CN names and made specific mention that they were headquartered in Canada.

I guess that makes sense then. But KCS (de Mexico) had lots of trackage running through the US. If the above video is accurate, it will be interesting to see how the merger and Big Boy pan out.

My dad would always be present when a historical train would visit the Union Pacific yards in Kansas City, Kansas. Sometimes, these trains would be there and he and a friend of his would make sure they took pictures too. Now, sadly, U.P. pulled out of KCK. I dont know if the entire offices were tore down and rebuilt or just heavily remodeled, but all signs of the U.P. I knew are gone. Train yards and all.
If you look at this map, the long building in the middle, where Ferguson Plumbing and Cargill is, is the exact location of the old U.P> offices in KCK. You can see behind it that the tracks are all but gone and so are any store houses. I was there many a time with my mom as a child for "family days" or taking something to him he might have forgotten. This is also the same yards that he found the U.P. flat bed car that appeared in the movie, "The Cannonball Run."

https://www.google.com/maps/place/Kansa ... FQAw%3D%3D

Thanks, MG. When I was in KC back last May, there was a few U.P. engines active in the Argentine yards. I'm sure we drove past the area you highlighted. We were there for a high school graduation and will be going back for another one this coming May. There was a lot of BNSF action there and a little Kansas City Transit.

Some shots of the Cumberland Locomotive Shop from yesterday. They're building another fleet of retired diesels in the old Eastbound Repair Yards. Before retiring, my dad worked in an office there (gone now) entering repair bills into a computer system.

1967redrider wrote: ↑Sun Jan 18, 2026 9:51 pm Some shots of the Cumberland Locomotive Shop from yesterday. They're building another fleet of retired diesels in the old Eastbound Repair Yards. Before retiring, my dad worked in an office there (gone now) entering repair bills into a computer system.

Oh yeah, John, those are some super pics, really like that last one!!!

Waukonda wrote: ↑Mon Jan 19, 2026 12:20 am

1967redrider wrote: ↑Sun Jan 18, 2026 9:51 pm Some shots of the Cumberland Locomotive Shop from yesterday. They're building another fleet of retired diesels in the old Eastbound Repair Yards. Before retiring, my dad worked in an office there (gone now) entering repair bills into a computer system.

Oh yeah, John, those are some super pics, really like that last one!!!

I wish I had a drone to get a bird's eye view of the engine graveyard.

What's left of the Eastbound Repair Shop can be seen on the far right. Not sure if there's much being done there currently. Also on the far right used to be a siding where the tool cars and big hook were stored. They are in the parking lot at the B&O Museum in Baltimore . . . or at least what's left of them. Junior Rice was the main operator of the big hook, but my dad ran it if he was unavailable.

My late father-in-law had an album with some pictures he took back in 1984. There's some of the Cumberland Tool Cars and big hook.

There was also a picture and write-up from the local newspaper about a safety award the locomotive shop carmen received. He's first on the left, my dad is second on the right. My dad always wore a camo t-shirt with a pocket.

1967redrider wrote: ↑Mon Jan 19, 2026 6:24 pm My late father-in-law had an album with some pictures he took back in 1984. There's some of the Cumberland Tool Cars and big hook.

There was also a picture and write-up from the local newspaper about a safety award the locomotive shop carmen received. He's first on the left, my dad is second on the right. My dad always wore a camo t-shirt with a pocket.

John so many questions,
What who made the Big Hook? Very cool.
More importantly father in-law.
Was that how you and the better half made the big hook up? Or is that a wow moment.
Both very cool.
Steve