Union Pacific 'Big-Boy' 4007, 'Laramie'.
Big-Boy - the largest successful engine ever created, was not only a technological achievement, but a necessity for the Union Pacific Railroad. Built for one purpose: to pull a large tonnage over the 1.55% continuous grade up Sherman Hill in the Wasatch mountain region just east of Ogden Utah. Before BigBoy banking locos were required. Whereby a second engine is coupled to a mainline freight to push it over the hill. The engine would then return to the bottom of the hill and await the next through train. Not only was this a slow process, but rather expensive. A new engine was needed, one that could pull a train up the hill unassisted. The UP Class 4000, 4-8-8-4 articulated Big-Boy was the answer.
Print size: 15.3" x 12"
Image size: 13.5" x 10"