UP 4006



UP 4006 was one of the 25 Big Boy Locomotives that where built. She was built by the American Locomotive Company in 1941 and was retired in 1957. She is on static display at the St. Louis Museum of Transportation until 1980. when the Indiana Transportation Museum announced that they had acquired the locomotive for restoration to operating condition. Norfolk Southern donated the move from the museum to the Indiana Transportation, where the restoration started immediately. The railroad planned to have 4006 operational by Thursday, July 14th, 1983, pending the completion of some needed boiler work; however, because of the problems surrounding the boiler, lack of funds, regulations, and many other issues, work on 4006 is expected to be completed until later rather than Summer 1983. To make matters worse, another setback had occurred: in April 27th, 1992, some small components belonging to 4006 were stolen, perhaps by a disgruntled former volunteer. Fortunately, though, there is hope on the horizon for the "Beast of the Midwest": In January 31st, 1997, it had passed its respective hydraulic and out-of-frames boiler tests. In other news, the overhaul of the tender has also been finished. Some thousands of dollars are still needed to finish the engine, but it won't be long before 4006 can stretch her wheels again. On Tuesday, November 24th, 1998 4006 moved under her own power for the first time since 1957 as part of testing to get her into excursion service. As of December 13th, 2002, 4006 has officially replaced 587 in excursion service for the foreseeable future now that 734 is unlikely to ever run under steam again anytime soon. On June 25, 2015, the Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) granted approval for the Indiana Transportation to begin operations of 4006. On that day, 4006 was fired up for the first time since being restored to operation in Thanksgiving 1998 for test runs in preparation for its official debut in excursion service for the Indiana Transportation Museum, which later occured on November 18th, 2016 for the Indiana Transportation's Polar Express trains.