Producer: Pentrex
Locations: Cheyenne, Sherman Hill, Wasatch Mountains, …
Timeframe: 1950s
Length: 1 hour 35 minutes
Sources: many
The entire Union Pacific Big Boy 4-8-8-4 roster is here! Steam engines 4000 – 4024. Indidually seen in numerical order. Vintage action clips galore.
A single DVD. Color & black and white films. Stereo soundtrack.
Main Chapter Menu by engine number. On-screen graphics. A map is shown of the Big Boy routes. Narrated by David Drui. On/ off narration
This show is a compilation with some other Pentrex footage and/ or unused scenes from those sources. Examples, Last of the Giants by UP, and NBC Big Boy on TV. The new 1953 films are from a 35mm source. Additions at Sherman Hill and Wasatch Mountains.
Many film souces. Some notable cinematographers. Includes Perry Becker, Hank Griffiths, Richard Hale, J. Hawkins, Dick Kindig, Stan Kistler, and Bill Warrick.
Some other large UP Steam classes are within the intro phase. There is much history and technical info about the 4000 class engines.
To the Trains… 👉
4000 opens the proceedings. Here, on the turntable at Cheyenne, Wyoming. The home of the Big Boys. Various turntable scenes throughout the show.
4002 is pulling a freight.
That young boy is flipping his wig! Another 4003 runby with him calmly watching was included in the Last of the Giants movie.
4006 exits Hermosa Tunnel.
4007 on the siding. The 4019 thunders past.
4011 as viewed from Cheyenne Tower.
4014 moves slowly on a parallel track.
4017 double headed.
4018 in a black and white scene.
4021 is on the upgrade on Sherman Hill.
4023 has an extended and very rare freight car sequence. Only the professional movie cameras had the capacity to film an entire long train. Typical 1950s era. Before colorful freight cars. It was neat, clean, and dull.
Epilog shows newer diesels and turbines. Scrapyard… ugh! However, 8 preserved are shown. This was made before 4014 in California was restored.
Union Pacific Big Boy Collection
Pentrex has various shows about UP Big Boy steam engines. Choices from vintage films to contemporary restored 4014. This high quality release is definitive for the original 25 engines that are all shown.
Some fine still photographs are interspersed throughout the program. The assorted movie films range mostly excellent to great. Dubbed train sounds are fine. Balance narration by the smooth David Drui.
This Big Boy Collection is the big daddy of the stunning Union Pacific 4000 class steam locomotives. A must-see show!
Rating: 5 Stars
American Train Video Reviews 