[phantom4570]

There was a time when people said we will never see a Big Boy running again. That time has come and gone.

 

[CaptainGyro]

I don't know what's more beautiful, that big old pufferbelly or those huge Wyoming skies.

As long as we're enjoying beautiful things, this song came to mind while I was watching the video:

 

[csmkersh]

Man, it was big! A 4-8-8-4 wheeler. You don't get any bigger than that.

 

[phantom4570]

Here is a longer test run. You can see the side rod linkage working slowly about half way into the video

 

[Diamondback]

Man, it was big! A 4-8-8-4 wheeler. You don't get any bigger than that.

The Erie had some Triplexes, but I think the third set of cylinders and running gear was under the tender. I also recall some 2-10-10-2's, and Baldwin had proposed a Quintuplex with FIVE sets of ten drivers, three under the boiler and two under the tender.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2-10-10-10-10-10-2

Trivial aside, an NYC Niagara actually had more raw horsepower than a Big Boy by a close margin, but the articulated has more than twice the tractive effort. (Then again, it's not a direct comparison, the UP 4000's were built for hauling freight over steep grades while the NYC 6000's were greyhounds built for flatland, high-speed passenger runs.)

 

[William R. Moore]

My father did some work on designing railroad couplers. At one time I saw 2 pairs of steam freight locomotive drive wheels and axles in a scrap yard and thought that sandblasted and painted, one pair would be the ultimate lawn ornament. Then I had them weighed. I don't recall the weight now, but where ever they came off the truck was where they were gonna remain. There also would have been the little matter of paying for them, even at $0.05 a pound.

I think they got sold to some outfit doing a restoration.

Uh, where's the links?