Ok, so this one is for Jamie. Aka, more trains.

Ok, so last time we toured the outside of the Union Pacific rail yard in Cheyenne. This time we will be inside the gates. Well there really aren't any gates, but be went inside either way. The Cheyenne shops are used to service the only remaining steam fleet in the US from a major railroad company. They have 5 mechanics working in Cheyenne and they maintain the show fleet and they are also responsible for snow removal from most of the Rocky Mountain region.

This is a sign you don't see many places.



Inside the shop there was one of the Big Boy locamotives that was receiving boiler maintenance and some chassis repairs before the summer show season.

This Big Boy is actually just a parts vehicle. The frame is cracked, so rather than scrapping the engine, they use it for extra parts to keep the others running.

Inside the Big Boy. You thought a pump panel was busy, this thing is crazy.

Notice the driver.

Notice the sign.

Here is the interior of one of the club cars. This one is from the '20s and the woodwork is amazing. They also have a '50s vintage club car, and the interior looks like it was made in the '50s. Not nearly as impressive.

Here is one of the vintage diesel engines. Much newer than the Big Boys, but still cool.

V-16 3000hp Detroit Diesel powerplant.

Now, here is the Rotary that is used to clear snow in the mountain passes.

Now outside, you can see the roundhouse in the background. Here is a truck from one of the diesel engines that I show above. Checkout the brakepads!

Lots of spare parts laying around the yard. Good thing I work on cars, not trains.

Here is the round table.

These are the tenders that they pull with the Big Boys. They carry 6000 gallons of water plus fuel for the engines. This will let them run for several hundred miles.

So, we were walking towards the roundhouse and I spotted a huge "bench" grinder on a flat car. Or tour host said "that isn't a big grinder, checkout the one inside."

And he was right. You can grind a 2x4 chunk of steel.

That is all for now. We are leaving for OR in about 20 minutes. So we will be on Interstate 80 or 84 when you read this. So, sorry Julie it will be a while before I read your comment.

Talk to everyone soon.

R.J.