Adelyn “Addie” Hayes - The Girl on the Train

You got 2 of the three numbers correct. Want to guess the third? Hints: ?40, 4?0, 40?

140 is my new guess
But its probably more than 400!

We guess 410

But you could do it with one , as long as all the Mini factory workers was pushing 😁

Carly xxx

Let’s do the math:

• UP Big Boy 4014:
  135,375 lbf (602,110 N) of starting tractive effort

This is the raw horizontal force the Big Boy can apply to the rails when starting.

Let’s estimate for the original 1959 Mini Cooper 997 cc:

• Engine: ~55 hp (41 kW)
• Weight: ~1,400 lb (635 kg)
• Front-wheel drive, 10-inch tires, very light

At full throttle, the average tractive effort at the wheels (due to limited weight and traction) is in the ballpark of:

• ~250 lbf (1,112 N) per car (optimistic)

(Real-world numbers may be lower due to wheel spin and low grip, but we’ll be generous.)

135,375 lbf ÷ 250 lbf = 541.5 Mini Coopers
✅ It would take about 540 Mini Coopers at full throttle (with perfect traction and no slippage) to match one Big Boy at full throttle..
.
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Here is a little trivia for you...

UP4015 was not the only diesel to assist the Big Boy 4014.

In July 2019, the Larry S. Provo Union Pacific Training Center in West Chicago, Illinois, came alive for the “Great Race Across the Midwest,” part of the 150th-anniversary celebrations of the Transcontinental Railroad. Thousands of railfans and families gathered on the training center’s campus—a fitting venue named for a longtime UP leader in operations and safety—to see the legendary steam locomotive UP No. 4014 “Big Boy” alongside its modern diesel counterpart, UP 3025, an EMD SD70ACe-T4.

Event Highlights

• Static Displays of 4014 and 3025 on adjacent tracks
• Interactive Exhibits covering railroad history, innovation, and safety practices
• Guided Tours of both locomotives, led by UP staff and historians
• Family Activities, merchandise booths, and heritage-themed presentations on rail safety

This stop celebrated not only a storied past but also UP’s vision for the future—embodied perfectly by pairing the world’s largest operational steam engine with one of its cleanest, most advanced diesels.

[HR][/HR]

1. A Symbol of Past and Future
   
   • 4014: Pinnacle of 1940s steam engineering.
   • 3025: Tier 4 emissions compliance, AC traction, and dynamic braking—representing today’s sustainable rail technology.
     Together, they created a powerful visual contrast that underscored UP’s dual commitment to heritage and innovation.
2. Environmental and Community Considerations
   
   • West Chicago’s suburban setting and high foot traffic called for the lowest possible emissions and noise levels.
   • The SD70ACe-T4’s after-treatment systems emit far fewer particulates and NOₓ than older Tier 1 units like the SD70M #4015, making 3025 a more responsible choice for a public event.
3. Fleet Logistics & Availability
   
   • Diesel helpers rotate based on maintenance schedules, geographic positioning, and roster needs.
   • The 3025 was simply the newest, most readily available unit in the region.

[HR][/HR]
Positioning the jet-black steam giant next to the bright-yellow, low-emissions diesel told a story of 150 years of progress: from fire-fueled horsepower to electronically controlled traction. Fans loved the juxtaposition—rail photographers clamored for side-by-side shots of the oldest and newest in UP’s fleet, and many remarked that seeing 4014 and 3025 together felt like “history meeting tomorrow.”

This carefully curated consist at the Provo Training Center captured the spirit of the tour: honoring a monumental past while showcasing the cutting edge of railroading today.
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