The former UP No. 4014, an SD70M, departs Yermo, Calif., in April 2014 with Big Boy No. 4014 in tow. Behind the steam locomotive is appropriately numbered SD70M No. 4884.
Brian Schmidt
OMAHA, Neb. – With the pending return of 4-8-8-4 Big Boy No. 4014 to the roster in early May, many observers seemed to forget about its diesel counterpart, SD70M No. 4014 that helped bring the Big Boy east to Cheyenne for restoration in 2014.
A source close to the railroad tells Trains News Wire that crews renumbered diesel No. 4014 to No. UP 4479 on April 10, one day before Big Boy dropped the “UPP” reporting mark to become the only No. 4014 on the railroad’s diverse roster.
Diesel No. 4014 was built at EMD’s now-closed London, Ontario, plant, delivered in June of 2000, part of the railroad’s historic order for more than 1,000 SD70Ms.
