Trains and planes

TL;DR -- Trains first, and then planes. These move from place to place, carry people and goods, or just amaze us like the fighters. Children play with toys representing these. The train is from our and helped build the country. The plane is later and serves similar roles but speeds up the process. 

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Taking the engines of trains, first, as they're on the ground doing real work. The 250th has been an occasion to bring out some big iron. This type of locomotive was designed to up to a mile of loaded railcars over the mountains, in the west part of the U.S. 

Big Boy is Union Pacific 4014 which was built in 1941. This photo is from 2026 when a rebuilt engine started to travel the country while we all celebrate the 250th of ink on paper (declaring independence). It was several before the conflict was over with the Mother Country. 

In the photo, the 4014 was leaving Denver, CO. Its size is apparent from the photo. 

"rebuilt" was from the state of last use where the engine sat in a Museum. Once it was decided to revive the engine, it was taken to New York and dismantled. There are several things to look at with respect to that, including tooling, handling things of matter of this size, 

Big Boy, Leaves Denver, CO

Now planes are the topic. We have mentioned some aviation themes in out posts and will do more. This is where technology excels. But, the Big Boy is heavier than the Boeing 747 which is to be expected. One slogs along the ground for miles and miles. The other jumps into the sky and moves across the Earth to another site that is configured for its arrival and eventual departure. 

Big Boy moves about on rail. That was a topic as it was not until after the Civil War that the rail industry boomed. And, at a later time, there was one track of rail from the east to the west coast. We have had many posts on the technology and history of railroad 

To end this introductory post, as kids play with toys of rails and trains. Both are featured in children stories which includes multi-media. 

But, let's look at mountains. We have covered rivers for a while. These carry water out of the higher elevations. Some of those elevations were troublesome to early travelers. 

The Wasatch Range
viewed from Jordan Campus of
Salt Lake Community College, March 2006

That brings up another topic, namely Trails. We will look at another (Mormon trail) as we add to the list of note, Oregon, California, Sante Fe. 

Nowdays, one can still take a train from Denver to the west coast. But, the plane schedules are literally 1000s a day domestically. 

Remarks: Modified: 10/10/2026

10/10/2026 --