On the Road Again - Purple ZR-1 Road Trip to Utah

[QB93Z]

I am having trouble getting a wi fi connection. Thanks Charlie for your help.


Sent from my iPhone using ZR-1 Net Registry

[dredgeguy]

Anytime Jim, so glad yesterday worked out! Carry on!

[Matt B]

Wow, it's amazing that they could really straighten it! Hope it will last your trip!

Enjoy the rest of your journey.

Sent from my J9110 using ZR-1 Net Registry mobile app

[WARP TEN]

[QUOTE=QB93Z;323375]

Originally Posted by Jagdpanzer

Passing through Cheyenne so you have the opportunity to visit the Union Pacific steam shop and check out Big Boy #414.
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Union_Pacific_4014

The Scuttle Butt is that the Southern Pacific Steam Team is planning some excursions for the Fall of 2021.

I will miss the reopening of the Union Pacific Railroad Museum in Council Bluffs, IA by about a month

Jim

You are right that UP is planning another another run for the #4014 Big Boy. Current plan is for it to start in August. #4014 rolled through Lake Bluff in 2019 and hundreds showed up to watch it. Took a great video of it charging by and I even went out to the West Chicago yard (with about 10,000 other railfans) where it camped for a couple days. I know Paul Workman did too. When you get to Cheyenne you might see if you can get a tour of the Heritage Steam repair shop. Don't know if that is possible but worth a phone call. Here is the link to the UP Heritage Steam website. When they actually get rolling you can track the engine's progress. Have a great trip Jim and Lyndi. --Bob

https://www.up.com/heritage/steam/

[secondchance]

Jim,

Glad to hear the damage was minimal. I would have chosen a board as opposed to a guard rail also.

[QB93Z]

Hello ZR-1 Net Registry...

I got the WIFI working connected to our Verizon HotSpot and I can access the Internet again.

Now, to start the Journey properly, we took a photo of the Purple Z fully loaded and ready to get underway in the garage:




We drove west on I-70 across the Alleghany Mountains of southern PA and crossed in to Ohio. Most of the trip to Columbus was flat land and farming:




We continued west on I-70. Just west of Columbus we had a serious incident by running over a piece of wood cribbing in the left hand lane in heavy traffic. We were able to get the bent front left rim straightened and ready to travel by 5 PM. Lyndi and I would have had to return to home and swap out the rim from one of my spares and then drive 850 miles to get "caught up" to our scheduled trip plan.

Lyndi and I can not say enough Thank You's to the crew at Wheel Medic, Inc, 2971 Silver Drive, Columbus OH. Our mechanic, Bandon, gave us his full attention and using a torch and a wheel press, straighten the rim.

We made it to our first-day destination of Springfield on time. We relaxed in one of our new favorite bars, the Wayside Tavern and Patio. It is not fancy but the people were very friendly, the beer was cold and the food was good:




Jim

[QB93Z]

Day 2 - We left Springfield, OH (the Capitol of OH) early and drove to Moline, IL. The weather was marginal most of the day and we had a little rain in Illinois.

We did not know that I-65 through Indianapolis was completely closed. We had to back-track on I-70 a little to get onto the beltway around the city on I-485 to get back on I-65 North.

We drove through Champaign, IL, (where my Mother was born), and Peoria, IL, the home of Caterpillar and other heavy industry. Along the way we saw many, many, many farms.

As we got to Moline, IL the weather improved and we spent some time hiking along the Mississippi River and visiting the John Deere Store. Unfortunately the John Deere Pavilion was closed due to Covid.







Jim

[Paul Workman]

Been so bizzy with our move to MO, haven't had time to follow the Registry for several days. Wow! another road trip!!

Too bad the UP Steam shop won't be open for visitors - or will it? That would be worth a look! Talk about HORSEPOWER!!! UP 4014 "BIG BOY"

[93 Vette]

Have a great time Jim.

[QB93Z]

Day 3 - We drove from Moline, IL to Grande Island, Nebraska. Our first stop after getting on I-80 West was at The World's Largest Truck Stop. It was worth a stop. We had fun looking at all the displays and merchandise and restaurants:





There is a very large building housing the Truck Museum. Unfortunately we were too early and the museum was not open. So we will see it next time.

During the day we got rained on four times but traffic moved well except one "single lane" section for bridge construction.

We stopped in Des Moines, Iowa to visit the Des Moines Sculpture Garden and the Des Moines Art Center. My favorite sculpture Nomande, by Juanse Plensa was a steel structure composed of letters:




At the Art Center we were very impressed with the extensive permanent collection that was on display. Entrance to the museum is free and the facilities were excellent.




Our favorite paintings were "Automat" by Edward Hopper:




And an beautiful portrait of two children by John Singer Sargent:



Jim