I have not kept up with the UP steam department in a number of years. Over the last 12 months or so on another train order based web site I have seen quite a discussion of the current state of affairs of the UP steam program and its current leader. Somehow I missed the beginning of this: anyone able to play a little catch up? Was the current head, Dickens I believe is his name, the replacement for Steve Lee from day one or a subsequent department head? Is Dickens in any way an enthusiast or just some manager that was handed this department to run? Are thing as bad as that other web site leads us to believe? Are fans just stirring the pot? I could see some departments go through cycles could this just be UPs down time? Or is the person incompetent?
With 4014(the Big Boy) under restoration at Cheyenne, most of the staff is working on it,they may not be running as much
as they normally do.
The UP website has a section dedicated to the steam/diesel historical fleet,you should look there for updates on
any trips,trip reports and plans.
All the passenger cars used on the steam trips are kept at Council Bluffs Ia along with the Biz car fleet,
and are maintained there.