Uploaded July 2010 | Updated September 2026, 14 hours ago
Last of the Giants Volume II (DVD)
The Cheyenne Shops
The Union Pacific Railroad produced its classic documentary film Last of the Giants in 1959 as a fitting tribute to the world's largest steam locomotives-the Big Boys. UP cameramen filmed the Big Boys over a three-year period, which Pentrex re-released in 1992. It ran for a total of just 23 minutes, leaving hours of unused footage that was set aside for many years.
Now, in an exclusive arrangement with the Union Pacific Historical Society, Pentrex is proud to present Last of the Giants Volume II - The Cheyenne Shops, utilizing much of the original, unused film footage. The Big Boys were based in Cheyenne during their last years of operation, powering freights over Sherman Hill to Laramie. Cheyenne itself was THE western steam Mecca in the 1950s, and this new presentation is crammed with scenes taken throughout Cheyenne's bustling yards, showing the many steam locomotives that were in service at that time.
We tour the coal chute and servicing areas, take a spin on the turntable that served the 48-stall roundhouse, and visit the backshop where the Challengers and Big Boys were rebuilt. We also talk today with several of the machinists who once worked on these famous locomotives, and watch as Steve Lee, Manager of Steam Operations for the UP, shows us the operational layout and design of the Cheyenne yards as they were in the late 1950s.
Pentrex has painstakingly restored the original films for this exciting new production, using the latest in computerized enhancement technology. You'll be thrilled with the results in this all-color, detailed presentation.
Last of the Giants Volume II (DVD)
The Cheyenne Shops
The Union Pacific Railroad produced its classic documentary film Last of the Giants in 1959 as a fitting tribute to the world's largest steam locomotives-the Big Boys. UP cameramen filmed the Big Boys over a three-year period, which Pentrex re-released in 1992. It ran for a total of just 23 minutes, leaving hours of unused footage that was set aside for many years.
Now, in an exclusive arrangement with the Union Pacific Historical Society, Pentrex is proud to present Last of the Giants Volume II - The Cheyenne Shops, utilizing much of the original, unused film footage. The Big Boys were based in Cheyenne during their last years of operation, powering freights over Sherman Hill to Laramie. Cheyenne itself was THE western steam Mecca in the 1950s, and this new presentation is crammed with scenes taken throughout Cheyenne's bustling yards, showing the many steam locomotives that were in service at that time.
We tour the coal chute and servicing areas, take a spin on the turntable that served the 48-stall roundhouse, and visit the backshop where the Challengers and Big Boys were rebuilt. We also talk today with several of the machinists who once worked on these famous locomotives, and watch as Steve Lee, Manager of Steam Operations for the UP, shows us the operational layout and design of the Cheyenne yards as they were in the late 1950s.
Pentrex has painstakingly restored the original films for this exciting new production, using the latest in computerized enhancement technology. You'll be thrilled with the results in this all-color, detailed presentation.
