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It was a steamy morning as train
enthusiasts lined the railways of Logan County to catch a glimpse of
Union Pacific’s Big Boy No. 4014, the world’s largest operating
steam locomotive. The train is making its way back to Wyoming after
visiting the East Coast.
Weighing in at 1.2 million pounds and spanning 133 feet, Big Boy was
built in 1941 to haul freight in the western part of the United
States. After traveling over a million miles, Big Boy was retired in
1961 and donated to the RailGiants Train Museum in Pomona,
California.
Restoration began after Union
Pacific reacquired the locomotive in 2013. The restoration was
completed just in time to celebrate the 150th anniversary of the
Transcontinental Railroad's completion in 2019.
This year, the Big Boy went on a
coast-to-coast tour, making stops in several cities for major
display events and several whistle-stop events, like the one in
Springfield, IL. The tour and restoration were overseen by Ed
Dickens, Senior Manager of Union Pacific’s Heritage Operations, who
operates the locomotive alongside a specialized crew (Union
Pacific).
On the I-55 overpass just outside of Lawndale, and at the tracks
just below, many gathered to take in the sight. The crowds cheered
as the steam whistle rang out through the countryside and the train
roared past. Tyler and Larry Houston, a father-and-son-duo, had
traveled from Monticello, IL to see Big Boy. As they followed Big
Boy on the tracker, they shared their love for trains and their
expansive knowledge of Big Boy and other locomotives.
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In Lincoln, hundreds gathered at
the train tracks and depot to welcome Big Boy. The Lincoln Fire
Department set up a fire engine with a large American flag hanging
from the ladder.
Some were waving flags, and
children were hoisted on their parents' backs to get a better look
at a piece of American history. After Big Boy roared past the depot,
the crowd cheered, and it was on its way through rural Logan County
to Elkhart.
Traffic on Route 66 and Interstate 55 was slowed as Big Boy made its
way through Logan County. Big Boy entered Logan County just north of
Atlanta and steamed through Atlanta, Lawndale, Lincoln, and Elkhart.
After exiting Logan County, Big Boy
paused in Springfield for a Whistle Stop where Dickens and the crew
greeted the crowd and made their necessary checks before moving on
to St. Louis for a major display day.
Big Boy rolls through Logan County video playlist
[Joli Boerma Crane]
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