Anyone seen the Big Boy Steam Locomotive

[shotgunner]

Has anyone here taken the time or a trip to see the Union Pacific "Big Boy" steam locomotive? We left a sporting clay shoot in northeast PA last Sunday and drove to Westfield NY where my SO has family. We stopped at the Corning Museum of Glass along the way and I found it quite interesting. On Tuesday 6/9 the Big Boy arrived in NYS. It was drawing really large crowds in Ohio so I expected the little town of Ripley NY would be mobbed when it stopped there for 30 mins. We looked at four crossings in nearby Westfield and settled on being at Walker road. I wanted to see the Big Boy moving rather than stationary and it did not disappoint. That's me on the far right on the other side of the tracks lol.

 

[Al18]

Nice train.

I see BigBoy 4014 is scheduled to be at Steamtown National site in Scranton, PA on June 15-30 reservations required Steamtown National Historic Site (U.S. National Park Service)

I’ve visited Steamtown a few times over the years.

 

[pjm-7]

I previously lived in Cheyenne, Wyoming where #4014 is "garaged". When they were getting it ready to go on the tour it could be seen. #4004 is in a local park that anyone can see and walk around.

 

[Ronstar]

Several times. And getting ready for the return trip through Illinois on July 17th. I have a few photo spots picked out between Wilmington and Bloomington.

 

[Route246]

Yes, twice in California.

 

[GoBirds]

Might try to catch it July 2. Need to figure out a good location to watch it in action

Big Boy No. 4014’s Schedule | Union Pacific

Union Pacific connects 23 western U.S. states, providing safe and efficient railroad transportation, freight shipping and logistics.

www.up.com

 

[skyking1]

I have not, and we are train fans. It never gets up into Washington State proper and I was not free to go meet it somewhere.

 

[shotgunner]

Nice train.

I see BigBoy 4014 is scheduled to be at Steamtown National site in Scranton, PA on June 15-30 reservations required Steamtown National Historic Site (U.S. National Park Service)

I’ve visited Steamtown a few times over the years.

I was at Steamtown in 1995 and again in 2017 in '95 they had two working "road" locomotives, 3254 and the 2317. You could take a fairly long excursion behind them which we did. They also had a small steam switcher number 26 moving around the yard. In '17 they were down to just the little switcher running and a very short ride behind it. They also took apart the Boston & Maine 3713 to restore it. The restoration never happened and its been over 30 years, essentially reducing one of the engines on display at the entrance to scrap metal.

 

[Texas Proud]

I got the 4005 HO model train downstairs on display on a shelf... Dad bought it when I was really young... he really loved trains and went on a number of trips way before I was born...

I have not seen the Big Boy but the next size down somewhere in the East when we were driving around the country...

 

[Souschef]

I saw it on a rail cam when it stopped in Marysville.

 

[bluelight]

Lets just say I'm jealous. Very jealous. I'm a train buff, but no where near any of the train's path.

 

[SnowballCamper]

I saw it in Continental, OH. I enjoyed it, but the crowd prevented any good pictures. I got a video on the way out of town with a pretty clear shot, but I had to walk about half a mile down the tracks. It's interesting that it runs on used motor oil.

 

[GrayHare]

It's interesting that it runs on used motor oil.

Sounds like my first car.

 

[shotgunner]

I saw it in Continental, OH. I enjoyed it, but the crowd prevented any good pictures. I got a video on the way out of town with a pretty clear shot, but I had to walk about half a mile down the tracks. It's interesting that it runs on used motor oil.

It is quite the logistical effort to make this tour. There are two tractor trailer trucks shuttlin from Sioux City Iowa where they pick up the oil and then drive back east to fuel the Big Boy. It's a thirsty engine using 20 gallons of oil per mile and 200 to 300 gallons of water per mile.

 

[Jerry1]

About two hours away if I want to see it. Not sure it’s worth it. I live near the Henry Ford museum and they have one of the biggest steam engines ever built there, so I’ve seen one sitting still. I’d want to see it moving which would be a bit of a chore to pull off. I’ll have to give it some thought.

 

[old medic]

Would have loved to see it.... Then DW comes home yesterday with an article, BOTH will be at Steamtown National site in PA while we will be passing through.

 

[bonvoyage]

Not only the Big Boy but I'm going on the Reading and Blue Mountain Northern excursion behind 2102 on July 1. As a part of this excursion, there will be parallel running of the 2102 and 4014!
I usually go for several Iron Horse Rambles behind the T1 2102 on the RBMN every year. Now, that's a beast of a locomotive. Coal fired and hauls a 14 car train at 30 mph up hill without a diesel helper!
As far as preserved steam is concerned, I rode the Cumbres and Toltec last year east bound behind the 488 last year. What a spectacular ride that was up to the Cumbres pass! The 488 is also a coal burner and is manually fired.

 

[Doribe]

I saw it in Illinois.

 

[cat4ever]

Has anyone here taken the time or a trip to see the Union Pacific "Big Boy" steam locomotive? We left a sporting clay shoot in northeast PA last Sunday and drove to Westfield NY where my SO has family. We stopped at the Corning Museum of Glass along the way and I found it quite interesting. On Tuesday 6/9 the Big Boy arrived in NYS. It was drawing really large crowds in Ohio so I expected the little town of Ripley NY would be mobbed when it stopped there for 30 mins. We looked at four crossings in nearby Westfield and settled on being at Walker road. I wanted to see the Big Boy moving rather than stationary and it did not disappoint. That's me on the far right on the other side of the tracks lol.

Absolutely worth the time. Met and exceeded all my expectations seeing that thing moving down the line 50 feet away from me. I got chills, I was not expecting that.

 

[Lewis Clark]

I saw one at the National Railroad Museum in Green Bay, WI a few years ago. Impressive.

 

[FedRetired50]

We'll be at a family farm on 7/11 to see it. Their farm is west of Horseshoe Curve and the mainline runs right through it. Bonus: they have a private bridge over the mainline so I'm hoping to get video from above and to the side. The bridge is owned and built by Norfolk Southern, there's been a bridge there since 1908 if I remember right, to allow farm equipment to cross, rebuilt for over a million $ a few years ago.

 

[Lorenzo]

Saw it once, in 2019, when I flew halfway across the US to Omaha and spent two days shadowing the thing. I used Google satellite view to scope out vantage points from where I might see it entering and leaving the city. I had to guess what tracks it would approach and leave the city on. One vantage point was a bridge, where I saw it pass below--and felt it, bellowing steam up at me. Nobody else was there to view it. Another was just a crossroads where I suspected it might have to stop. And sure enough it did. If you're reasonably clever about stalking it, you can be alone or one of just a few.

 

[hmrambling]

Saw it when it came to Plaquemine, Louisiana. Massive train!

 

[thod]

We were able to see it in Fort Worth, TX a few years ago.

 

[robls]

Saw it in Northeast, PA when it stopped June 9th for 15 minutes. Took a lot of pictures and a video of it leaving. What an awesome sight. Going to see it in Conneaut, OH when it leaves July 13th after it's overnight stay.