Earlier this summer, the Union Pacific Big Boy 4014 steam engine traveled around the country to celebrate the 150 anniversary of the transcontinental railroad completion.
I managed to capture images of Big Boy 4014 traveling from St. Paul on its way east to Wisconsin. A few puffed of smoke in the distance let us know it was heading our way. The powerful engine appeared through the trees and steamed though town. I could see the 4014 on the front of the engine. In another moment, I watched as it rumbled away hardly believing it had come and gone so quickly.
Traditionally, the powerful steam engines were used in the mountainous area of Odgen to Cheyenne. They are not often seen in the farm fields of the Midwest. Several years ago, #4014 came out of retirement and went through a multi-year restoration process. The Big Boy locomotives are 132 feet long and weigh 1.2 million pounds. Because of their great length, the frames of the Big Boys are articulated, to allow them to negotiate curves. They weigh in at 600 tons and can move at up to 80 mph.
See https://www.up.com/heritage/steam/4014/index.htm to read more about the Big Boy 4014.
