BY MARIAH MOORE
With the first big snow of the winter just before Thanksgiving break, hundreds of people huddled in the early morning light, just as the sun started to rise. They all surrounded a large train, fittingly it is one of the locomotives deemed ‘Big Boy’. This train has over a million miles under its tracks, the 14-wheeled giant was retired back in 1961, however, since 2013 a team of dedicated workers have restored it to its former glory. The train began running again in May of this year to celebrate the 150th Anniversary of the Transcontinental Railroad.
Big Boy 4041 was one of twenty-five ‘Big Boy’ locomotives to be made specifically for the Union Pacific. Their design was innovative for the time, and their size was extremely daring. The 132-foot long train utilized new wheel placements and cabin hinging to make it able to round curves, take turns when needed, and make it more structurally stable for a locomotive of its size. To this day, it is the only remaining ‘Big Boy’ locomotive which is running, making it a once-in-a-lifetime experience for the people to see it in action.
Since the locomotive started its mission back in May, it has completed two tours through the southwest United States. Those lucky enough to see the train when it stopped in Hays this November may be a bit disheartened to hear that its stop in our little town has been part of its third and final tour. However, despite the impending retirement of the locomotive once again, it has brought joy to train enthusiasts all across the country.
While also on its journey, the Union Pacific has gone to extreme lengths to recreate iconic moments in the locomotives career, even posing nose-to-nose with another well-known engine, Living Legend No. 844. The love and enthusiasm for this iconic historical moment is clear, and even those who don’t see the hype over steam and metal can agree that the restoration and running of this transcontinental titan is a breathtaking moment forever locked in our modern history.
For those interested to learn more, the Union Pacifc offers several informative pages and links on their website about both Big Boy 4041, as well as the Transcontinental Railroad system and its historical impact.