The Union Pacific Big Boy locomotive -- technically No. 4014 -- has traveled across the U.S. to commemorate the 150th anniversary of the transcontinental railroad. It reached Chicagoland on Friday.The Big Boy is "a four-cylinder 4-8-8-4 steam locmotive. Built in 1941 it is the only operating Big Boy ouf the eight in existence." It weighs 1.25 million lbs. (Read more about it here.)
I monitored the online Steam Tracker to calculate when it would reach the nearest crossing to us ( 4 miles west of where we live). At 10:00 a.m. we got a good parking place near the tracks.Other people had the same idea.
I forgot to bring the folding chairs but we had books. (Though we ended up talking with people rather than reading.)
Freight trains, wildflowers, and books: a very Blaine tribute. (My dad was a railroader, my mother loved wildflowers, and we all love books.)
I should have just snapped pictures instead of going for video. (This may not upload).
Here it comes. (A still shot taken from the video attempt.)Right: I was TOO close!
There it goes!
I learned later that the train stopped for a half hour at the Wadsworth crossing.
I had four shiny pennies in my wallet and placed them on the track. I forgot to retrieve them when the crowd dispersed. I went back an hour and a half later and found two of them, smashed but still shiny! I will make them into earrings.
