The rebuilt Union Pacific Big Boy came within 2 miles of us on the tour of the mid-west, so I waited 45 minutes for 30 seconds of viewing.
The images do not do justice to how massive the locomotive is, but it was a thrill to see and hear it up close.
The images are in reverse order because I liked the close-up best.

[SSGGeezer]

Great shots Mark! Did you get a ride also?

[Kerrowdown]

Big Boy

That's a mighty fine piece of machinery, well captured.

[markvc]

Great shots Mark! Did you get a ride also?

No ride for me this time - but I was really glad to see it in person.

[lesmore49]

What a machine !

I'm of an age where these large steam engines were just being phased out in favour of the more modern, diesel electric engines, but I still recall up to about the age of 6-7 years old, still seeing some of these magnificent engines steam down the track...with a full load of freight behind them. At that time, people actually did wave to the engineer and if you were lucky you would get a sharp note from the steam whistle in return.

Steam locomotives seemed alive with the hissing and steam blowing out..of course we know they were/are just complicated machines. I do think that we are missing something without seeing steam locomotives working on a regular basis. Diesel Electric or Electric trains just don't grab my interest in the same way

[scratchpaddy]

The engineers leaning out the window really drive home what a massive machine it is. Thanks for waiting around to capture it!

Look at how many axles it has! I can't imagine how much it weighs.

I really don't know much about trains, but you got me curious. I guess this one unit you photographed is the largest, most powerful operating steam locomotive in the world? Definitely worth waiting 45 minutes for.

Union Pacific Big Boy - Wikipedia