Big Boy Is Rolling On The Tracks Again August and September 2021

**aslyfox** · 07-08-2021, 05:08 PM - **2 Likes**

photography opportunity

The World Largest Steam Engine is once again rolling on the tracks

UP: UP No. 4014 - The Big Boy

Quote:

Big Boy No. 4014 will depart Cheyenne, Wyoming, Thursday, Aug. 5, traveling through Arkansas, Colorado, Kansas, Illinois, Louisiana, Missouri, Nebraska, Oklahoma, Texas and Wyoming. Along the way, the Big Boy will be on display in the following cities during the tour. . .

UP: Steam Schedule

heading east out of Cheyenne Wy on Aug 5 and returning there on Sept 7 from the South

follow link above for schedule and route map which includes information on where the Big Boy just steams by, pauses briefly or for an extended time

[

in Topeka KS twice for brief stops and staying longer in Kansas City's Union Station twice as well

]

extended stops may include access to:

Quote:

Experience the Union Pacific Rail Car

The Experience the Union Pacific Rail Car is a brand new, multi-media walk-through exhibition that provides a glimpse at the past while telling the story of modern-day railroading. Through sound, images and interactive technology, rail fans will see how Union Pacific is building America in their communities and throughout the world. . . .

UP: Experience the Union Pacific Rail Car

You Tube

Quote:

Steam Locomotive Tracking
The Big Boy 2021 Tour

https://www.up.com/forms/steam-trace.cfm

Big Boy was last on the rails like this trip in 2019

Last edited by aslyfox; 08-11-2021 at 12:13 PM.

**ramseybuckeye** · 07-08-2021, 06:11 PM

Pretty cool. I was hoping that it would come close but no cigar. Actually, there are very few railroads in this area. (Coastal North Carolina)

**MikeNArk** · 07-08-2021, 07:05 PM

I believe it came through Conway Ark. on 11/15/19. I photographed as it came into town and while it stopped for viewing. Great fun seeing this engine on the tracks.

**aslyfox** · 07-08-2021, 07:43 PM

Originally posted by MikeNArk

I believe it came through Conway Ark. on 11/15/19. I photographed as it came into town and while it stopped for viewing. Great fun seeing this engine on the tracks.

it will also be running through Arkansas this time as well

you can find the dates, locales and times here

UP: Steam Schedule

**Astropaps** · 07-09-2021, 02:58 AM

I’d love to see that!

Amy

**robgski** · 07-09-2021, 05:04 AM - **1 Like**

I might be in Arkansas and Missouri during the time it comes through, thanks for the tip.
I saw the Big Boy between Greeley and Denver over 40 years ago, and it is really worth seeing in person.

**Just1MoreDave** · 07-09-2021, 08:14 AM - **2 Likes**

The last big trip was in 2019 and covered some of the same ground. If you're researching spots for photos, look on Youtube or flickr for photos from that trip. Generally the stops attracted large crowds. It was easier to photograph the train on the move. Also it's more obvious that it's a steam locomotive.

It came by here in November. My plan was to use a bridge over the tracks with a pedestrian walkway. There are electric commuter trains running parallel to the freight line at this bridge, so the pedestrian area is fenced off pretty well to keep people away from the power lines. That limited my position somewhat. Also my background was too cluttered. I didn't have enough time to drive to a better location, but east of the Denver/Aurora area, uncluttered should be easy to find. I did not know they converted the locomotive to run on diesel; I was worried a little about cinders and coal smoke, but that was wrong. I brought two cameras to try out different lens options.

**MikeNArk** · 07-09-2021, 06:35 PM - **2 Likes**

Originally posted by aslyfox

it will also be running through Arkansas this time as well

you can find the dates, locales and times here

UP: Steam Schedule

Looks like I'll go to North Little Rock to see it. UP has a repair facility at that location. Thanks for the schedule info.

**blues_hawk** · 07-10-2021, 04:37 PM

Wow! We have a few famous old engine's in Virginia but they don't move very far. This looks like a major undertaking.

**aslyfox** · 08-11-2021, 12:04 PM

I photographed Big Boy as it pulled into Topeka and while it was stopped in Kansas City

photos posted to the forums:

=planes, trains, boats and automobiles= - PentaxForums.com

Are we really THAT rare? - PentaxForums.com

I expect to post more photos

and to photograph it as it arrives from the East

Quote:

Topeka, Kan. 701 N. Kansas Ave. Arrival 11:45 a.m. CT [ ish ]
Depart 12:30 p.m. CT

https://www.up.com/heritage/steam/schedule/index.htm

Quote:

Steam Locomotive Tracking
The Big Boy 2021 Tour

https://www.up.com/forms/steam-trace.cfm

**aslyfox** · 09-01-2021, 06:52 AM

this is from yesterday at the Union Station in Kansas City Missouri

K 3 III + SMC Pentatx-FA 77mm F1.8 Limited

the photographer pictured is from UP

you can see a part of the elevated platform where I was as the "Big Boy " pulled into the station

photo taken from that vantage point is posted here: Post your K3 iii pictures. - PentaxForums.com

and I posted one showing using a common item as " scale " to help visualize the size of the " Big Boy " here: =planes, trains, boats and automobiles= - PentaxForums.com

**aslyfox** · 09-02-2021, 05:15 AM

this is the train that the UP's Big Boy # 1404 pulled past Union Station in Kansas City Mo. Tuesday evening

it was then backed down and shunted onto the siding to stay until Thursday morning when it will begin its westward journey [ https://www.up.com/heritage/steam/schedule/index.htm ]

you can see the tape line barrier and the refueling truck in the second photo

**aslyfox** · 09-02-2021, 02:14 PM - **2 Likes**

well

my 2021 experiences with UP's " Big Boy " #1404 has come and gone

it has passed through Topeka and I am not chasing it west

photos are posted here and elsewhere

[ https://www.pentaxforums.com/forums/26-mini-challenges-games-photo-stories/8...ml#post5392312 ]

I hope folks liked what they learned about this massive piece of machinery

I hope folks to the west get to view and photograph it and post their photos here

**southlander** · 09-05-2021, 06:10 AM

There is some YouTube video of 4014 here:

Youtu.be

normhead · 09-05-2021, 07:26 AM

Is the guy in the last photo giving you bit of attitude?

Excellent images by the way.

08-11-2021, 12:04 PM	#10
aslyfox Seeker of Knowledge Join Date: Aug 2016 Location: Topeka, Kansas Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 24,581 Original Poster	I photographed Big Boy as it pulled into Topeka and while it was stopped in Kansas City photos posted to the forums: =planes, trains, boats and automobiles= - PentaxForums.com Are we really THAT rare? - PentaxForums.com I expect to post more photos and to photograph it as it arrives from the East Quote: Topeka, Kan. 701 N. Kansas Ave. Arrival 11:45 a.m. CT [ ish ] Depart 12:30 p.m. CT https://www.up.com/heritage/steam/schedule/index.htm Quote: Steam Locomotive Tracking The Big Boy 2021 Tour https://www.up.com/forms/steam-trace.cfm Last edited by aslyfox; 08-11-2021 at 12:09 PM.

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07-08-2021, 06:11 PM	#2
ramseybuckeye Site Supporter Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Hampstead, NC Photos: Gallery Posts: 17,291	Pretty cool. I was hoping that it would come close but no cigar. Actually, there are very few railroads in this area. (Coastal North Carolina)

07-08-2021, 07:05 PM	#3
MikeNArk Loyal Site Supporter Join Date: Sep 2019 Location: Conway, Arkansas Posts: 15,105	I believe it came through Conway Ark. on 11/15/19. I photographed as it came into town and while it stopped for viewing. Great fun seeing this engine on the tracks.

07-08-2021, 07:43 PM	#4
aslyfox Seeker of Knowledge Join Date: Aug 2016 Location: Topeka, Kansas Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 24,581 Original Poster	Originally posted by MikeNArk I believe it came through Conway Ark. on 11/15/19. I photographed as it came into town and while it stopped for viewing. Great fun seeing this engine on the tracks. it will also be running through Arkansas this time as well you can find the dates, locales and times here UP: Steam Schedule

07-09-2021, 02:58 AM	#5
Astropaps Loyal Site Supporter Join Date: Mar 2017 Posts: 121	I’d love to see that! Amy

07-09-2021, 05:04 AM - 1 Like	#6
robgski Loyal Site Supporter Join Date: Nov 2012 Location: Shenandoah Valley, Virginia Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 8,796	I might be in Arkansas and Missouri during the time it comes through, thanks for the tip. I saw the Big Boy between Greeley and Denver over 40 years ago, and it is really worth seeing in person.

07-09-2021, 08:14 AM - 2 Likes	#7
Just1MoreDave Site Supporter Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Aurora, CO Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 6,340	The last big trip was in 2019 and covered some of the same ground. If you're researching spots for photos, look on Youtube or flickr for photos from that trip. Generally the stops attracted large crowds. It was easier to photograph the train on the move. Also it's more obvious that it's a steam locomotive. It came by here in November. My plan was to use a bridge over the tracks with a pedestrian walkway. There are electric commuter trains running parallel to the freight line at this bridge, so the pedestrian area is fenced off pretty well to keep people away from the power lines. That limited my position somewhat. Also my background was too cluttered. I didn't have enough time to drive to a better location, but east of the Denver/Aurora area, uncluttered should be easy to find. I did not know they converted the locomotive to run on diesel; I was worried a little about cinders and coal smoke, but that was wrong. I brought two cameras to try out different lens options.

07-09-2021, 06:35 PM - 2 Likes	#8
MikeNArk Loyal Site Supporter Join Date: Sep 2019 Location: Conway, Arkansas Posts: 15,105	Originally posted by aslyfox it will also be running through Arkansas this time as well you can find the dates, locales and times here UP: Steam Schedule Looks like I'll go to North Little Rock to see it. UP has a repair facility at that location. Thanks for the schedule info.

07-10-2021, 04:37 PM	#9
blues_hawk Site Supporter Join Date: Jul 2016 Location: Patrick Co. Virginia Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 1,534	Wow! We have a few famous old engine's in Virginia but they don't move very far. This looks like a major undertaking.

09-05-2021, 07:26 AM	#15
normhead Pentaxian Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Near Algonquin Park Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 40,451	Is the guy in the last photo giving you bit of attitude? Excellent images by the way.