By Myrna Trauntvein
TN Correspondent
Union Pacific’s historic Big Boy steam locomotive No. 4014 will be in Nephi on Friday, October 4. “Big Boy is touring the Union Pacific system throughout 2019 to commemorate the transcontinental railroad’s 150th anniversary,” said Kent Jones, Nephi City council member. The Big Boy’s return to the rails is the product of more than two years of meticulous restoration work by the Union Pacific Steam Team. It is scheduled to be in Nephi at 300 West and 300 North and is expected to arrive at 10:30 a.m. MT and is set to depart at 11:15 a.m. MT. “This is the biggest engine in the world,” Jones said. “It was built in 1941.” Jones said that, with council permission, he would like to put together some sort of celebration for when the engine is present. “There will be no cost to the community,” said Jones. “The engine will be here for about 45 minutes.” He said that it would have passengers aboard. “Likely two roads will need to be closed,” said Jones. “The road at 300 West and 300 North will definitely have to be closed.” Police and deputies could help with that. Jones said he would like to get the schools involved and also arrange for mobile benches to be set up at the site. “With your permission, I would like to put some stuff together,” said Jones. He said he would also make contact with Union Pacific Railroad. Big Boy No. 4014 was delivered to Union Pacific in December 1941. The locomotive was retired in December 1961, having traveled 1,031,205 miles in its 20 years in service. Union Pacific reacquired No. 4014 from the Rail Giants Museum in Pomona, California, in 2013, and relocated it back to Cheyenne to begin a multi-year restoration process. It returned to service in May 2019 to celebrate the 150th Anniversary of the Transcontinental Railroad’s Completion. “There is no longer any rail to Promontory Point so the big engine could not be at a ceremony there,” said Jones. There was a ceremony in Ogden. The May 9 ceremony at Ogden Union Station featured Union Pacific’s iconic steam locomotives, Living Legend No. 844 and Big Boy No. 4014. The two met, recreating the historic image taken at Promontory Summit on May 10, 1869. The Big Boy is one of eight 4000-class steam locomotives still in existence. Following the steam meet, Union Pacific Chairman, President and CEO Lance Fritz and Utah Gov. Gary Herbert were joined by Margaret Yee and Sandy Dodge to tap a ceremonial spike. Yee’s ancestors were among thousands of Chinese immigrants who forged the transcontinental railroad for Central Pacific. Dodge is a descendant of General Grenville Dodge, Civil War veteran and Union Pacific’s chief engineer during construction. “It was decided to have the Big Boy travel along rail in order to celebrate and that is why it is coming to Nephi,” said Jones. Twenty-five engines were built and this is the only one returned to service, he said. There are seven Big Boys on public display in various cities around the country. They can be found in St. Louis, Missouri; Dallas, Texas; Omaha, Nebraska; Denver, Colorado; Scranton, Pennsylvania; Green Bay, Wisconsin; and Cheyenne, Wyoming. The locomotives were 132 feet long and weighed 1.2 million pounds. Because of their great length, the frames of the Big Boys were “hinged,” or articulated, to allow them to negotiate curves. They had a 4-8-8-4 wheel arrangement, which meant they had four wheels on the leading set of “pilot” wheels which guided the engine, eight drivers, another set of eight drivers, and four wheels following which supported the rear of the locomotive. The massive engines normally operated between Ogden, Utah, and Cheyenne, Wyo. “Railroad police are federal officers,” said Jones. “We will ask our police and also the sheriff’s office to help.” |
