Hello, Big Boy


Today we had the great pleasure of having the Union Pacific Big Boy steam train come through our neighborhood, and I have to say... I was amazed at the turnout.


They blocked off the railroad crossing about a block from my house, and before long people started swarming in with lawn chairs, little kids on shoulders, cameras around their necks, and plenty of excitement.

Road closure signs and orange barricades block a residential street in Lebanon, PA during Big Boy train day at the railroad crossing.
Large crowd gathers near railroad tracks at an outdoor community event on a cloudy day in a small town.

Side note: My ten-year-old twins decided to capitalize on the event by setting up a lemonade stand made with freshly squeezed lemons. Is there a more delicious and iconic way to celebrate capitalism? I think not.

Child pouring fresh lemonade from a dispenser at an outdoor lemonade stand on a sunny day in Lebanon county.
Young girl smiling at a lemonade stand on a sidewalk with a green truck in the background.
A handwritten sign on a wooden utility pole advertising fresh homemade lemonade on a suburban street.

As I wandered around chatting with people, I met several who had driven two hours just to catch a glimpse of the train. One gentleman told me he had driven four hours because little old Lebanon, Pennsylvania, was the closest stop on its route. Four hours! Suddenly I realized this wasn't just a train passing through town—it was an event.

Crowd of people gathering to watch the Union Big Boy train, including a boy sitting on shoulders, cheering along a brick building street.

Now, I wouldn't describe myself as a train person, but after hearing everyone's excitement, I did a little digging and found a few things that made me appreciate what I was about to see.


The Union Pacific Big Boy No. 4014 isn't just any locomotive. It's the largest operating steam locomotive in the world, stretching about 133 feet long and weighing around 600 tons with its tender. It was originally built in 1941 to haul massive freight trains through the Rocky Mountains during World War II. Of the 25 Big Boy locomotives ever built, only eight still exist, and No. 4014 is the only one that's still running under its own steam.


After spending nearly sixty years sitting in a museum, it was painstakingly restored and returned to service in 2019. Today it's traveling across the country as part of a special tour celebrating America's railroad heritage and our nation's upcoming 250th anniversary. It's amazing to think that a machine built more than 80 years ago is still capturing people's imaginations today.


So naturally, I grabbed my camera, my trusty stepstool, and made my way down through the crowd to capture this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.


And, of course, being a family photographer, I couldn't help but sneak a few photos of the adorable little faces around me too. Watching children light up as they heard the whistle in the distance and spotted that enormous cloud of steam was almost as much fun as watching the train itself.

A toddler girl with pigtails in a purple shirt being held by a woman in a pink top outdoors.

It was really something to see so many people—from toddlers to grandparents—gathered together for the same reason. For a little while, nobody was in a hurry. Everyone was simply waiting together.


Then, finally, we caught our first glimpse.


Big Boy came around the bend looking every bit as impressive as everyone had promised. The black locomotive gleamed in the afternoon sun, the massive wheels slowly rolled by, and we were treated to friendly faces waving from the beautifully restored passenger cars behind it.


It wasn't hard to understand why so many people had traveled so far to see it.

(click any image to expand)
Vintage steam locomotive leads a freight train through lush green countryside under overcast skies.
Man photographs a massive black steam locomotive billowing smoke on railroad tracks surrounded by green trees.
Crowds photograph a massive black steam locomotive with American flags, billowing smoke, at an outdoor railway event.
Vintage steam locomotive X4013 adorned with American flag, surrounded by lush green trees, with crew members visible on board.
Crew members work on Union Pacific steam locomotive 4014 Big Boy, with workers in safety vests visible in the cab.
A large American flag emblem displayed on the yellow side of a Union Pacific steam locomotive at a public event.
A smiling railroad worker in a safety vest waves from the window of a yellow Union Pacific America 250 train.
A person waves from the doorway of a maroon NS 14 passenger rail car during a train event.
Two people wave from the window of a classic burgundy passenger train car on an overcast day.
Group of adults and a young girl standing on a flatbed trailer outdoors near a large white silo.

Not gonna lie, that was pretty cool. Our little town doesn't get a whole lot of excitement.


And as much as I enjoyed seeing Big Boy, I think my favorite part was watching our community come together. Neighbors introduced themselves, strangers shared stories, some extra cute kids sold lemonade, grandparents pointed excitedly down the tracks, and for a few minutes everyone stopped what they were doing to experience the same thing together.


The train kept rolling, but I have a feeling the memories will stick around for quite a while.

Black and white photo of a crowd watching a vintage steam tractor at an outdoor fair, captured by Naomi Boyer Photography.