Big Boy 4014 - Watkins, IA
This summer, I had the privilege to witness UP 4014, Union Pacific's restored "Big Boy" 4-8-8-4 steam locomotive, ply the rails of the UP mainline once again, this time leading the "Heartland of America" tour through the states of Wyoming, Nebraska, Iowa, Illinois, Missouri, Arkansas, Texas, Oklahoma, Kansas, and Colorado. My portion of the trip consisted of traveling to Grand Island, NE and chasing it back east towards Chicagoland and eventually Momence, IL, where I gave up the chase.
Here, 4014 steams slowly through the small town of Watkins, IA, getting ready to meet a westbound freight behind me.
Note the Iowa flag on the left-hand side of the pilot; it is the steam crew's operating practice to display the state flag for whatever state they are passing through at the time. Pretty cool touch!
Big Boy 4014 - Watkins, IA
This summer, I had the privilege to witness UP 4014, Union Pacific's restored "Big Boy" 4-8-8-4 steam locomotive, ply the rails of the UP mainline once again, this time leading the "Heartland of America" tour through the states of Wyoming, Nebraska, Iowa, Illinois, Missouri, Arkansas, Texas, Oklahoma, Kansas, and Colorado. My portion of the trip consisted of traveling to Grand Island, NE and chasing it back east towards Chicagoland and eventually Momence, IL, where I gave up the chase.
Here, 4014 steams slowly through the small town of Watkins, IA, getting ready to meet a westbound freight behind me.
Note the Iowa flag on the left-hand side of the pilot; it is the steam crew's operating practice to display the state flag for whatever state they are passing through at the time. Pretty cool touch!