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News Wire: UP announces schedule for Big Boy's next tour in the Midwest

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Posted by Brian Schmidt on Thursday, June 13, 2019 10:50 AM

OMAHA, Neb. — The Big Boy No. 4014 is headed back out on the Union Pacific system beginning July 8 for a tour, taking it through Illinois, Iowa, Minnesota, Nebraska, Wisconsin and Wyoming. Called the Great Race Across the Midwest, the tour wil...

http://trn.trains.com/news/news-wire/2019/06/13-up-announces-schedule-for-big-boys-next-tour-in-the-midwest

Brian Schmidt, Editor, Classic Trains magazine

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Posted by Overmod on Thursday, June 13, 2019 4:12 PM

It's going to be soooooo much fun to watch the foamers respond to "The Big Boy is going through Altoona!"

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Posted by Flintlock76 on Thursday, June 13, 2019 5:27 PM

Overmod

It's going to be soooooo much fun to watch the foamers respond to "The Big Boy is going through Altoona!"

 

Yeah, there's going to be a lot of broken hearts when they realize it's the "wrong" Altoona.  

I didn't know there was more than one myself.

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Posted by kgbw49 on Thursday, June 13, 2019 7:32 PM

There are a ton of great places to view the Big Boy on the proposed route. There are a lot of places to catch it and leapfrog it and catch it again.

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Posted by Lord Atmo on Thursday, June 13, 2019 11:49 PM

Overmod

It's going to be soooooo much fun to watch the foamers respond to "The Big Boy is going through Altoona!"

 

Oh you didn't hear me scream about it earlier today? Laugh

Your friendly neighborhood CNW fan.

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Posted by Miningman on Friday, June 14, 2019 12:21 AM

Wait. What??... yeah right Altoona, Wisconsin. Good one guys. Everyone knows where Altoona is! Next thing your gonna tell me the NBA Champs Toronto Raptors are in Toronto, Ohio. 

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Posted by kgbw49 on Friday, June 14, 2019 7:25 PM

https://goo.gl/maps/f93pGa7CzzAWjaSK7

Head to the 400 Club at 1411 Spooner Avenue in Altoona, WI. I am betting the Big Boy will be parked right across the street. Quaff a couple of “root beers” and have a burger with fresh Wisconsin cheese on it while perusing The Biggest There Ever Was.

(Spin the view 180 degrees and you will see what I mean.)

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Posted by Flintlock76 on Friday, June 14, 2019 8:43 PM

Burgers, beer, and a Big Boy, how could life possibly get any better?

You lucky guy, you!

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Posted by Lord Atmo on Saturday, June 15, 2019 6:55 AM

Actually will be the first time UP has ever sent any steam here. Finally after 24 years of them owning this line.

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Posted by SealBook27 on Monday, June 24, 2019 6:29 PM
Wife and I will be driving from the east coast to St. Louis in a couple of weeks, and hope to see and photograph 4014 the morning of July 15 when it leaves Omaha for Iowa. Thought we should check into a hotel there by Sunday evening, and then show up before departure time Monday morning. My wife isn't much of a railfan so she can sleep in while I see the train. Not having been anywhere near Omaha before, is there anything I should know?
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Posted by kgbw49 on Wednesday, June 26, 2019 8:16 PM

If you want to chase 4014 out of Omaha note that the UP (former Chicago & Northwestern) actually heads more northerly out of the Omaha-Council Bluffs area on the east (Iowa) side of the Missouri River. I-29 parallels the mainline up to a town called Missouri Valley where the UP turns east towards Chicago. Also, don’t forget to check out the Big Boy and Centennial double diesel on display at Kenefick Park, and UP 4-8-4 814 is on display at the Union Pacific Museum in Council Bluffs.

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Posted by SealBook27 on Thursday, June 27, 2019 1:14 PM

kgbw49:  Many thanks for the info.  Won't have time to chase it, but especially thank you for reminding me about 4023.  I see Keneflick Park on the map and will definitely enjoying photographing both locos.  Last April I got to take a second look at 4012 at Steamtown, and since we're traveling to St. Louis to visit my brother, we will both visit 4006.  Wow!  I'll photograph four Big Boys in as many months.  Also, hope to stop at Illinois Railway Museum since it's on my way back home to the east coast.  Should be a blast.  Now, I just need to convince my wife of that.

 

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Posted by Colorado_Mac on Wednesday, July 3, 2019 10:41 PM

My wife and I will be in Cheyenne Monday morning to see her on her way! A proper end to a 4th of July weekend.

I'm pretty sure from the map that she is eventually going to run down the line between Milwaukee and Chicago that I used to live next to.  THAT would have been cool.

Sean

HO Scale CSX Modeler

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Posted by jeffhergert on Thursday, July 11, 2019 10:43 PM

Flintlock76

Burgers, beer, and a Big Boy, how could life possibly get any better?

You lucky guy, you!

 

One could be asked if he wanted to be the engineer-pilot for the July 15th Omaha to Boone leg.

One would say yes.

Jeff 

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Posted by kgbw49 on Friday, July 12, 2019 5:16 PM

Congratulations, Jeff!

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Posted by richg1998 on Saturday, July 13, 2019 1:32 PM

I do not know if this has been posted yet.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=92WVAWa2JPY

Rich

If you ever fall over in public, pick yourself up and say “sorry it’s been a while since I inhabited a body.” And just walk away.

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