The Big Boy event in Altoona, WI was epic. There were literally thousands of people there. The Big Boy was rolling thunder through the sandhills of western Wisconsin on the way there. Big Boy in motion is an unbelievable site and you all need to go if you get the chance.
The City of Altoona did an amazing job rolling out the red carpet, including having Police, Fire and EMT working traffic and safety.
The Steam Crew was also amazing, taking time to talk with the public and patiently answering every question.
There was the Johnsonville Big Taste Grill serving Wisconsin’s finest bratwurst - the Biggest Grill In The World right there with the Biggest Steam Locomotive In The World.
There were other food tents serving ice cream, food and beverages, and the 400 Club and Golden Spike Bar & Grill had beer tents set up and were playing all kinds of railroad-themed music from rock ‘n roll to Johnny Cash.
The whole event had the same atmosphere as the Lambeau Field Tailgate Area before a Green Bay Packers football game.
A huge, huge thank you to Ed Dickens and the UP Steam Crew (what great professionals), CEO Lance Fritz, and the UP Board of Directors for allowing this to happen and make it happen.
4014 is an engineering design marvel, and seeing it in motion, and studying it up close makes you realize that it is an emblem of the good things that the men and women of America have done in the past, and it gives you hope for the good things that the men and women of America will do in the future. If we have done something as great as the 4014, there is no limit to what we can do in the future.
Go if you can.
Hearty thanks for the report!
Now you see, all you doubters out there, THIS is why Union Pacific has a steam program!
Look at all the publicity, public interest, and sheer joy the Big Boy's visit to Altoona made possible. People in that part of the Midwest won't be forgetting the Union Pacific and it's great people for a long, long time after this, I promise you.
And how do you put a price on that? You can't, it's an intangible, but a very powerful intangible just the same.
The rest of the "Big Seven" should take note. Steam is magic. Steam brings 'em out. Steam is unforgettable. It works.
I wasn't there, but thanks UP just the same! Could you come east, pretty please?
And it was glorious
Your friendly neighborhood CNW fan.
I'll see it tomorrow afternoon in the western suburbs heading towards West Chicago where it will be Friday though early Tuesday morning.
My S-I-L and I were in Warrens, Wi., yesterday. A great time. This morning my wife and I hit Friesland, Wi. where the deputy police officer told me over 4000 at 10. The 4014 Big Boy stopped from 9:45 to 10:30 and the crowd was big but well behaved. I wish I could post pictures here but the crowds were big. There were lots of people!
Tom
According to this post, crowds in Altoona reached 10,000. It was an amazing event.
https://railpictures.net/photo/705229/
Great photo '49!
See, this is what I (and a lot of other people) mean when we say steam brings 'em out like nothing else.
Sorry diesel fans. A brand-new shiny diesel wouldn't have the same effect and never will.
And that’s fine by me. Easier to get pictures of CNW 6847 since it’s not crowded
for real though, the big boy was amazing to see in my hometown. I hope I don’t have to wait 24 years to see the steam come back
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