Locomotive Journeying Across U.S.
by Kim MacMillan
There's just something about a steam train that pulls the viewer in the history of how they are tied to agriculture and industry, the mechanics of how they were built and operate, and the spectacle of the excess steam being vented as the train horn sounds. Thousands, some estimates put it at 15,000 plus, gathered along the Norfolk Southern Railroad tracks in and near Argos last Friday in anticipation of seeing the world's largest operating steam engine, Union Pacific Railroad's Big Boy 4014.
Big Boy, accompanied by two other Union Pacific commemorative engines and 18 decorated rail cars (14 owned by Union Pacific with four by Norfolk Southern), rolled through northern Indiana going east last week. According to Union Pacific's website, "Big Boy 4014 will journey to the East Coast for the first time since it was built in Schenectady, N.Y. in collaboration with Norfolk Southern, as part of a historic coast-to-coast tour as both railroads celebrate America's 250th anniversary. The tour includes a Fourth of July celebration in Philadelphia, major display events in eight cities and more than 50 whistle-stops in 10 states, including stops for the first time in Indiana, Ohio, New York and Pennsylvania."
Big Boy first paused briefly for a whistle stop in Argos at the Michigan Street crossing where they were greeted by a huge crowd. Public and private business parking lots in Argos were jammed. Food vendors and restaurants, service stations and shops in the town (which has a population of around 1,777 residents, according to the 2020 Census) did a brisk business, with the local farmers' market also open during the day.
Then, Big Boy made a scheduled maintenance stop about three miles east of Argos at the Ironwood Road crossing and was stationary for about 45 minutes. Spectators parked automobiles along four and a half miles of rural roads in all directions from the crossing. Others arrived in golf carts or on bicycles, motorcycles or scooters. Some of those watching had arrived the night before and camped along the railroad in order to have a prime spot.
Eager crowds kept local law enforcement and railroad employees very busy as they walked along the rails reminding everyone to stay a safe distance from the tracks. Flags waived and the crowd cheered as the train arrived and departed. Attendees ranged in age from babes in arms to a 100-year-old World War II veteran.
Union Pacific's website said that Big Boy officially launched its 2026 coast-to-coast tour on April 10 from downtown Sacramento, Calif., near historic Milepost 0, the site where Central Pacific began construction on the nation's first transcontinental railroad in 1863. Then, it headed east from Cheyenne, Wyo. on May 25 and will be in Philadelphia July 4-5. It will begin the return trip west on July 6 to be back home in Cheyenne on July 29.
The stop in Argos was the only public viewing opportunity in Indiana on the eastbound leg of the trip. It will also stop on the return trip in Knox on July 16, currently scheduled there between 12:30 and 1 p.m.
For more information on Big Boy's trip go to Union Pacific's website in the section "About Us/History/Steam."
"Union Pacific couldn't be prouder to share this powerful piece of history with the nation and to be a part of America's birthday celebration," said Union Pacific CEO Jim Vena about the company's participation in the festivities, "This tour celebrates our company's rich 164-year history, our nation's amazing story and the people who have helped build our great country and our railroad."
Norfolk Southern President and CEO Mark George reflected on the famous steam engine traveling through Norfolk Southern territory.
"Railroads helped build this nation by connecting people, communities and commerce—work carried for-
ward for generations by dedicated railroaders. As the United States approaches its 250th anniversary, Union Pacific's Big Boy's return to the East on Norfolk Southern rails reflects a shared legacy."
Big Boy 4014 is one of 25 that were built by the American Locomotive Co. in the early 1940s, all commissioned by Union Pacific. Today only eight survive, seven of them non-operable in static museum displays, with only Big Boy 4014 in working order.
Designed by Otto Jabelmann, a Big Boy steam engine is 133 feet long, weighs 1.2 million pounds and the frame is articulated to allow it to negotiate curves. Although Big Boy engines initially used a coal fire to power their massive steam boilers, Big Boy 4014 now burns either fuel oil or used motor oil. Union Pacific's website explained that they have a 4-8-8-4 wheel arrangement. This means they have four leading "pilot" wheels to guide the engine, eight "driver" wheels on the first engine, another set of eight drivers on the second engine, and four wheels trailing that support the rear of the locomotive.
Union Pacific originally retired 4014 in December 1961 after it had traveled 1,031,205 miles. They re-acquired 4014 from RailGiants Train Museum in Pomona, Calif. in 2013 and moved it back to their rail yard in Cheyenne. It was fully restored by 2019 in time for the 150th Anniversary of the Transcontinental Railroad's Completion.
People Travel Many Miles to See History
by Jerry Goshert
Like thousands of others, I traveled to Argos last Friday to photograph Big Boy 4014, the world's largest steam locomotive, as it chugged through Indiana on its cross-country journey. Though it passed through many communities along the Norfolk-Southern railway, Argos was the only scheduled service stop in the Hoosier state.
I briefly drove through Argos, only to find bumper-to-bumper traffic headed to the fairgrounds, the main parking area for folks visiting downtown. Argos has a population of just 1,800, but on this day the number of visitors swelled to 15,000, according to Police Chief Rodney Rudd.
In downtown, I saw people carrying lawn chairs as they moved toward the train tracks. Dozens more were milling about the farmers' market, which changed its hours to capture some of the walk-through traffic.
Still in my vehicle, I decided to leave downtown and head east on S.R. 10. I heard that Big Boy would be stopping a few miles east of Argos, so I had that in mind as I was driving. Following other cars, I turned south on Ironwood Road. I noticed that cars were parked on both sides of the road. I found a spot, grabbed my camera and joined the dozens of people who were headed to the train crossing.
A crowd was slowly amassing at the intersection. As I approached, I stopped to chat with some folks from Holton, Mich. Dave and Karen Hogan and Dennis and Karen Flynn were sitting comfortably in the bed of their pickup, waiting for Big Boy to arrive. They traveled 170 miles to witness this once-in-a-lifetime moment. They settled in at around 11:30 a.m., roughly three hours before the train was due to arrive in Argos.
"We're fascinated by steam engines, big equipment like that," said Dave, explaining why he made the drive.
"I came down because I wanted to see this magnificent piece of equipment," Dennis said. "It's huge. It can pull so much weight through the mountains. I'm a truck driver. I'm used to pulling 80,000 pounds. This thing pulls millions of pounds down the track."
When fully loaded, Big Boy 4014 and its tender weigh a combined 1.2 million pounds. It runs on oil, burning up to 25 gallons per mile. Its boiler holds 25,000 gallons of water.
Manufactured in 1941 by the American Locomotive Co., Big Boy 4014 was one of only 25 steam locomotives built for the Union Pacific Railroad. It was designed to haul heavy equipment in support of the war effort, navigating the mountainous areas between Ogden, Utah and Cheyenne, Wyo. The Big Boys are 133 feet long.
Big Boy 4014 was retired from service in 1961, as diesel and gas turbine-electric engines became popular. Union Pacific donated the locomotive to a museum in Pomona, Calif., where it rested for over half a century.
Union Pacific re-acquired Big Boy 4014 in 2013 and launched a restoration project. Originally powered by coal, the steam engine was converted to an oil burner. In May of 2019, Big Boy was back on the rails.
Of the 25 "Big Boys" that were ordered in the 1940s, only eight are known to exist today, and Big Boy 4014 is the only one still in operation.
According to the Union Pacific website, the service to Big Boy involved checking its boiler, lubricating the wheels, adding oil and water, and checking critical components. The checks help to ensure operational efficiency and safety.
I continued walking and came upon a father and son from Fort Wayne. James Collins and his son, Landon, who loves trains, said they came to Argos because they wanted to see the train up close. However, they were not expecting a traffic jam in this rural intersection of Marshall County.
"Our intention is to get a couple snapshots and then get out of here to go chase it back in Fort Wayne and get where we want to be in Fort Wayne," he said. "But now I'm stuck because people are entitled to park wherever they want. We've been here for three hours."
When asked if seeing Big Boy would be worth the wait, Collins said yes.
The train intersection at Ironwood Road is located approximately two miles south of S.R. 10. Cars were parked on both sides of the road, creating a one-way path for vehicles.
As the crowd grew larger, many people cut across a wheat field to get a better viewing location. I saw one person riding a bicycle in the field. Several others decided to set up their chairs there. The wheat had turned golden brown and was within a few weeks of being ready for harvest. I wondered what the farmer must think about all this human activity on his property.
With just a few minutes until Big Boy's arrival, I moved close to the tracks and observed an elderly gentleman sitting in a lawn chair. At the same time, a helicopter flew overhead.
Jim Causey, 88, of Plymouth said he was drawn to this event because he wanted to see something memorable.
"Just the historic atmosphere of this train—you just don't see these anymore," he said. "This type of locomotive is historic in nature."
Like many others that were interviewed, Causey admitted to having a childhood fascination with trains. His grandson also shares the same passion.
Causey traveled with Ralph Booker, retired Marshall County Extension director. Booker noticed me as I was interviewing Causey and came over to say hello. I asked for his reaction to this historic event.
"This is tremendous," he said of the crowd. "We've doubled our population overnight."
Booker shares a mild fascination with trains and arrived about an hour before Big Boy was scheduled to make its only stop in Indiana.
When asked to describe why he came to this event, he said it was to watch a steam engine in operation. He said that's a rare thing.
"It's one of the biggest locomotives ever built," he said. "It's just fantastic that they could keep it running."
On a scale of one to 10, Booker described his excitement level as a 10.
As Big Boy approached from a distance, I could hear its signature whistle. Some people stepped onto the tracks to take photos, but several police officers directed them to stay off. One officer said the train would stop just short of the intersection.
The massive locomotive and 14 cars finally reached a full stop, but it was well short of my location. Dozens of people, including me, began walking toward the train to get a better view, but a Union Pacific worker reminded the crowd to stay off the tracks.
Watching from about a hundred yards away, I admired the design of the locomotive. I also noticed that two flags were fastened to the front: the U.S. and Indiana state flags.
Two diesel engines, both made in Muncie, Ind., were along for the journey, although I do not know how much power they provided. According to the Norfolk Southern website, one of those commemorative engines honors Abraham Lincoln, the 16th president and the founder of Union Pacific, and the second diesel carries the emblem of the America250 Semiquincentennial Commission.
On the eastern leg, Norfolk Southern has added four historic business cars. Among them is the Marco Polo, a restored Pullman car once used by President Franklin D. Roosevelt.
Some of the folks admiring Big Boy had been following its journey since it departed Cheyenne, Wyo. on May 25. Last Friday, Bill Oesterle of Kalamazoo, Mich. took a day off work to see Big Boy pass through northern Indiana.
He said Big Boy 4014 is articulated, which allows it to bend when it navigates sharp curves around mountains.
"It's so big, so massive," he said. "It's as close as we'll come to seeing a fire-breathing dragon."
Big Boy's stop in Argos was supposed to last a half hour, but it was closer to 45 minutes. The engineer sounded a whistle, signaling it was beginning to move. It grinded slowly at first but gained traction as it went. I moved about 100 feet away to take some photos. That's when I noticed the plumes of steam coming from Big Boy's smokestack.
I had the idea of walking to my car and driving to Mentone or Claypool to watch as Big Boy passed at full speed, but my walk was lengthy and the train was moving quickly.
I heard another whistle. I looked back one more time. A gentleman standing a few feet away remarked that he loved hearing that sound.
Big Boy is currently heading east and is scheduled to arrive in Philadelphia, Pa. on July 4. After touring the East Coast, the train will pass through Indiana once again, stopping in Knox around 1:30 p.m. on July 16.