1959: Big Boy was a King of the Rails.
2019: Big Boy is the King of the Rails.

Yesterday Big boy 4014 ran under its own power for the first time in decades

Big boy pushed a stalled diesel consist up a hill, this is how its done

I must have watched this on VHS hundreds of times as a kid. That last long whistle blast as the train disappears into the sunset still brings a tear to my eye. There will never be anything else quite like a steam locomotive.

Hard to believe the Big Boy is back in service. I never thought I would ever see it happen.

1:18 “And the thrill of seeing a mammoth engine at work was to be only a happy memory of childhood.”



60 years later, that mammoth engine has awoken.

Today millions are cheering on Big Boy 4014 as it makes its stop in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania for the 4th of July for America’s 🇺🇸 250th Birthday!!!

Happy 4th of July!!! Happy 250th Birthday America 🇺🇸!!!

Keep steaming on Big Boy!!! You are still the King of the Rails!!! 🚂

We got tired of double-heading the trains, so we built one engine with double the power.

On a trip to see my grandmother in Pittsburgh I was watching a steam engine in the rail yard near her home.  My dad came down to sit next to me.  He said, “Take a good look, son.  We won’t be seeing those much longer”.  I can still see, smell, feel and hear those wonderful machines.

No computers, no electronic calculators.  Superior people using their skills as designers, machinists to make a magnificent machine.

"It's was the last of the giants"


Until today!

This film deserves an HD restoration.

I can never get enough of Big Boy's three chime steam whistle. It makes me feel like I went back in time.

If 844 is an alligator, 4014 is a T. rex.

The Union Pacific Big Boy is a legend!

man I remember watching this 10 Years ago when I was 5 and still into thomas. Now I'm taking my first steps into serious model railroading. Finally remembered the title of this amazing documentary.

The return of the KING of the high iron.

Just today, 4014 once again did what it was meant to do and pushed a stalled Manifest up a hill.

I am absolutely delighted by the fact that, in a month, many of us will finally be able to say that we were one of the lucky boys to see them in action, an opportunity I would have thought disappeared forever.

Soon you will be able to see a Big Boy when 4014 is back to service.