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…
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.
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.
Oh you didn’t hear me scream about it earlier today? [(-D]
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.
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.)
Burgers, beer, and a Big Boy, how could life possibly get any better?
You lucky guy, you!
Actually will be the first time UP has ever sent any steam here. Finally after 24 years of them owning this line.
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?
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.
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.
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.
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
Congratulations, Jeff!