HICKORY RIDGE, Ark. (KATV) — The historical steam engine locomotive, Union Pacific’s Big Boy No. 4014, has made its way to Arkansas on the “Heartland of America Tour”.
The Big Boy is the largest steam engine in the country.
“Union Pacific needed a locomotive to solve some problems that they had with congestion,” said Ed Dickens, Senior Manager of Heritage Operations. “They needed a locomotive that could pull more cars and they designed this locomotive as two locomotive units under one big broiler.”
The Big Boy was created in 1941, before retiring in the 60’s, until 2019 when the locomotive was rebuilt creating the historical beauty running today.
Dickens said it takes a team with a lot of experience to pull off this.
“Everyone you see here was part of the restoration. It took us two and a half years but we literally took the locomotive completely apart and put it all back together.”
But he said it’s more than a repurposed locomotive, it’s a look back in time.
“Each community we go through owes its history in one form or another to the railroad,” Dickens continued. “Many communities were built to support the steam locomotive, the logistics, the water, the maintenance. It is just a neat connection to that part of our country’s history and how the railroad, even today and especially today, is such a critical part of our transportation.”
Dickens said it never fails, as families from all over come to see a piece of American history. “When we come into town, you can feel it,. You really can feel that people are excited and they are happy.”
If you haven’t been able to catch a glance at the Big Boy, they will be heading into North Little Rock Sunday where you can see it for yourself from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m.
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Publish date : 2024-09-14 11:49:00
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