SCRANTON, LACKAWANNA CO. (WOLF) — Tuesday marked the final day for the public to view Union Pacific’s Big Boy No. 4014 at Steamtown National Historic Site, where it was reunited with Steamtown’s own Big Boy in a historic display.
Rail enthusiasts gathered for one last opportunity to see the locomotives side by side, as officials said the event drew record crowds and defined a memorable moment in railroad history.
As Big Boy No. 4014 heads out on its America 250 cross-country tour, thousands upon thousands of rail fans visited Steamtown to see the world’s largest operating steam locomotive, built in 1941.
Steamtown Superintendent Jeremy Komasz said the turnout far exceeded the site’s typical attendance.
“This is an historic event for train world, for railroading, and especially for Steamtown and Northeast Pennsylvania. Over the course of the 17 days, Big Boy No. 4014 is visiting with its brother, Big Boy No. 4012, we will see approximately 110,000 visitors. To put that in perspective, Steamtown normally sees about 60 to 61,000 visitors in a year,” said Komasz.
Komasz also shared just how far rail fans traveled to see the Big Boy.
“The furthest I’ve heard state-wise is Hawaii. We had a few people from Texas, a few people from California, Florida. And then the furthest that I have personally heard internationally is we had a gentleman here yesterday from the Netherlands who flew here just to take pictures of the two Big Boys side by side, and he’s out the next day,” said Komasz.
One rail fan, Davia Defina, traveled from Massachusetts to see the Big Boy in person. While at Steamtown, he also waited in line for the chance to tour the cab of Steamtown’s Big Boy No. 4012.
“I’ve been a rail fan since I was three or so. I watched Thomas & Friends until I was like, and then, about a year or two ago, I went to Wales to see the Talyllyn Railway, and now I just love trains. I’m excited to see the Big Boy. I’m going to go into the cab of the 4012 soon,” said Defina.
Komasz explained the Big Boy’s historic significance and how it resonated with rail fans, drawing visitors to the region.
“When you think about the history of the Big Boy locomotives, only 25 were made. They were all made in Schenectady, New York. But then they all ran out in the Midwest and the West Coast. So, having a Big Boy running on East Coast rails is just an amazing thing that people have literally never seen in their life. So, with only eight Big Boys left in the country and only one operational, you figure 25% of the remaining Big Boys are sitting right behind me,” said Komasz.
“It is a massive impact. It is a massive thing for Steamtown and for Northeast Pennsylvania, and it’s just great to see everybody out here enjoying our railroading history,” said Komasz.
Big Boy No. 4014 is scheduled to depart Scranton tomorrow at 10 a.m. without public access. From there, the locomotive will head to Philadelphia, where it will make its next stop during the 4th of July weekend.