The United States is celebrating its 250th birthday this year and the countdown is underway for one of this area’s most exciting events to mark the occasion. It’s the arrival of the largest steam locomotive still in operation today. It’s called Big Boy 4014. Many people will be lining up to see the huge locomotive chug through the Lake Shore region next month.

I’m excited about the chance to see Big Boy 4014. Come with me as I scout out some possible locations to observe this giant locomotive up close. Let’s start in Conneaut, Ohio. The locomotive will have a maintenance stayover in Conneaut on June 8. It should arrive at the Norfolk Southern Rail Yard near Chestnut Street sometime during late afternoon or early evening. It will be coming in from the west. I stop by the Conneaut Railroad Museum to talk with the museum’s president, Jeff Morrell, about Big Boy’s stayover.

“They’re going to refuel it,” he tells me. “It uses oil for fuel, and it uses water to make steam. So those are going to have to be replenished. They’re going to have to do some lubrication on the drive rods and stuff like that.”

Big Boy will have no public viewing during its layover at the rail yard. So, I ask Jeff to tell me some good locations to see Big Boy as it approaches the rail yard from the west.

“There’s numerous grade crossing in town,” he says. “You’ve got Amboy Road. You’ve got Gore Road on the west end. Harmon Road further out.”

I found a nice location on Parrish Road. There is a wonderful view from an overpass looking down on the tracks.

Big Boy will depart the Conneaut Rail Yard June 9 at 9 am. There’s a long stretch of track extending from the yard where people can see the locomotive head east towards Pennsylvania.

Big Boy will make its only scheduled stop in Erie County at the Lake Shore Railway Museum in North East. I arrive at the tracks behind the museum. I see some railroad fans are here. They are just like me. They are scouting the place before Big Boy’s arrival on June 9 at 11:25 am. The stop will only be for ten minutes. I ask Bill Ring what he expects that day. Bill is from Olean, NY.

“I-90 is just down the road so it’s easy to get here, he says. “There could be a huge crowd here. You never know.”

“Are you going to be one of them?” I ask. “I’m going to be one of them. Yes sir,” he replies.

Karen Hall is from Corry and is watching freight trains pass through North East with her grandson Landon. They already have plans to see Big Boy on June 9.

“We know we’re going to be here,” Karen tells me. “Probably early morning until it goes through. Then we will probably go towards Ripley. But I think we’ll maybe bypass to Westfield because there’s a Westfield location where we can watch it.”

I arrive in Ripley, New York. I travel to the tracks on State Street where Big Boy will make a 30-minute stop beginning at noon. This flat, spacious site is now quiet, but on June 9, the atmosphere will be filled with the glorious sounds of an historic steam engine.

Big Boy will also pass through the Conneaut Rail Yard on its way back from a July 4 visit to Philadelphia. The locomotive will arrive from the south on Sunday, July 12th. It will depart the Conneaut Rail Yard the next day at 9 am. Once again, there will be no public viewing of Big Boy while it is at the rail yard.

You can track the train. There’s a link on our website, erienewsnow.com for you to do that.