It’s almost time for western Pennsylvanians to experience the presence of the largest operating steam engine locomotive in the world.Big Boy No. 4014 is coming through Westmoreland and Allegheny counties Saturday afternoon. Some towns are shutting the streets down in anticipation of the event.The Second Street Bridge in Jeannette will be closed to traffic and pedestrians. The Seventh Street Bridge will be closed to traffic.“It will be the viewing station for the community to watch the train go by,” Jeannette Mayor Michelle Langdon said. “It’s going to be fun. The kids will love it. There are a lot of people who absolutely love trains.”Big Boy’s Western PA whistle-stop: Where to park, how to see itThose closures will make room for food trucks and other fun activities waiting for the Big Boy. The other reason is to help people enjoy this once-in-a-lifetime experience safely.“The crowds we’ve been seeing throughout other states and municipalities is substantial,” Jeannette Police Chief Derek Manley said. “By state law, nobody is allowed on the railroad tracks or railroad track properties. That includes the gravel and everything that runs along them. It’s for everybody’s safety to stay off track. This is a steam engine. It’s high pressure, and there’s a possibility that if you’re too close, you could be injured or burned.”The bridges and roads in Jeannette will close at 11 a.m. on Saturday and will stay closed until 5 p.m. at the latest. That, and the number of people, could make things more difficult for drivers. “If you’re in the central or downtown area driving, be aware of extra pedestrian traffic and children in the area,” Jeannette fire Chief Bill Frye said. “We’ve had many planning meetings with the mayor’s office, police, all of the department heads have been planning this for weeks now.”Other areas such as Latrobe, Greensburg and Derry will have additional patrols along railroad tracks monitoring people viewing the engine. Before the Big Boy reaches Jeannette, it’ll pass through a place that embraces its historic railroad. “Derry was huge for railroading,” William Snyder, a member of the Derry Historical Society, said. “There were about 17 tracks dating back to the 19th century. This was the logical place for a station. It’s the longest, straightest stretch of track around.”Snyder can’t wait to see the engine pass by his Curiosity Shop and Emporium. Chestnut Street in Derry will be lined with food trucks and activities. “This is the place to be,” Snyder said. “It’s the longest, straightest, most unobstructed view in Westmoreland County. Everybody’s excited. It’s not just here in Derry. I’ve had people in my shop over the last three to four weeks from places like New Kensington and other far places.”Anticipation is high in Greensburg as well. No one knows that more than the workers at Brady’s Train Outlet. “People were asking us what we were going to do, were we going to have the models, and would we do any events,” Stephanie Zemba, the outlet’s marketing director, said. “We’ve never seen anything like this before. People are really excited.” The outlet sold out of its 50 big boy model trains weeks before the actual engine comes to the county. “It’s a higher-end item,” Zemba said. “It’s between $2,000 and $3,000. People are so into the model that the scale version sold immediately. That’s wild.”The outlet will have a tent at Derry’s watch party on Saturday. “We’re going to have a couple of tents set up,” Zemba said. “We’re going to be selling ready-to-run sets. It’s super historic. There’s only a certain number of steam engines running in general. They’re hard to keep in working order.” Between officials, business, and everyday people, everyone’s excited to finally see the big boy. “You can watch video, you can watch whatever, but being in its presence, like this Big Boy engine, is unparalleled,” Snyder said.

JEANNETTE, Pa. —

It’s almost time for western Pennsylvanians to experience the presence of the largest operating steam engine locomotive in the world.

Big Boy No. 4014 is coming through Westmoreland and Allegheny counties Saturday afternoon. Some towns are shutting the streets down in anticipation of the event.

The Second Street Bridge in Jeannette will be closed to traffic and pedestrians. The Seventh Street Bridge will be closed to traffic.

“It will be the viewing station for the community to watch the train go by,” Jeannette Mayor Michelle Langdon said. “It’s going to be fun. The kids will love it. There are a lot of people who absolutely love trains.”

Big Boy’s Western PA whistle-stop: Where to park, how to see it

Those closures will make room for food trucks and other fun activities waiting for the Big Boy. The other reason is to help people enjoy this once-in-a-lifetime experience safely.

“The crowds we’ve been seeing throughout other states and municipalities is substantial,” Jeannette Police Chief Derek Manley said. “By state law, nobody is allowed on the railroad tracks or railroad track properties. That includes the gravel and everything that runs along them. It’s for everybody’s safety to stay off track. This is a steam engine. It’s high pressure, and there’s a possibility that if you’re too close, you could be injured or burned.”

The bridges and roads in Jeannette will close at 11 a.m. on Saturday and will stay closed until 5 p.m. at the latest.

That, and the number of people, could make things more difficult for drivers.

“If you’re in the central or downtown area driving, be aware of extra pedestrian traffic and children in the area,” Jeannette fire Chief Bill Frye said. “We’ve had many planning meetings with the mayor’s office, police, all of the department heads have been planning this for weeks now.”

Other areas such as Latrobe, Greensburg and Derry will have additional patrols along railroad tracks monitoring people viewing the engine.

Before the Big Boy reaches Jeannette, it’ll pass through a place that embraces its historic railroad.

“Derry was huge for railroading,” William Snyder, a member of the Derry Historical Society, said. “There were about 17 tracks dating back to the 19th century. This was the logical place for a station. It’s the longest, straightest stretch of track around.”

Snyder can’t wait to see the engine pass by his Curiosity Shop and Emporium.

Chestnut Street in Derry will be lined with food trucks and activities.

“This is the place to be,” Snyder said. “It’s the longest, straightest, most unobstructed view in Westmoreland County. Everybody’s excited. It’s not just here in Derry. I’ve had people in my shop over the last three to four weeks from places like New Kensington and other far places.”

Anticipation is high in Greensburg as well. No one knows that more than the workers at Brady’s Train Outlet.

“People were asking us what we were going to do, were we going to have the models, and would we do any events,” Stephanie Zemba, the outlet’s marketing director, said. “We’ve never seen anything like this before. People are really excited.”

The outlet sold out of its 50 big boy model trains weeks before the actual engine comes to the county.

“It’s a higher-end item,” Zemba said. “It’s between $2,000 and $3,000. People are so into the model that the scale version sold immediately. That’s wild.”

The outlet will have a tent at Derry’s watch party on Saturday.

“We’re going to have a couple of tents set up,” Zemba said. “We’re going to be selling ready-to-run sets. It’s super historic. There’s only a certain number of steam engines running in general. They’re hard to keep in working order.”

Between officials, business, and everyday people, everyone’s excited to finally see the big boy.

“You can watch video, you can watch whatever, but being in its presence, like this Big Boy engine, is unparalleled,” Snyder said.