\n\t\t\t\t\t\tIt\u2019s 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.\u201cIt will be the viewing station for the community to watch the train go by,\u201d Jeannette Mayor Michelle Langdon said. \u201cIt\u2019s going to be fun. The kids will love it. There are a lot of people who absolutely love trains.\u201dBig 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.\u201cThe crowds we\u2019ve been seeing throughout other states and municipalities is substantial,\u201d Jeannette Police Chief Derek Manley said. \u201cBy state law, nobody is allowed on the railroad tracks or railroad track properties. That includes the gravel and everything that runs along them. It\u2019s for everybody\u2019s safety to stay off track. This is a steam engine. It\u2019s high pressure, and there\u2019s a possibility that if you\u2019re too close, you could be injured or burned.\u201dThe 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. \u201cIf you\u2019re in the central or downtown area driving, be aware of extra pedestrian traffic and children in the area,\u201d Jeannette fire Chief Bill Frye said. \u201cWe\u2019ve had many planning meetings with the mayor\u2019s office, police, all of the department heads have been planning this for weeks now.\u201dOther 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\u2019ll pass through a place that embraces its historic railroad. \u201cDerry was huge for railroading,\u201d William Snyder, a member of the Derry Historical Society, said. \u201cThere were about 17 tracks dating back to the 19th century. This was the logical place for a station. It\u2019s the longest, straightest stretch of track around.\u201dSnyder can\u2019t wait to see the engine pass by his Curiosity Shop and Emporium. Chestnut Street in Derry will be lined with food trucks and activities. \u201cThis is the place to be,\u201d Snyder said. \u201cIt\u2019s the longest, straightest, most unobstructed view in Westmoreland County. Everybody\u2019s excited. It\u2019s not just here in Derry. I\u2019ve had people in my shop over the last three to four weeks from places like New Kensington and other far places.\u201dAnticipation is high in Greensburg as well. No one knows that more than the workers at Brady\u2019s Train Outlet. \u201cPeople were asking us what we were going to do, were we going to have the models, and would we do any events,\u201d Stephanie Zemba, the outlet\u2019s marketing director, said. \u201cWe\u2019ve never seen anything like this before. People are really excited.\u201d The outlet sold out of its 50 big boy model trains weeks before the actual engine comes to the county. \u201cIt\u2019s a higher-end item,\u201d Zemba said. \u201cIt\u2019s between $2,000 and $3,000. People are so into the model that the scale version sold immediately. That\u2019s wild.\u201dThe outlet will have a tent at Derry\u2019s watch party on Saturday. \u201cWe\u2019re going to have a couple of tents set up,\u201d Zemba said. \u201cWe\u2019re going to be selling ready-to-run sets. It\u2019s super historic. There\u2019s only a certain number of steam engines running in general. They\u2019re hard to keep in working order.\u201d Between officials, business, and everyday people, everyone\u2019s excited to finally see the big boy. \u201cYou can watch video, you can watch whatever, but being in its presence, like this Big Boy engine, is unparalleled,\u201d Snyder said.\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n
\t\t\t\t\t\tJEANNETTE, Pa. \u2014 \t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n
It\u2019s almost time for western Pennsylvanians to experience the presence of the largest operating steam engine locomotive in the world.<\/p>\n