Big Boy Run-by (Illinois 2024)

Tourists, eh?
On September 9, the largest and most powerful steam engine in the world passed through Watseka, Illinois on its way across the United States, from its homeland in Cheyenne WY through the plains to Illinois, to Texas, and back home again via Kansas.
Here the articulated locomotive (4-8-8-4) stops for a brief moment for spectators in Watseka. With my own (mis)adventures, of course.

[@arthurdent4791]

What a gorgeous sight!

[@shawn_bullock]

I experienced Big Boy last month in Oklahoma, how awesome is it to get that horn shaking up inside your bones? And to feel the chugga chugga as it picks up steam (no pun intended) and that monstrous size of iron passing by! I'm so glad you also got to experience it. In my 48 years on this planet, it's been the only time so far and I'm so glad for it.

[@madisonataglance]

Not to mention the overwhelming heat as the firebox passes you by. I'll admit, I shivered when I heard it whistle for the first time. Definitely a spectacular experience!

[@jeffmurdock8321]

@@madisonataglance It's interesting that they converted it from coal to an oil burner when they rebuilt it. I knew they tried that back in the day unsuccessfully on the Big Boys. I suspect they have better burners and nozzles now.

[@madisonataglance]

@@jeffmurdock8321 It seems there has been a push for converting to oil in recent years. The Durango and Silverton line just converted their last engine from coal just a few months ago - now they run on recycled motor oil.

[@jeffmurdock8321]

@@madisonataglance Makes sense. Cleaner, less moving parts, less work. The smoke box could have its baffles removed and need way less cleaning.

[@madisonataglance]

@@jeffmurdock8321 To my understanding, maintenance and running costs were what kept steam from persisting through the years. Less work, less money, thus more opportunity for steam into the future. I'm all for it, although I do sometimes miss the smell of coal.

[@chriswalden9457]

The crew must grow so weary of the “crush of humanity”...

[@m.f.m.67]

Yep, Union Pacific rules for the Big Boy runs clearly state: "25 feet from the track." Some of these idiots should be cited. Their carelessness puts a lot of avoidable stress on the crew. Forward visibility is severely limited out of that monster. It's not like that thing can stop on a dime if someone lost their footing.

[@arthurdent4791]

Cite them if someone were to get hurt, but to my knowledge, the Big Boy has claimed zero lives. No harm, no foul

[@JimHerbertOutdoors]

Did that lady put pennies on the nearby track, expecting the Big Boy to run them over, from the opposite tracks ??? 😅

[@madisonataglance]

She picked them up later, deciding to take her two cents elsewhere.