Thousands of Northeast Ohioans flocked to the route of the world’s largest operating steam engine locomotive Monday.
Nicknamed Big Boy, the Union Pacific No. 4014 train is making a coast-to-coast, several-month trip to celebrate the United States’ 250th anniversary. Part of the trek includes stops through Ohio.
It is the first time Big Boy has ever operated in Ohio. The train was towed through Ohio from New York to Wyoming shortly after it was built in the 1940s, according to Union Pacific spokesperson Mike Jaixen. He said this is the first time the train has operated east of Chicago.
“It is very cool to see the reactions of communities coming to see this classic example of American industrial might, now that we’ve restored the Big Boy back into operating condition,” Jaixen said…