For this week’s Mark at the Park, we are at Kenefick Park to check out Big Boy 4023’s fresh coat of paint.
Kenefick Park was closed for about two months as a team from Union Pacific prepped and painted Big Boy. To prepare the largest steam locomotive ever used by Union Pacific, the team had to grind and sandblast any rough or rusty areas. Next, about 35 gallons of primer went on. It took another 30 gallons of black paint and about 10 gallons of silver paint. A crane had to be used to reach the top of the 1.2 million pound giant.
Built in the 1940s, Big Boy 4023 is one of only 8 remaining in the country. It’s sibling 4014 was restored and brought back to life by Union Pacific and has made multiple visits to Omaha over the last few years…