CSX Transportation Historical Society

-->

The "Big Boy" comes to the Midwest 2021

Rail Fan Adventure --

Figuring the Mississippi River valley would be as close to Pikeville as the famed Union Pacific 4-8-8-4 would ever get, I took a few days vacation in late August to see this legend. I took two days of railfanning and scouting out the line prior to the 4014’s run from Poplar Bluff MO to St. Louis on Saturday, August 28, 2021.

1. UP Steam Club Update 17 - 07 Jul 2021.
UP Steam Club Update 17 - 07 Jul 2021.

2. UP Steam Club, schedule page 2.
UP Steam Club, schedule page 2.

3. UP Steam Club, schedule page 3.
UP Steam Club, schedule page 3.

4. I had hoped to get to Poplar Bluff early on Friday, the 27th, but that didn’t happen. I did observe 4014 at the UP yard where it was on display for the public. UP Steam Club.
I had hoped to get to Poplar Bluff early on Friday, the 27th, but that didn’t happen. I did observe 4014 at the UP yard where it was on display for the public. UP Steam Club.

5. A railfan I was standing beside of got really excited over that CSX AC! LOL! I must confess I wish I had time to examine those UP Geeps in the yard. UP 4014. Poplar Bluff MO.
A railfan I was standing beside of got really excited over that CSX AC! LOL! I must confess I wish I had time to examine those UP Geeps in the yard. UP 4014. Poplar Bluff MO.

6. UP 4014. view 2. Poplar Bluff MO.
UP 4014. view 2. Poplar Bluff MO.

7. Busses started arriving with groups of people to see the locomotive. Otherwise they didn’t let anyone walk into the yard from the big crowd that were standing on the sidewalk. UP 4014. View 3. Poplar Bluff MO.
Busses started arriving with groups of people to see the locomotive. Otherwise they didn’t let anyone walk into the yard from the big crowd that were standing on the sidewalk. UP 4014. View 3. Poplar Bluff MO.

8. On Saturday morning I got this shot of Extra 4014 North at Ash Hill MO, just a few miles out of Poplar Bluff. Old US 60 on the right. Saturday 08-28-2021.
On Saturday morning I got this shot of Extra 4014 North at Ash Hill MO, just a few miles out of Poplar Bluff. Old US 60 on the right. Saturday 08-28-2021.

9. It’s next stop would be Scott City which is on the south side of Cape Girardeau. UP 4014. Ash Hill MO.
It’s next stop would be Scott City which is on the south side of Cape Girardeau. UP 4014. Ash Hill MO.

10. UPP business car “Kenefick.” Ash Hill MO.
UPP business car “Kenefick.” Ash Hill MO.

11. Poplar Bluff, MO-AR, 1:250,000 quad, 1957, USGS. Click here for a larger view.
Poplar Bluff, MO-AR, 1:250,000 quad, 1957, USGS.

12. UP 4014. Bell City MO.
UP 4014. Bell City MO.

13. UP 4014. View 2. Bell City MO.
UP 4014. View 2. Bell City MO.

14. UPP “Colorado Eagle”, “Challenger”, and “Promontory.”
UPP “Colorado Eagle”, “Challenger”, and “Promontory.”

15. UPP “Omaha”, 2066, “Walter Dean”.
UPP “Omaha”, 2066, “Walter Dean”.

16. UPP “Walter Dean”, “City of Denver”, “Kenefick”.
UPP “Walter Dean”, “City of Denver”, “Kenefick”.

17. UP 4014, near Perkins MO.
UP 4014, near Perkins MO.

18. The engineer needed a Kroomer cap to look authentic. UP 4014, near Perkins MO.
The engineer needed a Kroomer cap to look authentic. UP 4014, near Perkins MO.

19. UPP Kenefick", near Perkins MO.
UPP Kenefick", near Perkins MO.

20. Bell City to Thebes IL, Paducah KY-IL-MO-IN, 1:250,000 quad, 1987, USGS. Click here for a larger image.
Bell City to Thebes IL, Paducah KY-IL-MO-IN, 1:250,000 quad, 1987, USGS.

21. Crossing the Mississippi River between Ilmo MO and Thebes IL. UP 4014.
Crossing the Mississippi River between Ilmo MO and Thebes IL. UP 4014.

22. UP 4014. View 2. Thebes IL.
UP 4014. View 2. Thebes IL.

23. UP 4014. View 3. Thebes IL.
UP 4014. View 3. Thebes IL.

24. Between Rockwood and Chester IL. UP 4014, near Chester IL.
Between Rockwood and Chester IL. UP 4014, near Chester IL.

25. “Howard Fogg”. UP 4014, near Chester IL.
“Howard Fogg”. UP 4014, near Chester IL.

26. Paducah KY-IL-MO-IN, 1:250,000 quad, 1987, USGS. Click here for a larger image.
Paducah KY-IL-MO-IN, 1:250,000 quad, 1987, USGS.

Although 4014 paused in Chester for a half an hour, the traffic was at a standstill on IL route 3. As time for departure approached and traffic was still stopped, I turned around and spent the rest of the afternoon railfanning to the south. I stayed the night in Festus IL and drove into St. Louis Sunday morning where 4014 was on display. More on that later.

Train images used by permission of Everett N Young