Staff Report/photos as noted
We continue our coverage of UP Big Boy 4014 this month as the world’s largest operating steam locomotive departed Steamtown National Historic Site in Scranton, Pennsylvania, on Wednesday, July 1, following a two-week visit and scheduled maintenance.
Annville: Big Boy storms west on the former Reading Lebanon Valley Line through Annville, Pennsylvania, noted for lush farmland as seen in the background, July 7, 2026. — Frank Wrabel
The locomotive traveled south over NS’ Sunbury Line to Dupont, where it took the rarely used Dupont Connection onto the Reading & Northern for a trip south to Jim Thorpe. After an overnight in “the Switzerland of America”, No. 4014 continued south on the R&N to a stop at R&N’s Reading Outer Station, then onto the NS (Reading) “Belt Line” around Reading and over the “Turkey Path” from Cumru to Birdsboro. In Pottstown the train passed a billboard commissioned by White River Productions saluting the Big Boy Eastern Tour. After a stop at the Pottstown Station on the NS Harrisburg Line (former Reading Railroad main line), the engine overnight at Abrams Yard in King of Prussia on July 2. On Friday morning, July 3, it was south from Abrams to Philadelphia for a two-day public display in the former Navy Yard area over July 4th weekend.
Tamaqua, Take-2: The moment hundreds of people gathered in Tamaqua waited for has finally arrived – the appearance of Big Boy 4014. Despite extreme heat and the train running late, the crowd was still enthusiastic for the 4014. The Big Boy did a “photo stop” for fifteen minutes at Tamaqua, before continuing on to Reading. In addition to Tamqua, there were plenty of other “photo stop” locations along the R&N, including Nesquehoning, New Ringgold, Port Clinton, Hamburg, Mohrsville, Leesport, and an extended stop at R&N’s Reading Outer Station. — James Benetzky
UP 4014 returned to Abrams Yard on Monday, July 6, in a downpour, which didn’t stop fans from gathering trackside in the city and west to King of Prussia. The locomotive headed west on the former Reading Lebanon Valley Line to Enola on Tuesday, July 7.
Altoona Departure: The Big Boy and five specially painted Norfolk southern diesels departed Altoona and the UP consist at 9:00 a.m. Saturday, July 11, headed west to Conway on the Pittsburgh Line. — Alex Mayes
From Enola it was a grand trip west over the famed PRR Middle Division to Altoona on Wednesday, July 8. The engine spent two days on public display in Rose Yard in Altoona July 9-10 with a dozen diesels painted in a variety of patriotic schemes and an interesting assortment of freight and passenger equipment…
