Big Boy locomotive chugs through Westmoreland, Allegheny counties

By JOE NAPSHA AND MICHAEL DIVITTORIO TribLive

The world’s largest operating steam engine, Union Pacific Big Boy 4014, is on the East Coast of the United States for the first time in history.

It passed through Westmoreland and Allegheny counties Saturday.

The locomotive traveled through Western Pennsylvania as it journeys westward from Philadelphia back to its home rail yard in Cheyenne, Wyo. It’s traveling along the Norfolk Southern tracks through Westmoreland and Allegheny counties.

Although it didn’t stop in Westmoreland County, multiple communities across the county held free watch parties where people gathered to watch the steam engine pass.

Towns in Westmoreland hosting watch parties were Derry, New Florence, Greensburg, Jeannette and Penn Borough.

As just one example of festivities, Greensburg’s event featured a Kona Ice truck and music. The Greensburg Business and Professional Association was handing out American flags.

An event also was scheduled at Point State Park in Pittsburgh.

As Big Boy is traveling through Norfolk Southern territory, a local crew is riding with them, said Robynn Tysver, a spokeswoman for Union Pacific.

She said bringing Big Boy to Western Pennsylvania has been an incredible experience.

“We always expected this tour to attract a lot of attention. I don’t know if we expected all of the attention we see — to see the joy on people’s faces, to see families coming out,” Tysver said. “They put out blankets and they have picnic baskets — thousands upon thousands lining the track. It’s just been an incredible joy.

“It’s brought so much joy to people, and it is such a special way to celebrate the 250th anniversary of this country.”

Throngs in Derry

Several thousand people who waited several hours in Derry were not disappointed by the engine that barreled through the rail line in the borough that was packed with people along the tracks.

“It was worth it. It was glorious. I’ve only ever seen Big Boy through YouTube,” said Andrew Steffen of Derry Township, who got a spot with his mother, Stacie Steffen, in the first row behind the yellow caution tape that kept spectators at a safe distance from the railroad tracks.

The locomotive announced its arrival into Derry at about 2 p.m. with loud blasts of its whistle and thick clouds of black smoke. People not only were crowded along the tracks at the center of town, but were packed along the sidewalk of the Route 217 bridge over the tracks and underneath the bridge, that latter group keeping in the shade as they waited for the train.

Dave and Candy Lint opted to watch Big Boy, the Union Pacific coal-fueled locomotive, from Derry rather than where they live in Greensburg.

Candy noted that the train sped through Derry and did not appear to slow down as it moved toward Latrobe, Greensburg, Jeannette, Irwin, North Huntingdon and Trafford.

The locomotive stopped in Pitcairn, Allegheny County, before making its way to Leetsdale for a public viewing opportunity. It will stop for the night in Conway, its last stop in Pennsylvania before it enters Ohio on Sunday.

Big Boy stopped in Altoona overnight on Friday. It started the day Saturday crossing the Horseshoe Curve National Historical Site before a stop at Cresson.

Thousands in Leetsdale

Big Boy arrived in Leetsdale around 6:35 p.m. and stayed until about 7 p.m.

Leetsdale officials estimated about 10,000 people lined the tracks from the Leetsdale industrial park down to Emsworth to see the world’s largest operational steam locomotive. Some arrived as early as 7 a.m., while others came in the early afternoon to get their spots.

People came from as near as Beaver, South Fayette and other parts of Western Pennsylvania, and from out-of-state, including New York and Delaware.

“I’m here to see the Big Boy” said Robert Wiggers, 21, of Bridgeville. “I like any kind of train. I like to bring trains home and hopefully one day I want to work for them.”

Wiggers and friend Kayliegh Stultz of South Strabane were on the Ohio River Boulevard side of the tracks with a front row seat for the train’s arrival.

Wiggers said he saw Big Boy twice before, once in New York and once on display in Scranton. He was very knowledgeable of Big Boy, citing various statistics and saying he got a chance to meet its driver in Scranton.

“I worked alongside Robert in high school and his big passion was always trains,” Stultz said. “That was a lot of the motivators that got him through some tougher days in high school. He taught me everything I know about trains. I figured seeing it roll through Leetsdale, we got to be here together.”

The locomotive’s whistle heralded its arrival.

Councilman Robert Benedict lives a few houses down from where the train stopped.

“I thought it was amazing,” he said. “It was awesome. Seeing the community come together with the people here. The train, itself, was way bigger than anything I expected to see.”

Folks standing close to the engine could feel the steam and the increased temperature.

“It was very hot standing next to it, which was ‘cool,’” Benedict said. “It was loud and noisy. It was fun. It was a good time. Glad to be part of it.”

Norfolk Southern officials and the train driver fielded a few questions from guests before the train went back on its journey.

A Norfolk Southern representative gave a railroad spike to 10-year-old Palmer Nash, of Ellwood City.

A grateful Nash said the locomotive was “bigger and crazier” than he expected.