By NICK YAMASHITA
Moapa Valley Progress
Nearly 200 people gathered expectantly along the railroad station in Moapa, waiting for the familiar rumbling sound and for the view of the pinpoint black object on the tracks.
It came just a little late, but the people shouted in excitement when it came into view.
On Sunday, Oct. 6 at a little before noon, the Union Pacific Big Boy No. 4014 Steam Locomotive rolled into the area that used to be the Moapa railroad depot. It made a short stop for the awaiting mass of people gathered from Moapa Valley, Mesquite, Las Vegas and beyond.
“It was a neat and cool sight!’’ exclaimed Steven Williams of Las Vegas who came to see the train.
Big Boy is one of 25 Steam Locomotives that Union Pacific made for use starting in 1941. Now only eight of those engines are still around. But Big Boy is the only steam locomotive in the world still in use.
Several parents noted how it was fun to see their kids’ eyes light up and enjoy the sight of such a massive train.
This is not the first time the Big Boy rolled into town. It visited the area back in 2014 and made a short stop to a smaller number of awe-inspired fans. Now after five years the renowned train has come rolling back into the valley and the crowds gathered for it.
Big Boy has been getting a full restoration done over the last two and a half years and is on a tour from the Midwest where, back in May, it rolled up right next to another steam locomotive, Living Legends No. 844. This was done in memory and to “twin” a historical image from May 10, 1869 when the last spike was hammered in, finishing the first transcontinental railroad at Promontory Summit. The tour in 2019 has been to commemorate the transcontinental railroad’s 150th anniversary.
The Big Boy was only around Southern Nevada until Tuesday, Oct. 8 and it next heads to Cima, Calif. where it is expected to arrive around 10:30 a.m. prior to traveling through California, including Los Angeles.
The tour started out in Cheyenne, Wyoming and will end back in Cheyenne on Nov. 27 after visiting several states including Utah, Nevada, California, Texas, Arizona, New Mexico, Arkansas, Oklahoma, Kansas, Missouri and Colorado.
For more information on the schedule of the tour of Big Boy, visit www.up.com/heritage/steam/schedule/index.htmo#0.
