Large crowds turned out across central Pennsylvania on Wednesday to see the world’s largest operating steam locomotive as it continues on its coast-to-coast tour in honor of America’s 250th birthday.
Union Pacific’s Big Boy No. 4014 is one of eight of its kind still in existence and the only one that is still operational.
The 132-foot long freight train could be seen on Norfolk Southern tracks in several locations near Centre County. It made a stop in Lewistown and passed through Tyrone before arriving in Altoona, where it is scheduled to be on display to the public on Thursday and Friday.
The Big Boy’s tour started in April in California and the eastern leg kicked off in May. It has been in Pennsylvania since mid-June, including several days in Philadelphia for the Fourth of July holiday.
It’s the first time Big Boy No. 4014 has been east of the Mississippi since it was built in Schenectady, New York, in 1941.
Photographer Greg Guise was in Lewistown on Wednesday to capture the historic passage.
Guise was also on hand in Dauphin County on Tuesday as Big Boy crossed the historic Rockville Bridge, the longest stone masonry arch bridge ever constructed at 3,820 feet.
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