A few weeks ago I traveled with good friends Ad, Michael, and Thomas to rejoin the Union Pacific 4014 Big Boy Tour. Our focus was Wyoming/Utah/Nevada - we picked up the trail in Green River WY and parted ways in downtown Las Vegas. In the linked gallery are my images from the adventure; not only of the train but other scenes which grabbed my attention along the way. Like the Grand Canyon or Niagara Falls, photographs cannot harness the spectacle and grandeur of it all. It is the world’s largest steam locomotive, yet has such grace. And mystique. Plus the scenery is beyond belief.

My fascination with the former telegraph code lines obviously continues, a major element in a few of the compositions. I key in on them as much as possible; like the rest of the vintage railroad landscape they are disappearing.

A passage of the observations from our post-trip report:

“I hadn’t planned on going out west to see the Big Boy, but after my wife drove to Wisconsin to see it while I was visiting my brother in New York, I wavered. When Thomas and Matthew invited me to come along for the next leg of the Big Boy tour, I decided to see what the fuss was all about.

Now that I’m back, I’ve been thinking about the Big Boy trip and how it changed my expectations as we went along. I started out with the feeling that with the extra water tenders and the diesel in the consist, it just wouldn't be the real deal. As I saw how amazing the locomotive was and how the crowds of regular people turned out to see it, my perspective changed 180 degrees.

From the families that came down the dirt road to watch the train at Mona to the Peruvian sheep herder on the Altamont grade to the 84 year old back country Jeep explorer and the crowd at Las Vegas, it just goes to show how wide the appeal is of that locomotive.” - Michael

Over time the entire Big Boy experience has set in for me also. I was originally not crazy about going to see it, but now two trips in I am wanting and needing more. Way beyond the photos captured, it’s the entire ball of wax from just being there. Union Pacific has hit a major homerun in the community public relations department – I hope they realize that.

Link to Photos

Enjoy,
Matthew