By Riley, age 14
Have you ever heard someone say, “Act your age”? I am sure you have. Today I am going to tell you the story of a senior citizen that not only did not act his age. He looked like a bodybuilder in his PRIME! He is called Big Boy. Yes, Big Boy is a steam train. He is one big engine. In fact, he is one of the biggest ever made in the United States.
There were 25 Big Boys made from 1941 to 1944. Each one is 132 feet long. They burned coal to make steam that powered the engine. It was capable of 7,000 horsepower and could go 70 miles an hour. He had a 4-8-8-4 wheel set up and was used until 1962.
Since the last one was made in 1944, you might not be surprised to learn they are mostly retired. You can see them on display in train museums across the United States; but believe it or not, one Big Boy is still working hard on the job. Number 4014 is still operational and is home-based in Cheyenne, Wyoming. He still gets around on his own power – no walker or cane needed. His engineer takes him around the country to show people what a steam engine looks and sounds like. They give rides to children and their parents at museums and fairs.
Here’s a true story that would make Thomas the Tank Engine proud. It happened not long ago.
Big Boy #4014 was headed home from one of his visits to a train show, when he came up behind a broken-down freight train. The line of cars was nearly two miles long! This modern train was equipped with two modern diesel engines, but the young "kids" could not pull their train up the hill. Big Boy offered to help, but the crew of the broken-down train laughed at them. They made a joke to Big Boys’ engineer: “Do you really think the old senior could push this nearly two-mile-long train up and over the hill?” Big Boy’s engineer looked them straight on and said, “Absolutely.”
Big Boy moved slowly into position. First the front coupler was opened and hooked up to the disabled load. Then Big Boy’s engineer blew the whistle to tell everyone that the train was about to start moving. Black smoke puffed from Big Boy’s stack. He slowly moved forward. The front train started moving. Big Boys’ engineer gave more power... too much. Big Boy’s front-drive wheels slipped. The diesel crew laughed and said, “We told you.”
But Big Boy’s engineer just smiled, and throttled back a little. As Big Boy picked up speed, the throttle was pushed forward again. This time Big Boy’s wheels gripped. He was doing it! Yes, the museum piece pushed the load up and over the hill! Thus, the old senior didn’t act his age but instead he acted like he used to decades ago when he was young, and diesel engines had not even been invented.
Big Boy saved the day, got the broken train out of the way so normal traffic could resume and then headed home. Big Boy’s engineer was all smiles. He was quite confident that Big Boy still had what it takes to huff and puff and move trains like an engine is supposed to. I guess there is no job too grand for old Big Boy.
Picture credit: Coach Tom Burnett
