The locomotive 4014 Big Boy rolled into Durant, Okla. Friday, August 13, 2021 at precisely 12:34 p.m. The massive train arrived at the tracks on West Cedar Street in old downtown.
The train, also called “Big Boy” made the visit to represent the 150-year anniversary of the Transcontinental Railroad’s completion, as well as Big Boys restoration in 2019.
The locomotive could be heard shaking the earth, squealing, and roaring long before anyone saw it. The railroad arms came down before the Big Boy was in sight but the noise, oh the noise, was no less than explosive.
After a minute or so there, he was shiny and black with steam rolling up the sides of the steel engine. The sight was like that of a ghost but the sound was melodious and near deafening. The conductor pulled the arm on the whistle, and it was almost as though the heavens opened and all who heard suddenly traveled back in time.
It seemed as though every attendee’s jaw dropped and one would wonder if dropping to their knees in awe would be an appropriate gesture of thanks. Literally, the noise completely stopped time for the moment. The angelic sound of the steam whistle mixed with the belching steam and grinding of metal to metal of the wheels on the track must have been as pleasing as any choir that ever sounded.
The term train is commonly used as a metaphor in song and writing and is common in the south. There is good reason for this because the word train opens the mind to a place far beyond any steel structure with a defining path of steel rails. Even though the word train is a noun, it could almost be used as a verb; one that carries the thoughts.
The term locomotive could be looked at from a definitive view in that it stems from the Latin words locus and motivus. This translates to place and motive, basically, moving from one place to another.
At any rate the 4014 Big boy is the locomotive pulling the train and is as true to its existence as it ever was. The Big Boy locomotive was one of twenty-five originals built for Union Pacific Rail Road in 1941.
The locomotive weighs 1.2 million pounds and is actually hinged in order to navigate corners easier. It is one hundred and thirty feet long, and has a 6,100 gallon fuel capacity and has a top speed of 65 miles per hour.
The “Big Boy” retired in 1961 but only after rolling 1,031,205 miles of track.
Ed Dickens, manager of Heritage Equipment and lead engineer of 4014 told the story of Big Boy as he stood at its side.
“Big Boy is an icon of what got it all started in America and is one hundred and thirty five feet long, seven thousand horsepower, and look how tall, its seventeen feet tall, look how wide it is, it is eleven and a half feet wide,” said Dickens. This locomotive, even though it’s a 1941, it is very advanced, very advanced state of the art in 1941, it’s not like a modern train that can go hundreds or even thousands of miles without stopping, the steam locomotive fills up with fuel and water and we grease it at night but we service it every forty to fifty miles”.
Ben Jones, Senior Director of Policy and Partnership at UPRR said the entire trip has been an experience.
“The Big Boy ride has been quite the experience and we have seen a lot of interesting sights along the way,” Jones said. “It was great to stop and meet the people along the tracks even though this time of year sure was hot.”
Jones said that even though he is hanging up his engineer cap, Big Boy will continue to rumble down the track.
“This is my last leg on this run, I will be returning home to Kansas City but the 4014 will keep on track,” Jones said.
The entire crew of the Big Boy 4014 got off the train and took the time to answer questions and simply give a big ole howdy to all.
When the time came for Big Boy to roll on, it was interesting that the safety check system was still being used. Hanging just outside of the engines window was a rail that had multiple key chains. Different people took a key, and each key chain had a specific safety check. The crew member would hang the key back in its place after the inspection was complete and the train budged not an inch until each hole was filled on the arm.
It was easy to tell the time had come to roll on down the tracks as the locomotive began to warm up. Big Boy 4014 had steam blowing from everywhere it seemed, and the big brass bell on the front started ringing in perfect timing.
All these signs were exciting to say the least, but the tell-tale blast of the steam whistle took the show. The blast was quick then it went on like a big so long or see you later. To say the least, Big Boy told a story that simply cannot be put to text. However, anyone who has ever experienced a moment in its wonder would simply say others would have to experience it to be able to understand it.
The Big Boy locomotive has not made its last stop and can be tracked on the website (UP.com) and one can bet he will be keeping history in the light and making history on the tracks all at once.
There is no accurate description or relation for this unique event. So, the only description one can put into words for it is: Big Boy 4014 Locomotive built in 1941 rolled on the tracks into Durant, Okla. August, 13, 2021 at precisely 12:34 p.m., period. Let the song play on.