Union Pacific's Big Boy had a tremendous week, traveling from its display location in Philadelphia for the 2026 Fourth of July weekend and into the railroad company town of Altoona, PA. Public and private events in the heart of the Pennsylvania Railroad were followed by traversing the famous Horseshoe Curve and a visit to the Pittsburgh-area Conway Yard, before continuing its westbound trek over the former Conrail/Penn Central Youngstown Line.
All Things Trains Editor Phil Bell was able to see the Big Boy at both Rochester, PA and Youngstown, OH on Sunday, July 13th. While seeing #4014 with her train of Armour Yellow UP passenger cars, Norfolk Southern Tuscan Red office cars, and several patriotically-painted diesels including 3 NS America250 locomotives, and Union Pacific's Abraham Lincoln-liveried EMD SD70MAC was amazing, even more were the size of the crowds which have followed 4014 wherever she goes. While the railfan community was very well-represented, our compatriots were swamped by the everyday Americans who turned out to see a train in ways not seen in years. Notable was the city of Struthers, OH, which had traffic backed up for more than a mile and the entire town seemingly consumed by people waiting to see 4014 make a half-hour stop.
Most of Phil's photos are on film and not yet developed, but please enjoy the video and other posts linked below to get some idea of the what it looks like when America turns out and comes together.
#4014 Passing Rochester, PA (Phil Bell/All Things Trains): UP Big Boy Passes Rochester, PA July 12, 2026
UP #4014 Traverses Horseshoe Curve, with a wheelslip (Railbrothers/Instagram): Big boy wheel slip on the curve!
Views from Struthers, OH: Some sky views from earlier in Struthers Ohio
Featured Image: UP Big Boy slows in Youngstown, OH near Center Street and Haselton Yard to wait for a westbound CSX intermodal train. Phil Bell photo, July 12, 2026.