June 11Jun 11 SAYRE — Union Pacific’s Big Boy 4014, the world’s largest operating steam locomotive, is expected to spend Thursday night in Sayre by the old train station on North Lehigh Avenue before making its way into Owego Friday morning for a public viewing.Though Thursday’s stop isn’t designated a public event, the train’s arrival is rumored to bring thousands of spectators into Sayre for the once-in-a-lifetime sight.This is the first time Big Boy has steamed across the Mississippi River and into the Ohio Valley since it was built in Schenectady, N.Y., and delivered to Union Pacific Railroad.wenty-five Big Boys were commissioned exclusively for Union Pacific, the first of which was delivered in 1941.These massive locomotives — 133 feet long and weighing 1.2 million pounds — were built to haul heavy equipment in support of the war effort, normally operating between Ogden, Utah, and Cheyenne, Wyoming.No. 4014 was retired in Dec. 1961, after traveling 1,031,205 miles.Source
June 11Jun 11 The tracks run right past my workplace, like 20 or so feet away from the fence, with a wide open view. So I'm hoping that the timing will be right and I can get a front row seat to see it go past this afternoon. If the weather is good, I'll hang around.
June 11Jun 11 If you get to see it, take pictures for us. LOLI was curious if/when it was going to pass the Corning/414 area where it might be worth going to watch. I tried to find a schedule/map that showed the route and times, but no luck.
June 11Jun 11 4 minutes ago, MsKreed said:I tried to find a schedule/map that showed the route and times, but no luck.You can track it here.
June 11Jun 11 Yeah....I must be missing something on how to read and navigate that site. I can see where the train is "now" in relation to my area, but can't determine any ETA for any given location.
June 11Jun 11 1 hour ago, MsKreed said:Yeah....I must be missing something on how to read and navigate that site. I can see where the train is "now" in relation to my area, but can't determine any ETA for any given location.I don't think they're making any promises as far as where it will be and when. I think even the scheduled stops are "between ___ and ____."
June 11Jun 11 1 minute ago, Chris said:I don't think they're making any promises as far as where it will be and when.If they are I sure can't find it. But it seems as if some people posting ETAs act like they're "in the know" and found information somewhere. LOL
June 11Jun 11 Looking at where it's at now, I have a feeling it won't be coming through Elmira until 4:00 or later. I'll check the map before I leave, but I aint waiting around that long.
June 11Jun 11 Last thing I read was that they were delayed and now not heading into Elmira area until after 5
June 11Jun 11 2 hours ago, Chris said:Looking at where it's at now, I have a feeling it won't be coming through Elmira until 4:00 or later.I'll check the map before I leave, but I aint waiting around that long.Some gal is all over FB stating it's late but I just looked at the tracker and the page with times for today and it appears to be right on time. It's currently in Hornell and the page said it's scheduled to leave Hornell at 2:30
June 11Jun 11 People are already filling the back parking lot at work to watch it go through. Hope they realize they have a good 2-3 hour wait.
June 11Jun 11 They just said on the radio it’s not expected in Sayre til around 8 now. People have been parking on Cesar since about 2:00. Some sitting right on the railroad bed. I shagged a couple out of our parking lot and let dispatch know they need to monitor that. Anywhere there’s a place to put a vehicle, people are. I don’t need to see a big train that badly.
June 11Jun 11 16 minutes ago, Chris said:They just said on the radio it’s not expected in Sayre til around 8 now.People have been parking on Cesar since about 2:00. Some sitting right on the railroad bed. I shagged a couple out of our parking lot and let dispatch know they need to monitor that.Anywhere there’s a place to put a vehicle, people are.I don’t need to see a big train that badly.I would like to see it so hoping it goes through before I leave work. I have a great view. I would say there is at the very least 30 cars across the street by the car wash and our other lot
June 11Jun 11 11 minutes ago, Mike said:I would like to see it so hoping it goes through before I leave work. I have a great view.Oh yeah, I'd have had a great view too. But between waiting around for it to arrive, the internet connection there in Southport being shitty, and the throngs of people gathering there? Eff that.
June 11Jun 11 1 minute ago, Chris said:Oh yeah, I'd have had a great view too. But between waiting around for it to arrive, the internet connection there in Southport being shitty, and the throngs of people gathering there? Eff that.After getting up and looking there is way more than 30 cars over there.
June 11Jun 11 49 minutes ago, Chris said: 52 minutes ago, Mike said:I would like to see it so hoping it goes through before I leave work. I have a great view.Don't know what time you get out of work but it appears to be right around the area of your employment right now 4:53pm
June 11Jun 11 took youngest to tracks by glider city, found a nice quiet, shaded spot a bit down the track and we waited, the tracking site was essentially useless, sweated, waited, sweated some more, son was over it by 415 so we bounced, would have gotten some choice pics but WAY too hot
June 12Jun 12 10 hours ago, KarenK said:Guess patience was a virtueThat's never been one of my strong suits. Actually, it is moreso now than in the past. What I don't have patience for is crowds of people. I don't want to be around them.
June 12Jun 12 20 hours ago, KarenK said:Don't know what time you get out of work but it appears to be right around the area of your employment right now 4:53pmYes, I was able to catch it. Barely made it out of the clusterfuck of traffic only due to having to head towards the heights. There had to have been at least 100 cars in between what was parked in our lot by the car wash and old bowling alley. If I had to do it all over again, I would pass. Yes, it was cool to see it but not worth the fight in traffic.
June 13Jun 13 Yeah, Charlie Foxtrot seems to sum it up well depending on where one was. Which is why I didn’t hang around.A co-worker was saying that not only did people continue to make themselves at home at our place, there was a whole row of cars parked in a farmers field, planted with corn.People suck.My father in law said that the even in Hornell was very well done, orderly, an no one out on the tracks like we’ve seen elsewhere.Here’s a pic sent to me from Sayre this morning:
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