RIPLEY, N.Y. (WBEN) - Shortly after noon on Tuesday the massive 'Big Boy" steam-powered locomotive pulled into tiny Ripley - a Chautauqua County town that's less than four miles from the New York-Pennsylvania border.
But, for a town of 2,200 people whose population briefly grew four-fold because of Big Boy's arrival is was big news.
Railroad fans and buffs from across New York, Canada and Pennsylvania all converged on Ripley to catch a glimpse of the circa 1941-era steam locomotive that is the last fully operating steam-powered train engine still in active duty for Union Pacific Railroad.
"This is not something you see everyday," said Tony Krusinski of Erie. "In fact, it is something I never thought I would see in my lifetime."
The 133-foot locomotive was pulled 18 cars plus another locomotive and four water cars.
Weighing in at 1.2 pounds, it takes a crew of 20 to operate Big Boy, said Ed Dickens, Union Pacific senior manager of steam operations and one of the engineers piloting the jet black locomotive.
Big Boy's Western New York sojourn is part of an America 250 celebration. The locomotive left Cheyenne and then headed east including spending portions of three days in Buffalo.. It ends in Philadelphia for the July 4th holiday.
"With our own eyes, Big Boy has been seen by millions of people since we started this tour," Dickens said.
The Big Boy 4014 is one of eight surviving steam-powered locomotives from 25 produced by American Locomotive Co. of Schenectady between 1941 and 1944. Big Boy 4014 was made and commissioned in November 1941.
The mere presence of Big Boy is what saw Ripley welcome several thousand people around its State Street tracks as the locomotive pulled into the town for a 30-minute stop.
Why Ripley?
"We love seeing small town America," Dickens said.
For railroad buffs seeing Big Boy up close and personal was a special moment.
"I thought I was going to have go out west to see it," said Sabrah Paske of Sheffield, Pa. "Seeing Big Boy was high on my bucket list."
When the train pulled into Ripley, it's whistle was almost downed out by the loud applause and cheers from the packed crowd. Cell phones were snapping away. Fans were angling for the best shot.
"To see just how big it really is ...is something amazing," said Fran Monaco of Lakewood.
Big Boy draws huge crowds to tiny Ripley
Big Boy draws huge crowds to tiny Ripley
