Buffalo, N.Y. (WBEN) - Local rail enthusiasts are getting ready to welcome "Big Boy" to Buffalo.
Big Boy is the world’s largest operating steam locomotive, attracting huge crowds along its coast to coast journey celebrating America's 250th birthday.
The first local watch party is planned for Tuesday, June 9 at the Heritage Discovery Center at 100 Lee Street in Buffalo starting at 11 a.m.
"Norfolk Southern tracks run right by our building," said Steve Kocsis, founder of the Western New York Railway Historical Society. "We're expecting its arrival early Tuesday afternoon. We encourage everyone to get here early. We'll have the museum open. Bring a lawn chair and watch it come through."
Timing the train's arrival
Big Boy is set to leave Ripley, N.Y. around 12:30 p.m. Tuesday. The track speed is 35 mph, so it should arrive in Buffalo around 2 p.m.
"There are plenty of crossings and open views along the lake shore. Lake Avenue is a good spot to watch it come by. Once it gets into Buffalo, the best view will be Lee Street. Once it heads into Bison Rail Yard where it will stay until Thursday morning, there are very few open spots," added Kocsis.
On Wednesday, June 10, the public has a chance to see Big Boy, by picking up a shuttle at the Walden Galleria Mall near the Primark Store from 9 am until 2:30 pm. There is no public access to the rail yard.
The train leaves Thursday, June 11. Another watch party is planned by the village of Depew from 9 a.m.-to-10 a.m. Thursday outside the municipal building, 85 Manitou Street.
There will be other good viewing opportunities as the steam engine makes its way toward Letchworth State Park, including a stretch of Erie Road from the village of Lancaster to Alden.
As a train enthusiast, Kocsis can't wait to see it.
"It's a lost art working on steam locomotives. They were built to do the job (hauling freight during World War II). In Buffalo, this is probably your one and only chance to see a locomotive of this size operate in our area."
Between 1941 and 1944 Union Pacific commissioned 25 Big Boy locomotives, eight still remain, but this one is the only one that is fully operational.
