PITTSTON, Pa. — Hundreds of rail enthusiasts and community members gathered near the Oak Street railroad crossing in Pittston on Wednesday to catch a glimpse of Union Pacific’s legendary "Big Boy" No. 4014 as it rolled through Greater Pittston.
The massive locomotive—recognized as the world’s largest operating steam engine—departed Scranton earlier in the morning. The journey is part of its highly anticipated coast-to-coast tour celebrating the upcoming 250th anniversary of the United States.
Prior to hitting the rails on Wednesday, the historic 1941 locomotive spent more than two weeks on public display at the Steamtown National Historic Site in Scranton. The visit offered a rare historical spectacle, as No. 4014 was parked side-by-side with Steamtown’s own static Big Boy, No. 4012, drawing thousands of visitors to the region.
In Pittston, spectator crowds lined neighborhood crossings, embankments, and overpasses, cameras in hand, to watch the coal-fired giant power through town. After clearing Luzerne County, the locomotive continued its southward trek toward Jim Thorpe, where it pulled in for an overnight rest stop before continuing its journey toward Reading.
