UP 4014 visits Illinois and Missouri - 2024

My schedule worked out to where I was able to chase the Big Boy three different days during its trip through the Mid West.
0:00 Tuesday Sept. 10th

I first caught 4014 as it rolled slowly into Tuscola, IL. Based on early radio communications between Ed, the crew, and the UP Dispatcher, I was under the impression they were planning to stop. But, due to delays leaving Villa Grove, once in Tuscola they changed plans and continued on.
It was averaging about 30 MPH. That made it very easy to jump ahead and set up at the other locations. After leaving Tuscola, I caught it again at Cadwell, Findlay, just outside of Pana, while stopped in Nokomis, and finally Irving. I did not get any good video while in Findlay, so it was not included in this project.

6:51 Thursday Sept. 12th

My family also wanted the opportunity to see 4014 again. This was their second time watching the beast chug along. We had to wake up much earlier than their routine usually calls for. But I bribed them by offering to treat everyone to dinner at Lambert's Cafe in Sikeston, MO (where they throw dinner rolls at you). We got off the interstate at Pevely just in time to get a spot at the tracks before the consist came into view. In short time, we had all the kids buckled, then worked our way to De Soto. This town was packed, and it was difficult to find a place near the tracks to park our huge van. Eventually, a spot came open and we waited patently. Droves of people lined the track. After the whistle blew and they were starting to move, several UP employees walked a short way in front of the engine reminding folks to stay back at least 25 feet. After leaving De Soto, we took some winding roads which landed us in Arcadia. Google Maps showed the traffic was heavily congested. We parked about a mile from the station. While walking along the shoulder, 4014 rolled by crossing a small river bridge. I knew it was a 30 minute service stop, so we had plenty of time to wedge ourselves through the crowd. I decided we might have a better view from the overhead road bridge to watch the train depart. So we hiked around following the sidewalk and found a nice spot. Ed gave everyone a good show, including a little wheel slip! At one point after 4014 went under us, a poor deer got spooked and ran through the crowd below. It attempted to cross under one of the passenger cars, nearly meeting its end. Thankfully, no kids were traumatized this day.

15:12 Friday Sept. 13th

After a long drive home the night before, and a short few hours of sleep I was on the road yet again. This time, I started in Poplar Bluff. I knew the plan was for the train to make a long reverse move from Poplar Bluff to Dexter. There is no wye at either location. It turned out, Ed had the Poplar Bluff local crew use their assign set of GP40's to tie on to the rear car. As I listened to the scanner, it became clear what the plan was. Ed was going to control the throttle and use 4014 to shove the entire consist. The crew on 1421 had control of the train brakes, and would blow the horn for all the crossings. Ed told the 1421 crew to throttle up to notch 1 or 2 to get everything rolling, then go to idle and let him keep power on 4014.
It was very interesting listening to all the coordination that was taking place between the 2 engineers over the radio!
Once in Dexter, the local crew would cut off and continue on with their work. 4014 had to preform a brake test, then print out some new track bulletins before they could finally depart south on the Jonesboro Sub.
There were so many people trying to chase the train on the roads where it was parallel to the tracks, so I just hung back to avoid any of that mess. I was able to jump ahead at Malden, where I only had a few seconds to set up my final shot under the overpass.

It was such a fun week having the chance to chase the Big Boy three different times, and in three different areas!

I also took several photographs which at posted on my Instagram page, so be sure to check those out!

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