Big Boy rolls into Yuma during tour of Southwest
The only Big Boy still running made its way into Yuma Tuesday to celebrate the 150th Anniversary of the Transcontinental Railroad as it tours the Southwest.
The train was one of 25 builds in the ’40s and was in service for 20 years, retiring in 1961. It took two and a half years of restoration after being put on display in Pomona, Calif.
Union Pacific acquired the train in 2013 and began its restoration process in 2013.
The locomotive returned to service in May of 2019 just in time to celebrate the 150th Anniversary.
Many people thought they would never see the train run again. Hundreds of people have gathered at the locomotive’s stops to witness this special piece of history.
The locomotive weighs 605 tons, 133-feet long, 6,000 horsepower, 17-feet tall, and 11 in a half feet wide. It operates on 14 wheels and uses 56 thousand pounds of coal to stay running. It runs at 65-miles per hour but appears much slower to the eye.
There are only eight remaining Big Boy Locomotives until this day. The fact that this one is running and re-owned by its original owner, Union Pacific makes this train so special.
Mayor Nicholls attended the arrival of the train and awarded the engineer a key to the city.
Big Boy will continue it’s journey through the Southwest, stopping next in Tucson. To see a full schedule and facts of Big Boy, click HERE.
Copyright 2019 KYMA
