Western Pa Historical Articles

06/23/2026

Better come early, there may be some friends showing up.
Join us for 'Derry's Great BigBoy 4014 Viewing Party'
Bigboy 4014 'Pass thru'
📅 Fun starts Saturday July 11 at 11:00 am
Address: 60 S. Chestnut St. Derry Pa 15627
📍Located by the Public Works Lot and Caboose.
Join the Friends of Derry, Derry Area Historical Society Official and Derry Boro for a community viewing party of the Union Pacific Big Boy 4014's history journey across America for the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence.
🚂The train will pass through Derry in the afternoon, exact times to be announced as they are subject to change. Various food stands, historical displays, fun and activities will be available. This is an event you really want your children and loved ones to experience; they will remember it for the rest of their lives. Follow link for Union Pacific's Big Boy No. 4014 tour schedule.
Union Pacific's Big Boy No. 4014 tour schedule:
https://www.up.com/about-us/history/steam/schedule

06/07/2026

Join us for 'Derry's Great BigBoy 4014 Viewing Party'
Bigboy 4014 'Pass thru' (4014 is NOT stopping).
📅 Saturday July 11 at 11:00 am
Address: 60 S. Chestnut St. Derry Pa 15627
📍Located by the Public Works Lot and Caboose.
Join the Friends of Derry, Derry Area Historical Society Official and Derry Boro for a community viewing party of the Union Pacific Big Boy 4014's history journey across America for the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence.
🚂The train will pass through Derry in the afternoon, exact times to be announced as they are subject to change. Various food stands, historical displays, fun and activities will be available. This is an event you really want your children and loved ones to experience; they will remember it for the rest of their lives. Follow link for Union Pacific's Big Boy No. 4014 tour schedule.
Union Pacific's Big Boy No. 4014 tour schedule:
https://www.up.com/about-us/history/steam/schedule
Special thanks to Adam Klimchock for train photos. Check out his flicker page here:
https://www.flickr.com/photos/adamklimchock/

Send a message to learn more

06/05/2026

What are 'Smoke Orders'? ~ Read this post, watch video:
This video explains why Bigboy 4014 makes black smoke.
📅 Saturday July 11 at 11:00 am
Address: 60 S. Chestnut St. Derry Pa 15627
📍Located by the Public Works Lot and Caboose.
🚂~Join the Friends of Derry, Derry Area Historical Society Official and Derry Boro in a community viewing party of the Union Pacific Big Boy 4014's history journey across America for the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence. Saturday July 11, 2026 at 11:00 AM ~ 60 South Chestnut St. Derry at the Cabooses in Derry

Historically, a smoke order was the act of running from one station or siding to another without train order or schedule authority. You move cautiously, continually watching for the smoke of any train approaching from the opposite direction. Mr. Hubbard prefaced his remarks on this one saying: "...a dangerous method, now obsolete... "Ya think?... sounds downright suicidal to me!

Today "smoke orders" in railroad terminology, particularly in the context of steam excursion trains like the Union Pacific 4014, is a request for the locomotive engineer to produce extra smoke for photographers and spectators. Purpose: It allows photographers to prepare their cameras for a more dramatic shot, as the lingering soot and smoke make for better photographs.

06/02/2026

Derry's Bigboy 4014 Viewing party.
Google earth shows almost 1 mile of ground level viewing East and West for 4014 Bigboy passing on July 11. This is GREAT, This seems to be the best place to view Bigboy. Plus food trucks will make it a great family event. I can't wait.
📅 Saturday July 11 at 11:00 am
Address: 60 S. Chestnut St. Derry Pa 15627
📍Located by the Public Works Lot and Caboose.
🚂~Join the Friends of Derry, Derry Area Historical Society Official and Derry Boro in a community viewing party of the Union Pacific Big Boy 4014's history journey across America for the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence.

06/01/2026

🚂~ Derrys 'Bigboy 4014 Viewing Party'
📅 Saturday July 11 at 11:00 am
Address: 60 S. Chestnut St. Derry Pa 15627
📍Located by the Public Works Lot and Caboose.
We send prayers for his recovery and safe passage for the 4014 crew. ~ Our hearts are heavy, a few days ago a local journalist there to cover the Bigboy 4014 story was seriously injured after a fall. Please keep them and their family in your thoughts and prayers during this difficult time. Wishing them strength, comfort, and a full recovery.

05/30/2026

🚂~Bring the entire family to Derrys 'Bigboy 4014 Viewing Party'.
If You Hear Rapid Repeated Blasts: Railfans know what it means. The Engineer, to show his displeasure, passes with a long continuous blast which is intended to signal EMERGENCY, WARNING of the serious hazard the sightseers foolishly presented. READ the post to learn more:
🚂~ Derrys 'Bigboy 4014 Viewing Party'
📅 Saturday July 11 at 11:00 am
Address: 60 S. Chestnut St. Derry Pa 15627

🚂~Join the Friends of Derry, Derry Area Historical Society Official and Derry Boro in a community viewing party of the Union Pacific Big Boy 4014's history journey across America for the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence.
🚂~We anticipate the train will pass through Derry at approximately 12:45 PM (Train Departs Cresson PA at 11:15 AM)
🚂~Various food and activities available to be announced.

If You Hear Rapid Repeated Blasts:

If you hear the engineer sounding many short blasts in quick succession, it usually means: Someone is on or near the tracks. A vehicle is too close to a crossing. Animals are on the railroad. The crew sees an immediate hazard and is trying to get attention.

05/24/2026

circa. 2025 ~ Union Pacific’s Steam Shop in Cheyenne, Restored Bigboy 4014 awaits 'Smoke Orders.' Union Pacific's famed Big Boy No. 4014, the world's largest operating steam locomotive, will journey to the East Coast in 2026 for the first time as part of a historic coast-to-coast tour to celebrate America's 250th anniversary. Join us for:
🚂~ Derrys 'Bigboy 4014 Viewing Party'
📅 Saturday July 11 at 11:00 am
Address: 60 S. Chestnut St. Derry Pa 15627
Sponsored by: Friends of Derry, Derry Area Historical Society Official and Derry Boro

What are 'Smoke Orders'
SMOKE ORDERS ~In the olden days, was the act of running from one station or siding to another without train order or schedule authority. You move cautiously, continually watching for the smoke of any train approaching from the opposite direction. Mr. Hubbard prefaced his remarks on this one saying: "...a dangerous method, now obsolete..."Ya think?... sounds downright suicidal to me!

Today, 'Smoke Orders' means in railroad terminology, particularly in the context of steam excursion trains like the Union Pacific 4014, is a request for the locomotive engineer to produce extra smoke for photographers and spectators.

How they produce a “smoke order” ~ The crew 'sands the flues' Sanding the flues is a routine maintenance technique used to clean out built-up soot inside a steam locomotive’s boiler tubes. Adding Sand: The fireman opens a small door or port in the firebox. Using a scoop, they pour dry, high-grade sand directly into the roaring firebox and opens the throttle; the heat and exhaust can suddenly increase dramatically. The plume from the stack can carry hot soot and cinders quite a distance. The darker black smoke is often created intentionally when the crew is "sanding the flues" to clear out residual oil and soot buildup.

Send a message to learn more

05/22/2026

Join us for🚂~ Derrys 'Bigboy 4014 Viewing Party'
📅 Saturday July 11 at 11:00 am
Address: 60 S. Chestnut St. Derry Pa 15627
You will be able to view the train at ground level, and as close as 30 feet from this massive train.

📍W 1st Avenue, Derry, By the Public Works Lot and Caboose
Join the Friends of Derry, Derry Area Historical Society Official and Derry Boro in a community viewing party of the Union Pacific Big Boy 4014's history journey across America for the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence. Save the Date - July 11 ~ Times to be announced.

🚂 Various food and activities available to be announced. This is an event you really want your children and loved ones to experience; they will remember it for the rest of their lives. Follow link for Union Pacific's Big Boy No. 4014 tour schedule.

Union Pacific's Big Boy No. 4014 tour schedule:
https://www.up.com/about-us/history/steam/schedule

The Western Pa Historical Articles will be posting a series of posts about the railroad and Big Boy No. 4014 on its history making journey across America for the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence. Big Boy No. 4014 built in 1941 will pass directly thru Derry and is the world’s largest operating steam locomotive. Of the eight remaining Big Boys in existence today, No. 4014 is the only one still in operation. You do not want to miss this once in a lifetime opportunity.

Send a message to learn more

05/14/2026

Join us for🚂~ Derrys 'Bigboy 4014 Viewing Party'
📅 Saturday July 11 at 11:00 am
Address: 60 S. Chestnut St. Derry Pa 15627
📍 By the Public Works Lot and Caboose
Join the Friends of Derry, Derry Area Historical Society Official, and Derry Boroin a community viewing party of the Union Pacific Big Boy 4014's history journey across America for the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence.

🚂The train will pass through Derry in the afternoon, exact times to be announced as they are subject to change. Various food and activities available to be announced. This is an event you really want your children and loved ones to experience; they will remember it for the rest of their lives. Follow link for Union Pacific's Big Boy No. 4014 tour schedule.

Union Pacific's Big Boy No. 4014 tour schedule:
https://www.up.com/about-us/history/steam/schedule

The Western Pa Historical Articleswill be posting a series of posts about the railroad and Big Boy No. 4014 on its history making journey across America for the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence. Big Boy No. 4014 built in 1941 will pass directly thru Derry and is the world’s largest operating steam locomotive. Of the eight remaining Big Boys in existence today, No. 4014 is the only one still in operation. You do not want to miss this once in a lifetime opportunity.

Union Pacific's Big Boy No. 4014 tour schedule:
https://www.up.com/about-us/history/steam/schedule

05/13/2026

What are they doing in the video? ~READ The post.
Join us for🚂~ Derrys 'Bigboy 4014 Viewing Party'
📅 Saturday July 11 at 11:00 am
Address: 60 S. Chestnut St. Derry Pa 15627
📍 By the Public Works Lot and Caboose

Join the Friends of Derry, Derry Area Historical Society Official, and Derry Boro in a community viewing party of the Union Pacific Big Boy 4014's history journey across America for the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence.
🚂The train will pass through Derry.

Various food and activities available to be announced.

The Western Pa Historical Articles will be posting a series of posts about the railroad and Big Boy No. 4014 on its history making journey across America for the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence. Big Boy No. 4014 built in 1941 will pass directly thru Derry and is the world’s largest operating steam locomotive. Of the eight remaining Big Boys in existence today, No. 4014 is the only one still in operation.

Video: Safety/Blue Flag Tags
At service stops, Union Pacific crew members hang their individual tags from the cab window on a blue flag while working on the locomotive. Individualized tags are hung by crew members to indicate the train is being serviced and cannot be moved. The locomotive doesn't move until each crew member retrieves their tags.

Bring the family and join us at: W 1st Avenue, Derry, By the Public Works Lot and Caboose on July 11. The train will pass through Derry ~You do not want to miss this once in a lifetime opportunity.