Subscribe to our Daily Headlines newsletter. Reporter Lydia Snow photographs "Big Boy" in Elko on Monday, July 8, 2024. "Big Boy" departs Elko en route to Carlin about 40 minutes later. "Big Boy" arrives in Carlin on Monday morning, July 8, 2024. Union Pacific spokesperson Robynn Tysvertakes photographs of the crowd in Carlin as she hangs out of the cab of the massive steam locomotive on Monday, July 8, 2024. People in Carlin get closeup views of "Big Boy" during its halfhour stop in the Elko County city on Monday, July 8, 2024. ELKO Did you hear it? Feel its rumble?. The Union Pacific Big Boy No. 4014 locomotive had a stop at the rail yard in Elko over the weekend and departed cleaned and polished on Monday en route to California and then back. "Big Boy" prepares to depart Elko on Monday, July 8, 2024. It will pass through Nevada again next week. There, hundreds of people cheered as the giant locomotive pulled into town. Two were the city s mayor and a longtime friend. Carlin Mayor Dana Holbrook and friend and former colleague Ben Brown showed up to greet "Big Boy" on Monday morning, July 8, 2024. Wow, it s just an amazing, amazing machine, Mayor Dana Holbrook said, holding a Union Pacific sign. And as the mayor of Carlin, it s really exciting that everybody showed up to come and look at it. . A steam whistle on "Big Boy" sounds at the Union Pacific rail yard in Elko on Monday, July 8, 2024. Both Holbrook and friend Ben Brown, who worked together in the mines, reacted when Big Boy s whistle sounded a deafening toot. Wow, they said almost in unison. Kami Simons and her daughter Ezme wanted to get a look at Big Boy and they were about 30 feet from the iron horse, and both said were impressed. It was my first time seeing one, Simons said. Yeah, her daughter chimed in. Kami Simons and daughter Ezme said they were thrilled to see and hear the massive steam locomotive when it arrived in Carlin on Monday morning, July 8, 2024. The horn was a lot louder than I expected, the mom said. A woman in Carlin snaps a photo of "Big Boy" during its stop in the city on Monday, July 8, 2024. Big Boy is the world s largest steam locomotive. During its westward journey west, it will cross Wyoming, Utah, Nevada, California and a short stretch of southeastern Idaho, then back again next week. On Tuesday, it will briefly stop in Gerlach from 12:30 p.m. to 12:45 p.m. at Main Street and Beechnut Court. During its return, it will stop July 16 in Lovelock from 1 p.m. to 1:30 p.m. at the Eighth Street Crossing; July 17 in Carlin again from 1:15 p.m. to 1:45 p.m. at the B Street Crossing; July 19 in Montello northeast of Wells from noon to 12:30 p.m. at Montello Road and Fourth Street. In addition, the locomotive is expected to stop in Elko on July 18, and the city will close a portion of Manzanita Lane from 6 p.m. to 7 p.m. so residents can have a peek of the historic steam engine. The Union Pacific "Big Boy" stem locomotive starts its slow departure from the railroad's Elko train yard on Monday, July 8, 2024. Big Boy is the world s largest steam locomotive. The locomotive and its tender are 133 feet long and weigh 1.2 million pounds. Because of its length, the locomotive is hinged so it can bend on curves. It was delivered to Union Pacific in December 1941 and retired 20 years later, in December 1961. In those 20 years, it traveled 1,031,205 miles. An engineer on "Big Boy" No. 4014 prepares to depart Elko on Monday, July 8, 2024. With its tender, it is about half the length of a Boeing 747 jumbo jet. Keith Kohn is editor of the Elko Daily Free Press. Reach him atkkohnelkodaily.com. . Subscribe to our Daily Headlines newsletter. Managing Editor. . . Elko to close road so "Big Boy" can pose for pictures on its return trip. . . . . . . . . . . . Get uptotheminute news sent straight to your device.
"Big Boy" steam locomotive makes a stop in Elko and Carlin, impressing crowds with its size and loud whistle. The locomotive, the world's largest, will continue its journey through Nevada and California before returning. Residents have opportunities to see the historic engine up close at scheduled stops in various cities.