California’s Tehachapi Loop

Steam locomotive with passenger train on broad curve

When it comes to showmanship in mainline mountain railroading, California’s Tehachapi Pass can be described as a grand theater. Located between Bakersfield and Mojave, historic Tehachapi Loop is at center stage, an impressive helix stretching three-quarters of a mile while looping over itself to gain 77 feet in elevation. The loop itself sits at about […]

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Heartland of America: The Big Boy cometh

people in cab of Big Boy

VILLA GROVE, Ill. — Villa Grove Mayor Cassandra Eversole-Gunter sat behind engineer Ed Dickens, manager of Union Pacific’s Heritage Program on Monday as the Big Boy “Heartland of America” tour made a scheduled service stop at Watseka, Ill. The mayor, in her second term, rode No. 4014 from Watseka back to Villa Grove arriving at […]

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News Photos: UP’s Heartland of America Tour

people taking photos of black steam locomotive

Heartland of America Tour ROCHELLE, Ill., — UP’s Heartland of America Tour took a large leap through Illinois Monday with No. 4014 and train departing from Rochelle, Ill., traveling east over former Chicago & North Western trackage to Provo Junction where it ran over the Indiana Harbor Belt Railroad from Bellwood to Dolton, Ill. At […]

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The future of the locomotive

A black and orange trimmed locomotive

Predicting the future is tricky business. Circumstances can change at the drop of a hat, opening up previously unforeseen possibilities. However, with analysis and careful guesswork, a prediction can be made. With that in mind, let us examine the future of the locomotive on the U.S. rail network. The current state of railroading To predict […]

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News Photos: UP Big Boy 4014 circumnavigates Chicago

black steam locomotive

UP Big Boy 4014 LA GRANGE, Ill. — Having a Union Pacific 4-8-8-4 steam locomotive pass through the Chicago area doesn’t happen every day (or maybe for the last seven decades). So it is no surprise hundreds of onlookers turned out at multiple locations to watch “Big Boy” 4014 make its way over the Indiana […]

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News photos: UP Big Boy arrives in the Midwest

Three-quarter view of steam locomotive

ROCHELLE, Ill. — The vast expanse of Union Pacific’s Ike Evans Global III terminal just west of Rochelle played host to a “Family Days” event for Chicago area UP employees today (Saturday, Sept. 7) prior to a public display featuring Big Boy 4-8-8-4 No. 4014 on Sunday at the same location. It proved to be […]

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