The mayor of Pomona also conducted an impromptu “ribbon cutting” ceremony upon the locomotive’s arrival in the museum on Saturday with a yellow-painted steel bar and cutting torch.
The equipment, which includes a boxcar and a former Rock Island bay window caboose, was included in the transaction that allowed Union Pacific to reacquire 4-8-8-4 Big Boy No. 4014 for restoration.
The locomotives and cars were delivered to Pomona on Jan. 26 when No. 4014 was removed from the fairgrounds. UP relaid the panel track across the parking lot to the museum grounds to complete the delivery.
The delivery of the equipment to the museum grounds marks the completion of the first phase of the Big Boy restoration project. The next step in the process includes the inspection of the locomotive and minor repairs to be made at the railroad’s West Colton shops. In April the locomotive is expected to move over Cajon Pass to the railroad’s steam shop in Cheyenne, Wyo.
The museum is operated by the Southern California Chapter of the Railway & Locomotive Historical Society. For more information, go to www.railgiants.org.
