Early in the morning that day, crews will sever Metrolink’s track just ouside the Los Angeles County Fairgrounds, slide the track over, and connect this giant of the rails to the outside world. The work that began months ago to prepare the 1941 Alco 4-8-8-4 for its return is about to pay off with the locomotive’s move from its display location of 52 years to UP’s shop at West Colton, about 40 rail miles away.
Metro, the newsletter of the Los Angeles County transit agency, Metrolink, reported Thursday that the Big Boy locomotive will be on display at its Covina station for an hour starting at 7 a.m. on Jan. 26. Also on Thursday, Trains Editor Jim Wrinn interviewed UP steam boss Ed Dickens who confirmed that the locomotive will leave the fairgrounds later this month. UP plans to make its own announcement about the move on Monday, but Dickens confirmed the Covina display.
Crews returned to work on preparing the locomotive move on Thursday at a fenced enclosure inside the fairgrounds. They recently repaired a multiple-feed Nathan lubricator for the locomotive. Panel track used to move the Big Boy more than a mile is stacked neatly next to the locomotive.
Additionally, a caboose, boxcar, and SD40-2 No. 3105 that will be going inside the museum to replace the Big Boy are at West Colton ready for the move.
The move from West Colton to the UP steam shop in Cheyenne, Wyo., will occur in March, Dickens said.
