An estimated 3,000 people gathered in Pacific on Monday to see Big Boy No. 4014, the largest operating steam locomotive.
The locomotive made a 15-minute whistle stop at the First Street crossing in Pacific as part of its coast-to-coast celebration of America’s 250th birthday.
Ed Dickens, chief engineer of the locomotive, said the Pacific whistle stop marked day 57 of Big Boy’s eastern tour of the country. The tour kicked off April 10 in Sacramento, Calif., near where Central Pacific began construction on the nation’s first transcontinental railroad in 1863.
“We traveled all the way out to mile zero, and we started our journey east across this great country,” Dickens said. “My mind floods with memories; I don’t even know where to begin. It was a wonderful trip. This is what we’ve seen for the last nearly 100 days: millions of people along the way helping us celebrate our nation’s 250th birthday with this great locomotive.”
Pacific Tourism Director Kelly O’Malley said this whistle stop was a unique opportunity to celebrate Pacific’s Train Town USA nickname, designated by Union Pacific in 2012. She said the railroad, along with Route 66, which runs through the town, are two important modes of transportation for Pacific.
Securing the whistle stop on Union Pacific’s tour of America required a heavy dose of persistence from the city, O’Malley said.
“I made the call, and the call again, and the call again, and I kept leaving messages,” she said. “Because of our history with the train, with Union Pacific, I kept asking, ‘Please make a stop here.’ I’ve been so excited ever since (Pacific was named as a stop). We’re so excited that they chose to stop here.”
The whistle stop in Pacific was a hot one, with the temperature creeping up to about 92 degrees when the locomotive rolled in at 11:30 a.m.
The Meramec Ambulance District reported numerous people began experiencing heat-related illnesses during the event, with approximately 25 people receiving evaluations and treatment by paramedics. Three people were transported to area hospitals for further treatment.
Medical crews from the Pacific, Metro West, Eureka, Valley Park, Fenton, Monarch and West County fire protection districts, along with the St. Clair and Washington Area ambulance districts, assisted during the event.
“The successful management of this incident reflects the strength of our regional partnerships and the professionalism of all responding personnel,” Meramec Ambulance District Chief Taz Meyer said in a statement. “We are grateful for the immediate assistance provided by our mutual aid partners. Their response ensured that every patient received timely medical care while allowing emergency services to remain available throughout the district.”
Dickens said his brief stop in Pacific was a relief from the heat he experiences inside the cabin of Big Boy. Twenty-five Big Boys were built exclusively for Union Pacific Railroad during World War II, but only eight survive today. No. 4014 is the only one still operating. According to Union Pacific, each of the Big Boy locomotives was 133 feet long and weighed 1.2 million pounds.
“I’m actually cooling off out here,” Dickens said. “Inside, it’s pretty hot because this is 1940s technology. Our grandmas and grandpas who did this kind of work years ago, they didn’t have any expectation that there would be comfort. We’re used to air conditioning – everybody will get in their cars and have air conditioning. Back in the 1940s, that was very uncommon.”
Jo Schaper with the St. Clair Historical Museum said the Frisco Railroad, now BNSF, was born in Pacific as the southwest branch of the Pacific Railroad of Missouri in the 1850s. She had a booth at the whistle stop to provide information and history about the area and to also introduce the public to “Bandit,” the puppet raccoon.
“Around 1901, a big muckety muck from Kansas City went to the train depot in Neosho, and the fellow who was working for the railroad had a raccoon tacked up on the depot,” Schaper said. “The big muckety muck wanted to know why this was on company property, and he told him he did not make enough money working for the railroad, that he had to supplement by trapping and selling skins.”
As the story goes, the “muckety muck,” G.H. Nettleton, ended up taking the raccoon skin to St. Louis and, six months later, Frisco had a new logo shaped like the raccoon skin, Schaper said.
Schaper said she saw Big Boy No. 4014 the last time it rolled through Pacific, in 2021. Even more impressive, she said, was seeing it in 2019 when Big Boy was returned to service after a multi-year restoration.
“My aunt, husband and I went to Kansas City. (Big Boy) pulled in about 10 p.m.,” Schaper said. “It was lit up, smoking, and the background was all dark. That was totally, absolutely awesome. You can feel the ground shake when this one comes, even before you see it. It is really impressive. Everyone needs to see it at least once in their life.”
Katherine Kratky, regent for the Valley of the Meramec Daughters of the American Revolution chapter, was raising money for veteran’s programs at a booth at the whistle stop. Members of the chapter also read the Declaration of Independence around 11 a.m.
Kratky said she saw Big Boy in Pacific in 2021. Her first thought was “Oh my goodness.”
“It rumbled in, shook the ground, and it is the giant beast that everyone thinks it is,” she said. “It’s a once-in-a-lifetime event.”
Kelsea McKeever of Catawissa came with her husband, Jim, and children Leo and Aida. Leo brought many trains and engines from his personal collection to the event, allowing attendees to ooh and aah. He has “like a thousand” trains in total, he said.
“(Leo) loves his trains, so we thought it would be a good opportunity for him to show them off,” Kelsea said. “I don’t know how many he has here, but there’s more at home. Some were my grandpa’s; some came from a cousin, and then just flea markets, antique stores, wherever we can find them.”
Dick Hellwege is a volunteer at the Kirkwood Amtrak Station and had a booth at the whistle stop. Hellwege said, except for the eight remaining Big Boys, the other locomotives were scrapped for iron. In addition to No. 4014, there are seven Big Boys on display in various cities around the country. One can be found at the National Museum of Transportation, 2933 Barrett Station Road, in St. Louis. Hellwege said he was a tour guide at the museum for five years, where No. 4006 is on display.
“I decided to take a break from (the museum), and now I’m working as a volunteer because I have this huge enjoyment for railroading all across America,” Hellwege said. “The Big Boy is a big deal, because it’s the only remaining Big Boy of the original 25 (in operation). Their sole purpose was to carry coal across the Wasatch Mountains from Ogden, Utah to Cheyenne, Wyo.
“The cool thing is, (Big Boy) is the largest successfully built steam locomotive in American history. The fact that there’s only one left makes it of historical value.”
Paul Dixon of Chesterfield came to the whistle stop with his wife, Ruthie. He said his father was a conductor on the railroad for more than 30 years.
“Railroads have always been a part of our life,” Dixon said. “It’s just fun to see a big, old train come through like this. I love how many people, nationwide, are showing up for a big old train – but it’s about what it supports and what it’s representing.”
Pacific Alderman James Cleeve said there were “an awful lot of people” at the whistle stop, perhaps even more so than the 2021 whistle stop.
“I’m thrilled we can have the stop here and have all of these people involved,” he said. “It’s great to see the community out like this.”
Dickens called Big Boy a “giant magnet,” drawing people from near and far to gawk at the size of the locomotive. But, he said, it’s about more than just a steam engine.
“It’s such a beautiful celebration of our nation’s 250th,” he said. “Everybody’s happy. They’re united around this wonderful concept, this beautiful process of celebrating our nation.”
