Ash Thoreau

I finally got to see it—Union Pacific’s Big Boy No. 4014. And honestly, I can’t overstate what a transformative experience it was. It was one of those rare moments where everything seemed to align perfectly. But to understand why it was so special, let me take you back a little.

I work as a dispatcher for multiple law enforcement agencies. In 2019, something unusual happened. Out of nowhere, our officers started calling in traffic details at railroad crossings in the dead of night. No one in dispatch had been given a heads-up about any events, so we were puzzled. Officers were reporting groups of people gathered near the tracks, waiting for something. Then someone said, “It’s probably that train.”

Curious, I googled it—and that’s when I first learned about Union Pacific’s Big Boy, the largest steam locomotive in the world. Only 25 of these giants were ever made, and before the restoration of No. 4014 in 2019, none of them had been operational since the early ‘60s. We had no idea what a big deal it was. But then we started seeing videos of this massive machine, and it was like people were meeting a celebrity. I was hooked from that moment on.

But in 2019, I missed it. I tried to make up for it by driving up to Cheyenne with my husband to see No. 4004 on display, which was amazing in its own right. But it wasn’t the same. I had to see No. 4014 in action.

Year after year, I kept missing it. Whether it was timing or life getting in the way, I just couldn’t make the trip. Each time it rolled through on a tour, I watched others post their videos, and I would kick myself for not going.

This year, though, I just knew. When I heard it was coming again, I wasn’t going to miss it. The excitement hit me hard. After my shift ended at 6 AM, I picked out my clothes for the day, went to bed, and slept for just three hours. I woke up, got Dais, my little one, ready, and we headed out. We parked a few blocks away to avoid the crowd and walked in, slowly joining others making their way to see the engine. As we walked, you could hear the whistle echoing in the distance. The excitement was electric. Dais kept saying “Baby train! Baby train!” which made everyone around us smile. The irony wasn’t lost on anyone—here we were, walking toward the largest steam engine in the world, and she was calling it a baby.

When we rounded the corner and saw the crowd gathered by the tracks, my heart raced. We found our spot, and before we knew it, we could see the steam rising in the distance. I quickly put Dais’ ear protection on and lifted her onto my shoulders just in time. And then it was there—Big Boy No. 4014, rolling into view, its whistle cutting through the air. My heart swelled as Dais bounced up and down on my shoulders, her excitement mirroring my own. The crowd erupted in cheers, and for a moment, time seemed to stand still.

When the train finally came to a stop, letting off steam, Dais went wild. She loved every second of it, and honestly, so did I. There was something magical about seeing her so full of joy, sharing this moment with her.

We waited at the front, determined to see it take off again. Even though it felt like a long wait, especially for a kid, we held out. And when it finally left, it felt like the perfect ending to a perfect day.

I can’t explain it fully, but it was magic. The years of anticipation, the missed chances, and then finally seeing it with my daughter—my favorite person in the entire world—made it all the more special. It was a memory I’ll hold close for the rest of my life, one of those rare, beautiful moments where everything feels just right.