Thousands gather to witness Big Boy steam locomotive
Sentinel photo by SAM BAUMGARDNER<br> Hordes of people swarm the crossing on Roundhouse Road in Granville Township, attempting to get a view of the steam locomotive.
Sentinel photo by SAM BAUMGARDNER<br> Moriah Soccio, Brianna Matos, and Shana Armstrong, all of McClure, stand proud with their American flags in front of Big Boy No. 4014.
Sentinel photo by SAM BAUMGARDNER<br> Visitors and residents exit a bus from Adam Transportation of Selinsgrove on Wednesday morning at the crossing on Roundhouse Road in Granville Township.
Sentinel photo by SAM BAUMGARDNER<br> One of Norfolk Southern’s America 250 locomotives acts as a support locomotive.
Sentinel photo by SAM BAUMGARDNER<br> One of Union Pacific’s 1776 locomotives acts as a support locomotive.
Sentinel photo by SAM BAUMGARDNER<br> Hordes of people swarm the crossing on Roundhouse Road in Granville Township, attempting to get a view of the steam locomotive.
Sentinel photo by SAM BAUMGARDNER<br> Moriah Soccio, Brianna Matos, and Shana Armstrong, all of McClure, stand proud with their American flags in front of Big Boy No. 4014.
Sentinel photo by SAM BAUMGARDNER<br> Visitors and residents exit a bus from Adam Transportation of Selinsgrove on Wednesday morning at the crossing on Roundhouse Road in Granville Township.
Sentinel photo by SAM BAUMGARDNER<br> One of Norfolk Southern’s America 250 locomotives acts as a support locomotive.
Sentinel photo by SAM BAUMGARDNER<br> One of Union Pacific’s 1776 locomotives acts as a support locomotive.
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LEWISTOWN -- A large crowd of spectators gathered near the Roundhouse Road crossing in Granville Township on Wednesday afternoon to witness a once-in-a-lifetime experience to see Union Pacific's Big Boy No. 4014.
According to Granville Township Police Chief Chad Brehman, an estimated 2,500 attended the 30-minute whistle-stop.
As part of its America250 tour, the world's largest operating steam locomotive made its way through Mifflin County to fill up on water at the crossing on Roundhouse Road.
Crowds filled the roads as early as three hours before the stop to claim a good seat, and with the humid weather and hours in the sun, additional EMS personnel were called in due to several heat exhaustion incidents. Traffic was at a standstill for nearly an hour as cars attempted to exit the Roundhouse Road crossing.
As Big Boy approached, the crowd went silent, followed by an eruption of clapping and cheering. The workers on the train waved, and visitors and residents hurried toward the front of the crowd to get an up-close-and-personal view of Big Boy.
Big Boy will continue to travel through the Juniata Valley and up through Tyrone en route to Altoona, where it will remain for nearly four days. First, it made a stop downtown at the Railroaders Memorial Museum for a whistle-stop on Wednesday night.
Big Boy will depart Altoona at 9 a.m. on Saturday, heading west to the area's famous Horseshoe Curve for a sold-out event. Its next major exhibition will be in Fostoria, Ohio, on July 14.
Visitors came from all over, including Linda Payne of Hanover, to sit beside her husband as his joy for trains and history came to a head today.
Linda explained that her husband was actually getting a closer view, and she loved being a part of it with him.
For most, it was their love of trains or their desire to be part of history. But whatever brought them together, the community shared one thing: they were proud to be there.
