CONNEAUT – The Union Pacific Railroad has announced that it will help the country celebrate its 250th birthday with a one-of-a-kind event.
There’s a very real possibility that event makes its way to the City of Conneaut.
“A press release was issued by Union Pacific recently,” Conneaut City Manager Nick Sanford said during a regular city council meeting on Monday, March 23. “As part of America’s 250th anniversary celebration this year and an impending proposal for a transcontinental merger, the Union Pacific and Norfolk Southern railways will be hosting the largest steam locomotive ever built, No. 4014 or ‘The Big Boy,’ as it’s called, on a first-of-its-kind, coast-to-coast excursion, which includes a Chicago-to-Buffalo run. This will likely include a run by through the client yards here along Madison Street in Conneaut.”
Exact details have not been released, but “The Big Boy” visiting could be an event that mirrors a previous engine’s visit to the city.
“Though dates are yet to be determined, we anticipate it to be sometime in May or June,” Sanford said. “On a history note, a sister to that locomotive was located here in a stopover in 1964 on its way to a museum.”
Visits by other trains were mentioned and Sanford noted that’s the city’s connection to the railroads is significant.
“We’ve been fortunate to have many come through throughout the years,” Sanford said. “This is going to be pretty exciting. If it’s favorable to happen and we get confirmation, I anticipate it will be a significant draw. Once we get confirmation, certainly, we’ll get the word out, because that’ll be a huge shot in the arm for the city, which has been a railroad town for well over 140 years-plus.”
Ward 1 Councilman Rick Gaugh is grateful the city will be included in the event.
“I’d like to say thank you on ‘The Big Boy’ coming through town,” Gaugh said. “I hope there’s too much traffic around Conneaut when it shows. That means that the people came to see it.”
