America at 250–“Big Boy” Visits New York State
From John Kucko Digital, Follow John on Facebook
Been getting lots of questions from yesterday’s post about the hugely exciting news that Union Pacific’s iconic Big Boy 4014 steam train will make its way through areas of New York State as part of the America 250 Tour where it will travel to Philadelphia for July 4th festivities there. This is all part of the Eastern Leg tour of this enormously popular excursion. They begin the Western Leg in one week when they depart Cheyenne, Wyoming on March 29th for California.
The Eastern Leg of this patriotic tour will begin on May 25th and will include “display days” in Omaha, Nebraska; Chicago, Illinois; Buffalo, New York; and Scranton, Pennsylvania, before “Big Boy’s” arrival in Philadelphia for Independence Day. This means the steam train will take the Norfolk Southern rails as it makes its way from Buffalo (where it would overnight for a day or two) to Binghamton, traveling on the NS Southern Tier Line. The map here is a very rough outline of where the train will pass through:
It leaves Buffalo, proceeds east toward places like Alden, Darien Center, then cuts southeast into Attica, then Warsaw, and onto Rock Glen, Silver Springs and Castile before it reaches the arch at Letchworth State Park in Portageville. From there high above the Genesee River, the train proceeds southeast to Dalton, Swain, Canaseraga, past Arkport into Hornell—a city rich in railroad history. It then goes southeast toward Canisteo, then east to Corning and onto Binghamton before it makes its way toward Scranton and ultimately Philadelphia. And yes, while Letchworth promises to be a zoo, there are MANY areas along this route that offer great views, some very up close.
Dates have not yet been firmed up to announce, but this will be a June event and most likely around mid-June or so as it would leave Buffalo for Binghamton. Funny thing is there’s a chance I’ll be hosting our trip to Northern Ireland and could miss it. Will keep you updated on this exciting deal—it will be a sight to see (and hear.)
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