Historic ‘Big Boy’ steam engine visits Central Pa. on cross-country journey

The world's largest operating steam locomotive stopped in downtown Lebanon on Tuesday during its cross-country journey celebrating the nation's 250th anniversary

• Katie Knol
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  Katie Knol is WITF's General Assignment Reporter & Host.
  
  She graduated from Penn State University in 2024, earning bachelor's degrees in journalism and political science. She has also worked at WPSU, the News Lab at Penn State, The Daily Collegian and CommRadio.

Big Boy, the largest operating steam-powered train in the world, drew thousands of spectators to downtown Lebanon on Tuesday as it made one of its scheduled stops during a cross-country tour celebrating America’s 250th anniversary. 

History buffs, train enthusiasts and families lined the tracks in the middle of Lebanon on Tuesday to hear the blaring horn and see the massive engine. It was one of 95 stops throughout the country.

Ed Dickens, senior manager of Heritage Operations at Union Pacific, helped rebuild the historic train from the 1940s. It is 610 tons and 133 feet long. The locomotive was originally designed to haul heavy freight over steep landscapes.

He said he has seen millions of people during the trek, and they couldn’t go a mile without seeing groups who showed up to admire Big Boy.

“It’s beautiful coming to towns like this where you have a beautiful station, a station that represents what the railroad means,” Dickens said.

During the Lebanon stop, workers manually added fuel and water to Big Boy. Dickens said they need these maintenance stops about every 80 miles to keep the train running.

Dickens said the tour has drawn people from across the country and around the world. In Lebanon, Mayor Sherry Capello said one visitor traveled from Alaska.

Leviticus Lewis drove from Virginia after deciding Lebanon might offer a less-crowded viewing experience than Philadelphia.

“I want to see how really big it is,” Lewis said. “You see the pictures, but you got to see it in person.”

Capello said she was honored Lebanon was chosen as a stop because of its historic train stations.

“I am so proud,” she said, choking up. “We did need this. We really needed this, and we had a wonderful day. Everyone came together, followed the rules, had a great time. We saw a remarkable piece of history here in Lebanon, Pennsylvania.”

After the Lebanon stop, the train traveled through Hershey and Harrisburg. The Wednesday stops are in Lewistown and Altoona. The entire schedule can be found on Union Pacific’s website.