This summer, I had the privilege to witness UP 4014, Union Pacific's restored "Big Boy" 4-8-8-4 steam locomotive, ply the rails of the UP mainline once again, this time leading the "Heartland of America" tour through the states of Wyoming, Nebraska, Iowa, Illinois, Missouri, Arkansas, Texas, Oklahoma, Kansas, and Colorado. My portion of the trip consisted of traveling to Grand Island, NE and chasing it back east towards Chicagoland and eventually Momence, IL, where I gave up the chase. Baird, IA is a mere blip on the map along the UP Boone Subdivision, but what it lacks in population it makes up for in scenery. It is here that 4014 passes through a photogenic truss bridge that crosses over the Boyer River right next to U.S. Route 30. As a side note, notice the concrete ties and welded rail on both tracks of the mainline here - some of the best track Big Boy has run on!
