Updated
Updated · NBC Philadelphia · Jul 3
Big Boy 4014 Reaches Navy Yard for 2-Day Free Display as Thousands Line Philly Tracks
Updated
Updated · NBC Philadelphia · Jul 3

Big Boy 4014 Reaches Navy Yard for 2-Day Free Display as Thousands Line Philly Tracks

3 articles · Updated · NBC Philadelphia · Jul 3

Summary

  • Union Pacific’s Big Boy No. 4014 rolled from King of Prussia to Philadelphia’s Navy Yard on Friday, where the 133-foot steam locomotive will be open to the public free on July 4 and 5.
  • Thousands watched from along the Schuylkill and in South Philly despite intense heat, as the 1.2 million-pound locomotive made its latest stop in the nation’s 250th-anniversary celebration.
  • Inside the cab, temperatures top 120 degrees, requiring eye and ear protection plus cooling towels for crew members operating the restored 1941 locomotive.
  • Heat remains a concern for visitors after more than 100 people suffered heat-related emergencies at a Thursday stop in Muhlenberg Township.

Insights

Why did a historic train's tour require a federal waiver to run on modern East Coast tracks?
After a mass heat illness event, why did officials approve a large public gathering in an unshaded area?
How can cities balance celebrating industrial heritage with the deadly reality of a changing climate?