The biggest steam locomotive is whistle-stopping across the U.S.

https://www.npr.org/2026/07/11/nx-s1-5872656/big-boy-locomotive-steam

by ghtbircshotbe • 11 days ago

14 6 11 days ago

npr.org

nickhalfasleep• 11 days ago

Not quite the biggest steam locomotive, the DM&IR Yellowstone class outranked them in many measures.

https://www.steamlocomotive.com/locobase.php?country=USA&whe...

ggm• 11 days ago

Article has "operating" headline here doesn't. Those that are left are (apparently) all on static display.

Articulated steam locos: I was delighted to finally see Bayer Garrets in Delhi, and coastal NSW loco caches. I'd mentally assumed to be an articulated steam engines, it would be enormous: these are actually surprisingly small.

(Made in England, mostly for export)

ghtbircshotbe• 11 days ago

Sorry, just copy pasted the headline they gave me at the time.

One interesting thing I noticed about the big boy locomotive is that the whistle is much lower pitched and more pleasant sounding than typical operating locomotives today

ssl-3• 11 days ago

Schedule of stops is here: https://www.up.com/about-us/history/steam/schedule

dzhiurgis• 11 days ago

I took a steam train yesterday. They should be called coal train, because it was beyond disgusting. If you like fresh air - highly recommend to avoid such experience.

satiric• 10 days ago

This one burns oil, not coal.

The biggest steam locomotive is whistle-stopping across the U.S.

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