Big Boy Visits the Nevada Northern Railway at Shafter, Nevada

Two years after a planned western tour was canceled, Union Pacific's iconic 4-8-8-4 #4014, the Big Boy, finally got to stretch its legs as it headed west towards California. On July 6, the locomotive departed Salt Lake City on the former Western Pacific mainline to its next overnight stop at Elko, Nevada passing through Shafter, the former junction and level crossing with the Nevada Northern Railway.

[@Petemonster62]

This is a good spot to film a steam locomotive because telegraph lines are still standing! If the Nevada Northern was still connected with the Union Pacific, the museum could send a doodlebug or RDC for railfans to visit the museum without having to drive there.

[@johndonovan5752]

Thanks! I love trains and I love the desert.

[@tomy.1846]

Perfect!! Thanks!

[@bradleyogden5688]

Very nice, maybe I might make it out the next time it comes through! Nice job Matt. 🦡

[@ToyManTelevision]

Sweet❤

[@nathandeal9703]

Imagine if the line was still open that far. 4014 and #40 could’ve met and had a whistle battle!

[@bradleyjanes2949]

Thats my favorite bb vid to date lol very 😎 TY

[@Scagguy4014]

That whistle 💀

[@espnluver7525]

Thought the train was heading rite towards u LOL

[@trainz2990]

How much is operational on the North end of Nevada Northern? I know they used to do some car storage

[@inarevil]

The car storage was terminated after a lawsuit nearly ended with the NN being abandoned. North of Ely, the main line is out of service but the railroad has been trying to get grants to help reopen the entirety of the railroad between Ely and Shafter. The 18 miles between Shafter and Cobre will most likely never see another train again, though, as it is disconnected at both ends.

[@davidng2336]

@@inarevilthat really sucks

[@atsfevan0242]

Huh, interesting it passed by NN trackage.

[@HO_Santa_Fe_productions4971]

I saw Big boy 4018 on July 6 2024

[@billyhatcher643]

The bigboy is why u where there

[@GaryA]

Nice fake-out taking the video from a different track. LOL For a minute I thought you were nuts.

[@inarevil]

LOL! Yeah, the camera is standing on the out of service Nevada Northern mainline... ;)

[@espnluver7525]

I was thinking the same thing LOL

[@adamschubert1626]

Why they running those boxcars and such

[@inarevil]

The passenger cars were already in California so they used the freight cars for braking capacity. Once the Big Boy reached Roseville, it changed its freight train out for the passenger cars.