Local teen documents Ohio sightings of steam locomotive Big Boy
PHOTOS by Clint and Jenna Wilkins
By Liz Gordon-Hancock and Paula Scott
Clint Wilkins, age 14, is something of a train aficionado. He and his family tracked the Union Pacific’s No. 4014, a.k.a. Big Boy, from Continental to Bellevue, Ohio, when the steam locomotive made its way through Ohio on Saturday, June 6, as part of a coast-to-coast tour.
The No. 4014 is the world’s largest operating steam locomotive. It is making over four dozen whistle-stops of 13 to 30 minutes long.
Clint’s photos show the train in operation amidst Ohio farmland and Jenna’s show the train stopped in the moments before crowds descended. It is estimated that 10K people were at the Continental stop.
Jenna notes, “The guy on the top of the train is Ed Dickens, the Engineer. He's standing on the tender and waving and recording all of us. It was crazy.”
For more information, visit https://www.up.com/about-us/history/steam/schedule
Stories Posted This Week
Monday, October 19, 2026
- Beavers sports roundup, October 14-18
- Ada Icon headlines, October 19
- JessExpress Travel is the Icon's newest advertiser
- Gatchel 7th in girls, Pirates 4th at NWC cross country meet
- Veterans invited to Pandora-Gilboa banquet, November 10
- October 19 Bluffton Schools athletics lineup, streaming
- Wearable sculptures featured in exhibit On Soft Ground
- Historic depot rentals offered for meetings and parties
Sunday, October 18, 2026
Saturday, October 17, 2026
Friday, October 16, 2026
- Production offers a modern take on the story of St. Clare of Assisi
- Bluffton volleyball edged in 5 by Van Buren
- Pirate girls soccer tie O-G
- Bluffton Council recap: Officers honored for 25 years of service
- Bluffton Clean Up teams up with Troop 3256 Cub Scouts
- Ada FFA: Feeding the Farmers
- Nov. 7 Fall Community Day at Bluffton University
- Quarry Farm Nature Preserve news for Fall 2026
Thursday, October 15, 2026
- DeWine announces $200M Rural Health Transformation program award
- Herb program with Marge Lafollette, Oct. 15
- Prairie seeding activity at Bluffton University, October 24
- Food for thought: Choline for the brain
- Results for 5K on October 2, Bluffton University Homecoming event
- 15 minutes with Sherry Miller, senior center activities coordinator