IRM and the Big Boy

As you probably know, the Union Pacific's newly restored Big Boy 4014 has been making its way around the Midwest recently, and for the past three days it's been on display in West Chicago.  We're a UP customer, of a sort, and they graciously invited us to set up a booth near the locomotive and hand out brochures and old magazines.  Here's our booth with the Executive Director firmly in control of the situation.

Right across from us is the largest operating steam locomotive in the US, with a constant stream of visitors.  Of course Monday's crowd was not as big as the two previous days, since many poor souls have to work for a living.  I can vaguely remember the stress and strain myself, but that's another story.

Today Nick, Sam, and I were the representatives of the Museum.  Old train magazines are a favorite with kids, especially when they're free and your parents let you take as much as you want.

There were long lines to get into some of the cars in the executive train.   And all day there were lines of people on the overpass looking down on the scene.   You just had to be there.

At the end of the day, after everybody had gone home, I was finally able to get a clear shot of the locomotive, laid up warm for its next trip tomorrow.

We really appreciate the UP's generosity in inviting us to publicize the Museum to the visitors.  We can't thank them enough for letting us do this.  IRM was really the only outside organization represented at the event.