Heat Emergency at Big Boy Stop Offers Warning Ahead of Salina Visit

SALINA, KS — A heat-related emergency at a Pennsylvania stop for Union Pacific’s Big Boy No. 4014 is serving as a reminder for Salina residents planning to see the historic locomotive later this month.

More than 100 people were treated Thursday in Muhlenberg Township, Pennsylvania, after crowds gathered to see the massive steam engine. Local reports said the incident involved heat-related illnesses, not a train accident or mechanical issue. Several people were taken to hospitals, and emergency crews used tents, ambulances and cooling buses at the scene.

The incident happened as spectators waited in extreme heat. Some reportedly arrived hours before the train, which was delayed. Because apparently even a 1.2-million-pound locomotive cannot save people from July weather and poor hydration choices.

The same locomotive is scheduled to stop in Salina at the Old Depot, 400 N. 13th Street.

Union Pacific’s current schedule lists Big Boy No. 4014 arriving in Salina at 6 p.m. Thursday, July 23, and departing at 9 a.m. Friday, July 24. The schedule is subject to change.

Big Boy No. 4014 is considered the world’s largest operating steam locomotive. The engine is 133 feet long and weighs about 1.2 million pounds.

The Pennsylvania incident does not mean Salina’s stop is unsafe, but it does show the risk that can come with large crowds, long waits and summer heat. Residents planning to attend should bring water, dress for the weather, watch children and older adults closely, and be prepared for delays.

Union Pacific also reminds spectators to stay at least 25 feet from railroad tracks, avoid trespassing on railroad property and never assume tracks are inactive.