On September 17th the UP’s Big Boy number 4014 was scheduled to operate from Texarkana to the intermodal facility in Wilmer-Hutchins just south of Dallas. I had decided to head towards Big Sandy mid-morning and follow it back to Dallas in what should be good afternoon light. Then I got word of an intermodal train breaking down in Mount Pleasant ahead of the UP 4014 and the outcome after the problem was resolved was the Big Boy’s train was hours late and would not approach Dallas until after dark.
I decided to stay home and catch it on September 19th when it was scheduled to run from Wilmer-Hutchins to Brazos Yard near Hearne. I left the house early and met up with Bruce Blalock, Clif Jones and Brian Tindle at Garrett Junction just north of Ennis. Before the others arrived I caught a local leaving Ennis to go north up the Midlothian Sub to Mansfield.
At 10:02 am Big Boy passed us and many others at the wide open spot we had chosen.
The UP 4014 was pulling an eleven car train made up of Heritage Fleet cars with observation car “Lincoln” bringing up the rear.
The train made a brief stop in Ennis, but our group had skipped it to stop in Alma to the south where Brian had previously scouted out an old farmhouse on the west side of the tracks that made a great background prop. It meant standing on the shadow side of the train but the final results at 11:08 am were worth it.
The train skipped its stop in Corsicana as it was behind schedule, but that was fine with me as I was out ahead to stop north of Richland where I launched the drone for this view of the train at 11:55 am as it crossed a tributary of Richland-Chambers Reservoir.
Now on two-lane highway 14 south of Richland I safely managed to get ahead of much of the chase traffic and beat the train the Wortham. I made a decision to get off at East San Saba Street and see if anything appealed to me for the next photo. This thought was answered with success when I spotted this Ford Model A truck parked on the east side of the crossing. I quickly parked and was ready when the Big Boy passed at 12:12 am as two old transportation veterans saluted each other.
Bruce and Clif had scouted out a rural crossing between Thornton and Kosse the previous day, so I followed them to it as we were now once again ahead of the train. Just south of the grade crossing here an old Tri-light signal was beckoning the Big Boy to continue its southbound journey.
Brian soon joined us here, and UP 4014 made an appearance at 1:54 pm.
I followed the train into Kosse where I got back on Highway 14 south, and once again was able to get ahead of the train south of Bremond. I found another wide-open location I liked in Calvert, and talking to others I learned there was a very large crowd waiting in Hearne. As there were few locations left before the train reached Brazos Yard. I decided this would be a good spot to end what so far had been a successful chase.
I took my last sequence of the day starting at 2:42 pm as the Big Boy came by at speed.
Engineer and friend Ed Dickens was busy with the whistle for the many grade crossings ahead while the pilot engineer gave us all a wave.
By quitting early I got home at a reasonable time and was already looking forward to the Big Boy’s run to Fort Worth after visiting Houston.