This summer, I had the privilege to witness UP 4014, Union Pacific's restored "Big Boy" 4-8-8-4 steam locomotive, ply the rails of the UP mainline once again, this time leading the "Heartland of America" tour through the states of Wyoming, Nebraska, Iowa, Illinois, Missouri, Arkansas, Texas, Oklahoma, Kansas, and Colorado. My portion of the trip consisted of traveling to Grand Island, NE and chasing it back east towards Chicagoland and eventually Momence, IL, where I gave up the chase. Here, 4014 and the Tour train make the trek across the massive Kate Shelley Bridge outside of Boone, IA. The train is crossing the newer concrete-supported structure, while the old steel trestle still stands as a testament of the engineering marvels of its time. I had delays in getting past the Carroll, IA whistle stop and barely managed to get ahead of the train to the bridge, so sadly I did not get the full train on the bridge while my drone was airborne.
