HackerTrans
TopNewTrendsCommentsPastAskShowJobs

The biggest steam locomotive is whistle-stopping across the U.S.(npr.org)

14 points·by ghtbircshotbe·ieri·5 comments
npr.org
The biggest steam locomotive is whistle-stopping across the U.S.

https://www.npr.org/2026/07/11/nx-s1-5872656/big-boy-locomotive-steam

5 comments

nickhalfasleep·ieri
Not quite the biggest steam locomotive, the DM&IR Yellowstone class outranked them in many measures.

https://www.steamlocomotive.com/locobase.php?country=USA&whe...
ggm·ieri
Article has "operating" headline here doesn't. Those that are left are (apparently) all on static display.

Articulated steam locos: I was delighted to finally see Bayer Garrets in Delhi, and coastal NSW loco caches. I'd mentally assumed to be an articulated steam engines, it would be enormous: these are actually surprisingly small.

(Made in England, mostly for export)
ghtbircshotbe·16 ore fa
Sorry, just copy pasted the headline they gave me at the time.

One interesting thing I noticed about the big boy locomotive is that the whistle is much lower pitched and more pleasant sounding than typical operating locomotives today
ssl-3·24 ore fa
Schedule of stops is here: https://www.up.com/about-us/history/steam/schedule
dzhiurgis·15 ore fa
I took a steam train yesterday. They should be called coal train, because it was beyond disgusting. If you like fresh air - highly recommend to avoid such experience.