Toot your horn for Lincoln, 'Train Town USA'

It shakes, it rattles, and it sure does roll! Union Pacific's "Big Boy" steam locomotive No. 4014 is every bit as big and impressive as is its name. I grew up in the golden age of model railroading, with Lionel trains as my mental escape. My train collection circled the basement on an elevated platform, with two 4x8 plywood sheets completing the town and country landscape. One could only imagine riding the rails to new adventures. Fast-forward to last Thursday, April 9, when I was privileged to snag a ride (yes, sometimes it pays to be mayor) in the cab of locomotive 4014 from Marysville to Lincoln. After a brief stop in Lincoln, where we received the official Union Pacific Railroad's "Train Town" designation, my fellow city councilpersons joined me in the rear section club car en route to the day's destination in the Roseville railyard. The two worlds – the cab and the club car – are night and day apart in experiences. The cab is hot, noisy (ear protectors required) and rocking and rolling as the train progresses with operating speeds between 25 and 42 mph. The club car is like riding first class in a Boeing 787 – quiet, refined, with plush swivel seats and a fabulous view of the countryside rolling by. Union Pacific's Locomotive 4014 is a preserved 4884-1 class "Big Boy" type steam locomotive owned and operated by Union Pacific as part of its heritage fleet. Built in November 1941 by the American Locomotive Company in Schenectady, New York, it was assigned to haul heavy freight trains in the Wasatch mountain range. The original Big Boys were retired in the 1960s. No. 4014 was completely restored in 2019, in time to commemorate Union Pacific's 150th anniversary, and today, is the only one still in operation and is used exclusively as a rolling display of history. Originally powered by coal, it now uses specially designed, eco-friendly diesel fuel. One ascends to the cab using a five-step vertical ladder. The engineer, seated on the right side of the cab, is responsible for operating the locomotive, managing its speed and direction, and ensuring safe operation during excursions. The person on the left side is known as the "fireman." It is their job to tend to the fire, the running of the boiler and maintaining the steam pressure for power. The workflow between these two professionals is as choreographed as would be found in any aircraft cockpit. Fun fact: The engineer also operates the train whistle, changing the sound's pitch and cadence with a special pulley. The crowd in Marysville was large and enthusiastic but totally overshadowed by the train's reception as it pulled into Lincoln. From just north of the city to a point opposite Thunder Valley Casino, there must have been 7,000-plus cheering spectators with almost everyone holding a camera and waving. It was heart-warming to see so many people cheering our passage, with the American flag on the engine's right side and the state of California's on the left side. To me, the outpouring of emotion spoke to a shared belief in our collective history and our hopes for the future. Lincoln is intertwined with railroading. It's part of our heritage and is a legacy to future generations, much like the clay pipes of Gladding McBean, the lumber processing at Sierra Pacific Industries, the Lincoln Airport and our historic downtown. Union Pacific held an Open House last Friday, April 10, at the Roseville railyard. Despite the inclement weather, more than 20,000 guests came out to see Big Boy, its trailing cars and other locomotive equipment. The train was to have moved east on Sunday, stopping in Colfax and Truckee. But heavy snow in the Sierra last weekend altered that plan and Big Boy retraced its steps back through Lincoln, then north before turning east. Train enthusiasts heard about the new plan and again lined the tracks and watched this slice of Americana roll by. By a fluke of nature, the sky cleared just as the train passed through the city. Thank you, Union Pacific Railroad, for bringing us into your family as an official "Train Town USA." We're proud to be the 153rd location so honored.