photo by: Kim Callahan/Journal-World

Engineers wave to onlookers as Union Pacific’s historic “Big Boy” steam locomotive passes through Lawrence Thursday, Oct. 17, 2024.

The “Big Boy” steam locomotive didn’t stop in Lawrence this time, but it slowed down enough Thursday for train enthusiast Leslie Alldritt to get a good look — and, given the volume of the train’s whistle, a very, very good listen.

Leslie, 3, was among the crowd waiting to catch a glimpse of Union Pacific’s historic “Big Boy,” which was built in 1941. The locomotive stopped in Lawrence in 2021 and, before that, in 2019, after the Union Pacific reacquired the engine and restored it as part of a celebration of the 150th anniversary of the transcontinental railroad.

Leslie’s mom, Stacie Alldritt, said that she and her two sons — the other is 7-year-old James — stop at the Union Pacific Railroad every single day before school to watch a train go by, a testament to the boys’ love of all things locomotive. Indeed, after Big Boy steamed past, Leslie thought he heard another train approaching and wanted to stay to see it too, no matter how regular and comparatively unhistoric it might be.

photo by: Kim Callahan/Journal-World

Engineers wave to onlookers as Union Pacific’s historic “Big Boy” steam locomotive passes through Lawrence Thursday, Oct. 17, 2024.

photo by: Kim Callahan/Journal-World

Leslie Alldritt, 3, looks hopefully down the tracks for another train after Union Pacific’s historic “Big Boy” steam locomotive passed through Lawrence, without stopping, Thursday, Oct. 17, 2024.

Lawrence train enthusiasts have consistently turned out in large numbers to see Big Boy, take photos and throw a wave to its engineers. On Thursday, it wasn’t clear what time Big Boy, aka the 4014, would pass through as it traveled from Kansas City, Missouri, to Topeka and westward to its home base in Cheyenne, Wyoming. Shortly before noon, though, the anticipated vision roared into view at the Union Pacific Depot in North Lawrence, its white plumes of steam vivid against the bright blue autumn sky.

At 132 feet long and 1.2 million pounds, the engine is a massive machine. It carries 25,000 gallons of water to make it steam, and back in the day carried 56,000 pounds of coal to create its fire. Today, it uses oil instead of coal, according to Union Pacific.

The 4014 — one of 25 Big Boy locomotives built — traveled more than 1 million miles before it was retired from service in 1961.

photo by: Kim Callahan/Journal-World

Engineers wave to onlookers as Union Pacific’s historic “Big Boy” steam locomotive passes through Lawrence Thursday, Oct. 17, 2024.

photo by: Kim Callahan/Journal-World

The Big Boy steam locomotive roars into view Thursday, Oct. 17, 2024, at Lawrence’s Union Pacific Depot.

photo by: Kim Callahan/Journal-World

Residents greet the Big Boy steam locomotive as it passes by Thursday, Oct. 17, 2024, at Lawrence’s Union Pacific Depot.

photo by: Kim Callahan/Journal-World

The Big Boy steam locomotive passes by Thursday, Oct. 17, 2024, at Lawrence’s Union Pacific Depot.

photo by: Kim Callahan/Journal-World

Dogs weren’t too impressed with Union Pacific’s historic “Big Boy” steam locomotive as it passed through Lawrence on Thursday, Oct. 17, 2024.

photo by: Kim Callahan/Journal-World

Bringing up the rear, an engineer waves as Union Pacific’s historic “Big Boy” steam locomotive passed through Lawrence Thursday, Oct. 17, 2024.