Three for Three: Photographing Big Boy 4014

I spent two days scouting the Union Pacific Main Line in Eastern Missouri only to end up back in St. Louis County for this shot.
Mike Winslow

Photographing Big Boy

I worked the Union Pacific Railroad running west out of Cheyenne as a brakeman in the late 1970s, decades before I owned a camera worth talking about. This is the third time I’ve set out to make a photograph of the Big Boy 4014 as a professional photographer.

The first was August 2021, in Illinois, south of St. Louis, running north.

Big-boy-4014-Mike-Winslow-Photography-Professional-Head-Shot (2) — In my youth, (1974-1979), I worked for the Union Pacific Rail Road as a brakeman out of Cheyenne, Wyoming which is where this engine is based and maintained. When my wife and I heard that the largest operating steam engine in the world was making a publicity tour we made plans to attempt to photograph it. After all, there are not guaranties. We “struck out” going south out of Saint Louis and after a while turned west toward the Mississippi River. Once we hit the tracks we followed them south and found a crossing in Valmeyer, Illinois where I shot this photograph. I hope you enjoy it!

The second was September 2025, leaving Cheyenne, running west. As you can see by the smoke, the engineer is “pouring the coals” to it as it’s uphill all the way to Sherman the highest point on the UP main line 8247 feet above sea level. I crossed it many times moving freight across the country.

This last time was July 20, 2026 crossing the Meramec River in St. Louis County.

Six hundred tons of rolling steel doesn’t wait for a photographer to find the light. You get a schedule, a stretch of track scouted in advance, and one chance to get the shot. Three for three, so far. I think you’ll find the video entertaining with the behind scenes action taken by my lovely wife, Patty.

Thanks for dropping by. I’d love to hear your comments.

Best,
Mike

Ps. I’m still making portraits for people who care.