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Union Pacific Railroad’s Big Boy No. 4014– the world’s largest operating steam locomotive – has been barnstorming from coast-to-coast in a celebration of America’s 250^th birthday. Based in Wyoming, the train came east to Philadelphia for the July 4^th weekend.

On the hottest day of the year – 102 degrees with a heat index that made it feel like 112 – dozens of people camped out by the side of the tracks at Valley Forge National Historical Park to see the train steam by. Many people brought camp chairs and coolers with water, like John Seibert, who came with a couple of friends from a model railroad club.

“It’s a once-in-a lifetime experience,” he said, “I mean you’re never gonna see it again.”

Many in the crowd checked their smartphones to see the progress of the train on an app, as it made its way down the track. And from miles away, you could hear the whistle. Then, the crowd could see the headlights in the distance. Then the Big Boy, 133 feet long and weighing 1.2 million pounds, came barreling past, bells ringing and steam whistle blaring.

“It was pretty amazing,” exclaimed Seibert. “When he blew the whistle right by us, it kind of went right through you.”

A few days later, engine 4014, and the 18-car long Union Pacific train it pulled, parked in Philadelphia’s Navy Yard, where crowds could get up close and personal. Fifteen-year-old Brandon Westerfield of Leonardo, New Jersey, came with his mother.

“I mean it’s obvious, but it’s huge,” said the young train enthusiast. “It’s so cool to see just something that big right in front of you.”

His mother, Althea, who has seen many trains with her son, said: “When he told me about it, I was like, okay, it’s another train, but now that I’m here, this is absolutely incredible. I’ve never seen such a sight.”