BIG BOY 4014 And The STEAM TRAIN: Climb on Board for this Picture Book Review

Introduction

What happens when a little girl grows up near train tracks loving the sound of a train whistle? If you’re picture book author extraordinaire, Marsha Diane Arnold, that means when you grow up you’ll want to write a picture book about one of the legendary 600-ton locomatives who were called Big Boys. And that’s what you’ll do!

Before you read this review, I encourage you to read Marsha’s interview on Beth Anderson’s blog. Marsha shares how she found the heart of BIG BOY 4014’s story and how she decided to personify this mighty steam engine. For aspiring nonfiction picture book writers, the blog is a goldmine of information and BIG BOY 4014 is a great mentor text!

AUTHOR’S NOTE:

“The trains are called Big Boys, but traditionally locomotives are referred to as ‘she’ by their engineers and crews. I have followed that tradition in my story, referring to this iconic lolomitve as ‘she.” –Marsha Diane Arnold

REVIEW

Using the point of view of the train, Marsha Arnold begins her story with what Big Boy wants a wonderful inciting event: her dream. More than anything else she wants to pull out of the station, ring her bell, sound her whistle, and chug up the Wasatch Mountains at top speed.

But that was only a dream. Big Boy 4014 wasn’t near a train track. She’d been out of use for more than 50 years. She was a museum relic without heat in her firebox. Big Boy 4014 was one of eight locomotives left over from WWII. She and twenty-four other engines carried soldiers and heavy freight as part of the war effort.

In 2013, some curious visitors started wondering if Big Boy 4014 could travel again. But where would she run? How much would it cost?

One person began to dream along with Big Boy.

Big Boy’s dream for a Steam Team was born.

Nine men decided to restore Big Boy in time for the Golden Spike 150th anniversary of the completion of the transcontinental railroad.

A huge bulldozer dragged her inch by inch over temporary tracks to the main rail line. Then two diesel locomotives pushed and pulled her 1300 miles from Los Angeles to Cheyenne, Wyoming.

At the Union Pacific Steam Shop she was disassembled and rebuilt.

After six years of work, Big Boy 4014 was ready to roll! She took a test run to Colorado and then headed to Ogden, Utah for the great celebration. “Living Legend” locomotive 844 teamed up with her for a double dose of power. “People lined the tracks to feel the rumble under their feet as Big Boy passed, to see the steam cloud billowng above her, to hear her whistle, loud and clear.”

Finally, on May 9, 2019 Big Boy and “Living Legend” faced each other–nose to nose–and recreated the scene from 150 years earlier.

Since then, Big Boy 4014 has taken several tours around the country. Check the Union Pacific website to see if she’s coming to a town near you.

“And if a steam locomotive could talk, Big Boy would say, ‘Thank you for coming. Stand 25 feet back! My steam is hot.”

….”I’m ringing my bell and sounding my whistle.”

DONG-DONG-DONG-DONG-DONG-DONG

WHOOOOOOO-WHOO-WHOOOOOO

EXTEND AND CONNECT

The art in this book is beautiful. Make sure you take time to admire the gorgeous illustrations by Adam Gustavson. They are true to life and communicate the might of a train that is as powerful as 7,000 horses. After you read this book with your kids, grandkids, or students watch this video about how the train was brought back to life.

In addition, don’t miss curriculum connections. Students in pre-K- second grade can learn about geography, the importance of railroads criss-crossing the country, and the engineers who worked on the Steam Team (a great STEAM correction- pun intended!) to language arts. Point out the vivid verbs and figurative language sprinkled throughout a delightful nonfiction picturebook–that reads like a story.

Because it is.

No giveaway this time! My grandkids are enjoyng this book!