THOROUGHBREDS POWER AMERICA

For Fourth of July weekend, Big Boy will roll into the birthplace of American independence for one of the tour’s most historic stops. Long before modern highways connected the Northeast Corridor, railroads helped move people, industry, and commerce through Philadelphia and beyond. The city’s rail infrastructure played a critical role in supporting economic growth and connecting American communities throughout the region. 

Railroad history runs deep in Altoona, long known as a center of operations and engineering for the Pennsylvania Railroad. The city’s legacy remains visible through its rail infrastructure, shops, museums, and generations of railroad families who helped shape the industry.
 
Big Boy’s stop at Rose Yard will feature the locomotive alongside NS’ Pennsylvania Railroad Heritage Unit, celebrating Altoona’s lasting impact on the industry.

For decades, Fostoria has been one of America’s best-known railfan destinations, where freight trains continue to pass through the heart of downtown every day. Located at the intersection of major rail corridors, the city’s identity has long been tied to rail transportation and the communities built around it.
 
Big Boy’s final major public stop on the NS network will feature the locomotive alongside a historic consist of business cars, including Marco Polo, a restored Pullman car once used by President Franklin D. Roosevelt.