(The following story by Kristin Zagurski appeared on the Omaha World-Herald website on March 14.)
OMAHA — Big Boy — a legendary World War II-era steam locomotive — arrived Sunday at its new home overlooking Interstate 80.
It took two days to move the 1.2 million-pound locomotive from the Durham Western Heritage Museum to the bluff southwest of Lauritzen Gardens. The site will become the new Kenefick Park.
Big Boy was moved to the museum when the land for Kenefick Park, near Sixth Street and Abbott Drive, was taken over for riverfront redevelopment.
About 200 people gathered at Lauritzen Gardens on Sunday to watch the last leg of the locomotive’s move, said Spencer Crews, executive director of the gardens.
The final push on the 1.8-mile route included a steep climb.
“I think everyone was very interested to see how it was going to go up that hill,” Crews said.
The move went smoothly, with 18 dollies and a Caterpillar pulling Big Boy uphill, Crews said.
“It probably went up that hill easier than most everywhere else,” he said. “There weren’t any obstacles, and it was nice and smooth.”
After doing some grading to get the site ready, movers set Big Boy into place about 4 p.m.
A second locomotive, Centennial, will be moved next month to the future park, named in honor of retired Union Pacific Railroad President John C. Kenefick and his wife, Hani.