AUSTINTOWN — For anyone involved in model railroading, real railroading or local history, July 12 will be a big day because that is when the Union Pacific Big Boy number 4014 locomotive will pass through Struthers on its summer tour.

Number 4014 is the world’s largest steam engine. Youngstown Model Railroad Association club officer Bruce Silvernail said it was built in 1941 in Schenectady, New York.

“It is 133 feet long, 16 feet high, 11 feet wide and delivers over 6,000 horsepower,” Silvernail said. “It weighs as much as three modern diesel locomotives.”

He said 25 Big Boys were built at the American Locomotive Company (ALCO) between 1941 and 1944. The engines went through Ohio on their way west, where each was put into service hauling long lines of freight cars through the Rocky Mountains. The engines had a top speed of approximately 80 mph.

The engines were built for freight, but were equipped to handle passenger cars as well. Silvernail said passenger cars require steam heat that is generated by the engine through a specific steam line setup.

YMRA member Bob Lewis said the club plans to offer information on various locomotives and operate the club’s Union Pacific 4041 at several events this year. The first event is set for The Agent Insurance Services, 6911 Bridgewood Drive, Boardman, on June 12 in honor of Flag Day, which is June 14. The Agent will host a flag exchange from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., where anyone can bring in a tattered, worn flag and get a new flag in return. The old flag will be properly disposed of through an appropriate ceremony. The Agent also will be giving away free hot dogs and hamburgers.

Along with the free food and flags will be the YMRA and its portable club layout.

“We will be running one of our HO Big Boy models at the event as well as other club trains,” Silvernail said. “We will be set up between 10 a.m. and 1 p.m.”

On July 12, he said the YMRA will have a tent at the Union Pacific event in Struthers, but they won’t have the working layout, only club information. They will be displaying one of the club’s Big Boy models, just for looks.

“Everyone will be looking at the real one, not some model of it,” he said.

He said the arrival of the real Big Boy is a huge event and one that took a lot of preparation. He said the huge locomotives are very expensive to operate. UP 4144 had been switched from coal to burning oil. It also tows two UP water tenders.

On Aug. 22 from 2 to 4:30 p.m., the club will set up in the Poland Library, 311 S. Main St., Poland. The portable HO layout will be operating and will feature the UP Big Boy model.

Along with the layout, Silvernail said he and other members will be giving a presentation on the importance of railroads and how railroads helped build the nation. A lot of information will be revealed at the event, such as the UP cabooses.

Silvernail said the Union Pacific’s cabooses were steel sided and have a local tie to the area.

“The sides of the caboose the UP Big Boy pulled around for nine years was partially made locally,” he said. “The sides were made at Youngstown Steel Door in Austintown.”

His talk will be full of local ties and interesting railroad facts.

Sept. 13 will feature another outing for the club’s portable layout. It will be set up under the Market Street bridge in Youngstown for the OH WOW! Children’s Science Museum’s annual Silly Sunday. The event has club members on their toes.

“We’ve been there before,” Silvernail said. “Big wind gusts can knock over HO train cars. We’ll be on high alert.”

The portable layout and the club’s UP Big Boy models will return home for the club’s big open house series. The open houses are set for Nov. 7-8 and 14-15, and Dec. 5-6 and 12-13. All open houses are noon to 6 p.m. and serve as a big fundraiser to help the club maintain its building and layouts.