Historic Locomotive on National Tour Steams under Erdman Anthony Bridge Projects

As part of its coast-to-coast tour to celebrate America’s 250^th anniversary, Union Pacific’s Big Boy No. 4014 steam locomotive traveled past four bridges in central Pennsylvania that were designed by Erdman Anthony or will soon be rehabilitated or replaced with designs by our firm.

On July 7, the train passed under Harrisburg’s 13^th Street bridge, which PennDOT has slated to be rehabilitated. Erdman Anthony was recently selected to provide design services for the project. A few miles later, Big Boy passed under the Maclay Street bridge which our team is currently redesigning to improve traffic capacity near the Pennsylvania Farm Show Complex. The new bridge will also provide designated bike lanes and wider sidewalks.

The following day, Big Boy steamed under two completed Erdman Anthony projects in Juniata County. The first was in Port Royal, where a 75-foot-long steel-plate girder bridge carries SR 35 over the railroad tracks. A parklet adjacent to the bridge features historic information about the railroad and the original bridge, which was built in 1910.

Further north, the locomotive traveled under SR 35, passing a bridge Erdman Anthony designed as part of a larger project that included a bridge over the Juniata River, a roundabout, and a pedestrian bridge. The project has improved connection for communities on both sides of the river.

Built in 1941 to haul heavy equipment in support of the war effort, Big Boy No. 4014 is the world’s largest operating steam locomotive, weighing in at 1.2 million pounds. The train is making its way back to California after traveling to Philadelphia to commemorate 250 years of American independence.

Learn more about Erdman Anthony’s bridge projects here.

Learn more about Big Boy No. 4014’s tour here.