VIDEO: Legendary Big Boy Train Stops Unexpectedly in Missouri

One of the highlights of this summer has been the legendary Union Pacific "Big Boy" locomotive making stops across the nation including Missouri. There were some near a railroad track in Missouri that got an unexpected visit as the train had to make a stop that was not on the itinerary.

Tom Tindall captured very nice video from a railroad crossing in Washington, Missouri as the Union Pacific "Big Boy" locomotive had to make a 45 to 50 minute stop on its way to a scheduled stop in Hermann, Missouri.

I've not seen a public statement from Union Pacific about why the "Big Boy" locomotive stopped near Washington or what maintenance was done, but it eventually continued its journey across Missouri as many waved and cheered at the engineers.

Tom Tindall via YouTube

Why is the "Big Boy" locomotive so historically significant?

This locomotive was first built to support the war effort in 1941. It's a magnificent piece of machinery which brings back memories of a different era. It hauled armaments, troops, and heavy materials across America during WWII.

• Massive scale: Each engine measures 133 feet long and weighs 1.2 million pounds.
• Unique wheel arrangement: Features a rare 4-8-8-4 articulated wheel design that allowed the giant engine to navigate sharp mountain curves.
• Raw power: Delivers over 6,000 horsepower to pull heavy loads across tough terrain.