Roll On Big Boy

Another original steam engine song by Nebraska 66. This one is about Union Pacific’s venerable Big Boy steam locomotive. In particular, the song focuses on UP’s newly operational Big Boy 4014. As many of you know, Big Boy 4014 has created quite a stir these last few years in light of her full restoration and return to operation. The song serves up healthy servings of Big Boy history topped off with generous portions of steam era nostalgia. We like to think listening to the song will be about as close as you can get to riding in Big Boy herself as she rolls up the Wasatch Mountain Range but you’ll have to be the judge. Enjoy!

Credits:

Special thanks to the_Central_Texas_Railfan. Fantastic rail crossing and other rail footage is available on their YouTube channel at:

Lyrics:
“Roll On Big Boy”
By Nebraska 66
© 2021 Phil Brey (All Rights Reserved)

Verse 1:
A legend from the past,
Is born again at last,
To rumble over mountains and the plains
From the golden age of steam,
An engine seldom seen,
By those who never lived in bygone days

Verse 2:
Big Boy was her name,
And went on to railroad fame,
As the largest engine on the UP line
The last of all her class,
She survives from out the past,
To show the power of steam in modern times

Chorus:
Roll on Big Boy, Roll on Big Boy, Rumblin’ across the northern plains,
Roll on Big Boy, Roll on Big Boy, Climbing up the Wasatch mountain range

Verse 3
In 1959,
They took her off the line,
And wrote her off as progress for the times
No dry eye could be found,
In jungles or in towns,
Where once Big Boy had rolled when in her prime

Verse 4
From the junkyards of the past,
4014 is the last,
To carry on the legacy of steam
At 4, 8, 8 and 4,
And a part of railroad lore,
She roars from out the past like some lost dream

Chorus (different from 1st chorus)
Roll on Big Boy, Roll on Big Boy, Rumblin’ across the northern plains,
Roll on Big Boy, Roll on Big Boy, Climbing up the Wasatch mountain range
Roll on, Big Boy Roll On
Roll On, Big Boy Roll On
Spoken:
Roll on, Big Boy, Roll On

[Nebraska]

We would like to express our sincere gratitude to the following channel:
Much hard work went into producing his excellent video! Thanks for using our song! Roll on!

[JackF]

Imagine non-railfans who just happen to be sitting in their car at a some lonely grade crossing when 4014 comes blowing by...

[TheAtlantaRailfan]

The fact the UP managed to get a big boy running again, a feat no railfan ever thought would be possible and put her on tour, is incredible, the Big Boys are the biggest steam locomotives ever built and 4014 is the most powerful operating steam locomotive in the world, and I'm proud that the U.S and the Union Pacific can lay claim to that title.

[southerntransconYT]

Who ever Disliked Yall are not In the Spirit of this Top Steam! Roll On Big Boy Forever

[northernhousetv]

I had a friend that once rode a Big Boy up the Wasach Mountains and he asked to the engineer: "Where's the big hill that slows down the train" and the engineer just replied: "We're already on it". The Big Boy is an amazing train with so much power. Thanks for making the song!

[DroidzandBrix]

Big boy recently proved steam is still powerful. For those who didn’t hear, in late June of 2023, big boy 4014 pushed a stalled freight train while carrying its own train. The total amount of cars it carried was more than 150!

[ariadniestavros]

My 5 year old son who is a train lover found this video and song and was singing it over and over agian. I was like what is a big boy? 48 hours later was drove to Scranton PA. to see 4012 at the Steamway Museum OMG is is HUGE. I love this song and my 5 year old sings it non stop.

[harrybabb]

Never seen such a beautiful music video

[DenaDeniseRush]

@Nebraska 66, my dad was a chef on the UPRR from 1941-1977. Portland Rose Run a lot of that time. I was born after the Big Boy was retired but I heard about it growing up. And listening to this song gave me goosebumps. Dad has been gone for 20 years now. But I could swear Dad was right there listening to “Roll on Big Boy” with me today. 😇 Thank you. 🚂 👨‍🍳♥️

[TheDutchRanger]

The rhythmic behavior of the drivingbars in these great cinematic shots along with the music is just perfect

[eliaspeter]

This is an ode to Big Boy and I love it.

[KiwiCan]

It is not often a song causes goosebumps when you listen to it, but you did it. Powerful music and great video. I am going to wear out YouTube listening to this.

[NickValdezRRPhotography]

It's been a long time since I've had a railroad song send chills down my spine. Fantastic work!

[ericschepers]

This song literally made me cry tears it's such a true song

[RakRescue]

Steam engines have always had a soft spot in my heart. I don't know why but they always have.

[Tivis]

From myself and everyone who hasn't been able to see him running in person yet, Thank you.

[sturmtruppenofthemidwest]

Ah, the engine that tamed the Rockies. 4014 is the most beautiful engine out of it's class. I remember the day that I got to see her in Boone, Iowa. I've loved the Big Boy since that day and I'll never forget it.

[BarryH]

An awesome song about an awesome piece of American history. The head-on shot of the 4014 coming through a cloud of steam at 1:42 is fantastic!

[matth]

Many legends out there are already gone. Titanic, SS Edmund Fitzgerald, we’re so lucky to have 4014 big boy. The video and the music with it, if that isn’t legendary then you don’t know what a legend is. Thank you for this video.

[oscardavidson]

Bringing back the big boy was the best decision they could've made Not only is it an iconic piece of steam history it can easily contend with the modern diesels and then some with its immense strength so it also benefits union pacific in a business sense