Best Viewing Spots, Parties In Each Montco, Chesco Town For 'Big Boy' Tour

POTTSTOWN, PA — The world's largest steam engine, Union Pacific's Big Boy No. 4014, is timing its cross country road trip to pass through the Philadelphia area right around the Fourth of July.

Greater clarity has emerged on the specifics of its route through Montgomery County, which will follow the Union Pacific line immediately along the Schuylkill River.

The 133-foot-long locomotive was built in 1941 to haul freight over the mountains during World War II. Considered a marvel of engineering, it was refurbished in 2019.

From Pottstown, the route will pass immediately alongside communities like Spring City, Royersford, Phoenixville, Valley Forge National Historical Park, West Norriton, Bridgeport, Norristown, Conshohocken, Lower Merion, and numerous neighborhoods in Philadephia.

In the map below, the yellow lines indicate the planned route. The red lines are just indicating other tracks in Union Pacific's network.

Here's a look at the latest details for viewing opportunities in each town:

Pottstown (July 2 whistle stop, passes by again on July 7)

The engine is set to roll into 51 South Hanover Street in Pottstown on July 2 at 3:30 p.m. It will leave at 3:45 p.m. in what is called a "whistle stop." Thousands of spectators are expected.

Pottstown officials say that Borough Parking Lot 1 is the best viewing area.

Hanover Street will be closed from Industrial Boulevard to High Street from noon to 5 p.m., with food vendors gathering in the area.

Once it departs Pottstown at 3:45 p.m. there will be viewing opportunities as it makes its way across the county to King of Prussia.

Royersford (first pass on July 2, second on July 7)

Local officials say that two railroad crossings, at Main Street and Arch Street, will be the best viewing opportunities.

Visitors are asked to park in the borough lot at 251 2nd Avenue and walk to the crossings from there.

Phoenixville (first pass on July 2, second on July 7)

On the north side of the borough, the train will pass over Dayton Street, Bailey Drive, and Route 113 before crossing Bridge Street over the tracks right at the entrance to town.

A viewing party will be held in Phoenixville from 3 p.m. to 5 p.m.

Port Providence residents or Schuylkill River trail users may be able to see the train from clearer stretches on the opposite side of the river.

Schuylkill Township (first pass on July 2, second on July 7)

The route parallels the Meadows at Valley Forge development along McAvoy Lane. The next prime crossing opportunity to view is at Pawlings Road.

Valley Forge (first pass on July 2, second on July 7)

After Pawlings Road, the tracks pass along the river through the national park, still visible from parts of the Schuylkill River Trail. Key viewing will be available by Valley Forge Station, at 9 River Road, and in the hills above.

Big Boy then crosses South Trooper Road, the Betzwood Bridge, and Route 422. The pedestrian bridge there will give viewers a clear shot from above of its approach and departure.

Abrams Yard in KOP (stays overnight July 2-3, stays overnight again on July 6-7)

Big Boy will spend July 3 at Abrams Yard in King of Prussia, which is just off 830 N. Henderson Road.

Though Union Pacific says there will be no public access there, the train will likely still be visible on its approach along Abrams Road.

It will depart the yard at 9 a.m. on July 4.

Bridgeport/Norristown (first pass on July 3, second on July 6)

The next morning, on Fourth of July, the train will cross under Markley Street bridge and Dekalb Street bridge on the Bridgeport side, before passing under I-276 by Swedesburg.

West Conshohocken (first pass on July 3, second on July 6)

After paralleling River Road/Route 23, the train will pass under I-476 and then the Matsonford Bridge. It should be visible across the river from the Fayette Street area in downtown Conshohocken.

Lower Merion (first pass on July 3, second on July 6)

The route then tightly follows the river and the Schuylkill Expressway through Lower Merion. There will be viewing at clear spots intermittently along River Road all the way down to the Philadelphia city line, and also on certain parts of the Schuylkill River trail on the opposite bank by Miquon, Spring Mill, and the edges of Roxborough.

Manayunk (first pass on July 3, second on July 6)

Both the Cynwyd Heritage Trail and the Green Lane Bridge will see the train pass directly by it. The Sunoco Station at the anxious Belmont Avenue intersection with I-76 will offer a front row view. Another good access point for local residents is the Penncoyd bridge into the area of the old Penncoyd Iron Works.

Philadelphia (July 3, 4, 5, 6)

The route will pass under the City Avenue bridge and then parallel Martin Luther King Drive towards the city. More key viewing points near the city edges include the Strawberry Mansion Bridge and either side of the river near Montgomery Drive, where it crosses the river.

After passing through center city and into south Philadelphia, the train will stop at Intrepid Avenue and League Island Boulevard.

The display will open there at 8 a.m. the next morning, July 4. It will run until 2 p.m. Admission is free. An America 250 Block Party will be held there from 9:30 a.m. to 10 a.m.

The train departs Philadelphia again on July 6, at 9 a.m. It will head back to Abrams Yard in King of Prussia and will be visible along all the same spots that day. On July 7, it leaves King of Prussia on the same route west, but it will not stop in Pottstown this time, or again until it reaches Lebanon. It has numerous stops planned through the end of July across the country, including Ohio, Indiana, Illinois, Missouri, Kansas, Colorado, and ending where it started in Cheyenne, Wyoming.