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!

Lyrics

“Roll On Big Boy”
© 2020 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  

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