Union Pacific has announced it will restore a Big Boy to steam! UP 4014 was moved from her longtime display in Pomona, California to the Cheyenne roundhouse to begin restoration. Meanwhile, the Western Maryland Scenic is in the process of restoring C&O 2-6-6-2 no. 1309 from the B&O Museum in Baltimore to take over excursion duties from 2-8-0 no. 734 after her boiler ticket expires. Also, N&W 611 passed a major milestone in her restoration this week with a successful steam test in Spencer, NC, and is expected to join Norfolk Southern's reborn excursion program later this year.

Oh wait, that actually happened. I've got nothing. Oh well, happy April Fools Day everyone!

Some on Trainorders would say that the first sentence qualifies.

Oops, guess I walked right into that one! I figured I was safe as long as I didn't mention 1361, the Yellow Ribbon Express, or a PRR 0-6-0 in a quarry. Still, Big Boy or no Big Boy, the list of active restorations these days reads like a "too good to be true" April Fools story, and I'm just as excited about some of the smaller ones too, like NP 924, D&NE 28, and MEC 470. Rick, I have been enjoying your YouTube updates on the Rolling Ingot too.

Sorry, I mistook Morgan Freeman for Bill Cosby as first.