Update: The Hays arrival time has been updated to 2:15 p.m. Friday.
By JAMES BELL
Hays Post
After snaking across the U.S. this summer, Union Pacific No. 4014, affectionately known as the Big Boy, will return to Ellis County on Friday, with an overnight stay again planned in Hays.
During this year's tour, the locomotive, a favorite of the Union Pacific heritage fleet, is scheduled to leave Salina at 9 a.m. Friday, with stops planned through the day in Ellsworth, Wilson and Russell, before stopping for the night in Hays at 2:15 p.m.
On Saturday, the train is scheduled to depart Hays at 8 a.m., first stopping in Ellis, then Quinter before stopping in Sharon Springs for the night Saturday and completing the Kansas leg of the trip.
In Ellis, itself is known for its ties to the railroad, a watch party is planned in the newly remodeled Railroad Park.
"With the train stopping on a Saturday, this really makes for a really fun event if you have kids or grandchildren, or just want to come out and see the railroad museum if you haven't," said Ellis Alliance Executive Director Sophia Henrickson.
Along with seeing the Big Boy, the event is a Community Foundation of Ellis fundraiser that will help continue park improvements, with track repairs still needed for the Railroad Museum's one-third scale replica of GM’s 1950s Aerotrain.
"So we are fundraising to finish out that project with these donut sales," Henrickson said. "With Big Boy stopping at 9 a.m. Saturday, we are starting at 8 a.m. with coffee and donuts."
While stopping in Ellis to visit the train, she said visitors can stop in the museum, ride the miniature train and enjoy downtown.
"Come over to Ellis, you will get donuts, and coffee while you wait for the Big Boy to come and stop," Henrickson said. "The railroad museum is going to be open. If you have been there come back if you haven't been before ... this is a good opportunity because you are getting the joy of (seeing) the Big Boy, the joy of the Ellis Railroad Museum and then the miniature train rides will also be going."
After the train's departure, the event will continue with a hot dog barbecue.
The Railroad Museum will also be selling T-shirts to commemorate the day.
"It just makes for a fun day full of trains," Henrickson said. "I encourage people to consider coming to Ellis to see it stop."
For a full schedule of stops during the tour, visit the Union Pacific website, up.com.