Knox Bateman, 2, of Arkadelphia arrived early with his family to see the Union Pacific’s Big Boy locomotive.A crowd gathered at the train depot to wait for the train.Joe Jingle, 91, and Vicki Jingle of Bismarck visited Arkadelphia for the attraction.Jaycee Parrish, left, and Jon Henry Evans sit in anticipation.People came from many places, including Harold and Vickie Tolleson, who drove from Kirby.Arkadelphia sisters Harper, left, and Parker Cloninger wait on the locomotive to arrive.Peake Elementary School fifth graders arrived.Eli Conine, 2, poses in front of an Arkadelphia fire engine. Eli and his parents were visiting Arkadelphia from Baton Rouge for a family gathering. The Big Boy pulls into Arkadelphia.A crowd cheers as the locomotive comes to a stop.Railroad personnel make routine checks during the stop.A railroad worker crosses the tracks while the train is stopped at the depot.Arkadelphia students were among the large crowd.Some covered their ears as the train blew its deafening whistle.Kinsey Minchew, left, and little brother Jamie attended with their parents, Gretchen and Joshua.Onlookers were spread for a distance while the train was stationed in Arkadelphia.The crowd stuck around for an hour while the train was in Arkadelphia.Spectators admire the Big Boy during its stop.The crowd overflowed into a grassy area near the train depot.Students lined the chain-link fence admiring the train.Train conductors interacted with children.The conductor told the students to prepare for the whistle to be blown.
