A Big Boy locomotive dream turned painful when a Nebraska rail fan fell before boarding the historic train.
A Kearney, Nebraska, man suffered a small spine fracture after falling about 8 feet while trying to climb into the cab of Union Pacific’s Big Boy No. 4014 during a whistle-stop tour.
Trevor Allen Bentley told Cowboy State Daily that he was one step away from fulfilling a lifelong dream of riding inside the world’s largest operating steam locomotive.
The fall happened Thursday at the Kearney stop as Big Boy 4014 was traveling through Nebraska on Union Pacific’s historic tour.
A Dream Ride Ended Before It Began
Bentley said he had planned to ride the locomotive from Kearney to Grand Island, a trip of about 40 miles.
He works for CentralNebraskaToday.com and planned to document the ride on video for the outlet. He said Union Pacific had approved the ride after he emailed the railroad with the request.
But as Bentley climbed the outside ladder to enter the cab, he slipped before reaching the final step. A short video shared online shows him falling backward and landing hard between the tracks.
People nearby rushed to help him within seconds.
Rain May Have Played a Role
Bentley told Cowboy State Daily that it was raining at the time. He said the wet conditions likely contributed to the slip.
He said he felt sore after the fall but wanted to get up right away. He also said he felt more embarrassed than anything because hundreds of people had gathered to see the famous locomotive.
“A boyhood dream got dashed as I fell 8 feet off of Big Boy 4014 before I got the ride of a lifetime,” Bentley wrote in a social media post after the incident.
Fall Caused a Delay at the Stop
Big Boy 4014 was already running behind schedule when it reached Kearney, according to Bentley.
The fall added about 30 minutes to the delay. A witness who followed the train from North Platte to Kearney also told Cowboy State Daily that the incident caused an additional delay.
Union Pacific’s tour schedule listed Kearney and Grand Island among the Nebraska whistle stops for Big Boy No. 4014. Nebraska Public Media reported that the Kearney stop was scheduled for May 28, followed by Grand Island later that afternoon.
Union Pacific says Big Boy No. 4014 is traveling coast to coast in 2026 as part of the railroad’s steam program. More tour details are available on Union Pacific’s official steam program page.
Bentley Says Union Pacific Was Not at Fault
Bentley was taken by ambulance to CHI Good Samaritan Hospital in Kearney. He said he was released later that day and was recovering at home Friday.
He told Cowboy State Daily that he was stiff but lucky. He said he hoped to return to work the following week.
Bentley also said he did not blame Union Pacific for the fall. He called it an accident and said he had signed a waiver before the planned ride.
“It was no fault of Union Pacific,” he said. “It was on my own accord.”
Union Pacific Responds
Union Pacific issued a brief statement after the incident.
“We are glad the person is OK and appreciate the concern we’ve heard from rail fans,” the railroad said.
The accident quickly spread across social media, where some users offered prayers while others questioned the attempt to climb aboard in rainy weather.
For rail fans, Big Boy 4014 is more than a train. It is a rare piece of American railroad history still moving under its own power.
For Bentley, the moment was supposed to be a dream ride. Instead, it became a painful reminder of how quickly a historic stop can turn into an emergency.
Union Pacific’s official site describes Big Boy No. 4014 as part of its heritage steam program. Nebraska Public Media also reported the locomotive’s Nebraska whistle-stop schedule during its 2026 tour. More information on the Nebraska stops is available through Nebraska Public Media.