Happy New Year, everyone. 2026 is in full swing. Around October time frame I actually wrote 2024 on a check which the bank clearly did not accept from the person I wrote it too, so take 2 on that and it went across. My first check of 2026 I wrote 2025 and they cashed that one. So got that maybe out of my system already.
Lots of great shows and events are in full planning mode. Bob at the Spring Reunion in Ohio reached out and I posted up that information. That is one of many great shows in the Willys world. If you have a show to promote please let me do that, pass along the info and I will gladly toss it up on the site and in the side bar.
A lot of work goes into all of these events and when possible, please support the events, sponsors and vendors that make all of these possible. If you see a vendor at an event stop in and say Hi, buy a few things that will keep you Willys rolling.
Hope everyone is having a great start to the year. We have a lot of exciting stuff in store for this year and if you have anything you would like to share I am happy to post it up for you.
One cool event I saw and was shared on OWF was the Union Pacific Big Boy 4014 Steam Engine will be making its way out this year, West to East. While not fully scheduled if you are close by and able to stop and see that with you Willys or not, it seems like a real special event. It was posted that it’s never travelled East of Chicago. No route posted or dates but it’s fully possible it makes it way through Toledo and out East, might make some great opportunities to get something going on one of its stop locations for folks local and if it happens. Built in 1941, I’m sure one of the 25 units hauled some Willys over the span of its operations, or just Raw Materials in the making of them.
Here is a copy paste from their Web Site:
Union Pacific will join the nation in celebrating 250 years of American independence and innovation this year with its first-ever coast-to-coast steam tour led by the legendary Big Boy No. 4014. The first leg of the tour starts Sunday, March 29, with the Big Boy and several historical passenger cars from Union Pacific’s Heritage Fleet traveling west to California from Cheyenne, Wyoming, the steam locomotive’s homebase. The first leg of the tour ends Friday, April 24, in Cheyenne.
Two major public display days are set:
- Friday and Saturday, April 10-11: Roseville, California
- Saturday and Sunday, April 18-19: Ogden, Utah
https://www.up.com/about-us/history/steam/schedule
Thanks for the continued support. Almost Groundhog Day so will see what is in store for some of us as that comes along, It’s been a winter for sure in NJ, hearing back from other folks in parts out West it’s been un-seasonably warm and dry.
Thanks, Tim
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