The quick passage of the Union Pacific’s Big Boy Locomotive through Nuckolls County illustrated how times have changed.

Big Boy is one of the 25 largest steam locomotives ever built and the last one in operating condition. Built to haul loads over the western mountains during World War II, the locomotive pulled a token few cars this week when it clipped the northeastern corner of Nuckolls County as part of a goodwill tour.

For those of us who like steam locomotives, we consider ourselves privileged when we have opportunities to see the railroad’s heritage fleet. The big steamers are...