06/08/2026
Big Boy 4014 by Drone in New York State: Planning the Shot Before You Launch
The attached meme made me laugh.
“Big Boy 4014 has hit yet another drone…”
Whether the story behind the image is fact, fiction, or railroad humor, it highlights a very real issue: too many drone pilots focus on the train and not enough on the mission.
When Union Pacific Big Boy 4014 comes through New York, thousands of railfans, photographers, videographers, and drone pilots will be chasing one of the most impressive moving machines on Earth. The challenge isn’t getting a photo.
The challenge is getting home with your drone, your FAA certificate, and your reputation intact.
First Things First: Big Boy Doesn’t Care About Your Drone
Big Boy weighs over a million pounds and is moving through the countryside surrounded by:
* Steam
* Smoke
* Heat
* Turbulence
* Crowds
* Vehicles
* Utility lines
* Trees
* Excited photographers
The locomotive will win every encounter.
If your plan involves “buzzing” the train for dramatic footage, it’s a bad plan.
Not only is it unsafe, but the steam plume itself can create turbulent air that may upset a drone’s stability. Add heat, moisture, changing wind patterns, and reduced visibility, and you’re creating unnecessary risk.
A cinematic shot from 200 feet away with a zoom lens will almost always look better than a risky shot from 20 feet away.
Scout Before the Whistle Blows
The biggest mistake I see drone pilots make isn’t flying.
It’s arriving unprepared.
Before launch day:
✅ Visit locations in advance
✅ Check parking
✅ Determine launch and recovery areas
✅ Identify power lines
✅ Look for tree obstructions
✅ Check cellular coverage
✅ Determine where the sun will be
✅ Identify emergency landing zones
If you’ve never been to the location before, you’re already behind.
Airspace Matters
As FAA Part 107 pilots, we know every flight starts with airspace.
Before chasing Big Boy:
* Check controlled airspace.
* Verify nearby airports.
* Review LAANC requirements.
* Check TFRs.
* Review NOTAMs.
* Monitor local aviation activity.
The train may be historic, but the FAA regulations are current.
The 25-Foot Rule
Many railfans don’t realize that railroads are private property.
Stay off the tracks.
Stay clear of railroad operations.
A commonly cited safety recommendation among railfans is remaining at least 25 feet from the nearest rail. Even where local conditions allow closer public access, more distance is always better.
No photograph is worth becoming part of the incident report.
Crowds Change Everything
Big Boy events attract massive crowds.
That means:
* Unexpected movement
* Children
* Pets
* Traffic
* Other photographers
* Other drone pilots
Your launch area may look perfect at 8:00 AM.
At 10:00 AM it may be filled with 200 people.
Always have a backup location and backup launch area.
Other Drones Are the Wild Card
The locomotive isn’t what concerns me.
Other drone pilots do.
Some will be experienced professionals.
Some will be flying their first railroad event.
Some may be operating without understanding airspace, visual line of sight, or crowd considerations.
Maintain situational awareness.
Listen.
Watch.
Communicate.
And never assume the other pilot sees you.
Zoom Is Your Friend
Modern drones are incredible.
The DJI Mavic 3 series, Air 3 series, and other current platforms offer excellent telephoto capabilities.
Use them.
A safe stand-off distance combined with optical zoom often produces:
* Better composition
* Better safety
* Better legal compliance
* Better storytelling
You can always crop slightly in post-production.
You cannot repair a drone that meets a steam locomotive.
Weather Can Make or Break the Day
Steam locomotives create enough drama without Mother Nature adding her own.
Watch for:
* Wind gusts
* Crosswinds
* Temperature changes
* Low ceilings
* Passing showers
* Steam drift
A location that looked perfect on Google Maps may become unusable when the wind shifts and fills your entire scene with steam.
Always have multiple shooting locations planned.
Traffic Will Be Your Biggest Enemy
Many pilots spend hours planning flights and five minutes planning travel.
Big Boy changes traffic patterns.
Expect:
* Full parking lots
* Roadside congestion
* Delays
* Last-minute road closures
* Long walks
Leave early.
Then leave earlier.
The best drone footage often comes from the pilot who arrived first.
The Best Shot Isn’t Always the Closest Shot
Some of my favorite railroad drone images aren’t close-ups.
They’re storytelling images.
Big Boy crossing:
* A river valley
* A farm landscape
* A small town
* A historic bridge
* Rolling New York countryside
The train is the star.
But the scenery provides the stage.
Think bigger than the locomotive.
Final Thoughts
The attached image is funny because it plays on every railfan drone pilot’s nightmare.
But it also contains a lesson.
Big Boy 4014 isn’t a drone target.
It’s a once-in-a-lifetime photographic opportunity.
Plan ahead.
Scout locations.
Know the airspace.
Respect railroad property.
Respect other pilots.
Use your zoom lens.
Work safely.
And remember:
The goal isn’t getting the closest shot.
The goal is getting the best shot.
Good luck to all the drone pilots planning to capture Big Boy 4014’s journey through New York State. May your batteries stay charged, your weather cooperate, and your memory cards come home full.
—
John M Papp Drone Images LLC
FAA Part 107 Certified Remote Pilot
(518) 256-4306
“From the Ground to the Sky — Capturing What Matters.”
