Plus, $59 million mixed-use development planned for North Richland Hills.
 
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Sunrise 7:30 a.m. | Sunset 7:00 p.m.
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🚂 Chugging right along
Photo of a large black steam engine train
From Fort Worth, Big Boy heads north to Oklahoma and Kansas on the Heartland of America Tour.  | Photo by FTWtoday
Welcome to Cowtown, Big Boy. The world’s largest operational steam engine is temporarily on display in Fort Worth as part of the Big Boy Heartland of America Tour.

Originally built in 1941, Big Boy No. 4014 was one of 25 Union Pacific Big Boys that usually operated between Ogden, UT and Cheyenne, WY. Because it’s so long, the frame is “hinged” to allow it to navigate curves.

Here are some quick stats about Big Boy:
  • Engine and tender length: 133 feet
  • Engine and tender weight: 1.2 million pounds (that’s the equivalent of ~1,200 average Texas Longhorns)
  • Height: 17 feet
  • Top speed: 65 mph
  • Steam pressure: 300 psi
  • Fuel capacity: 6,100 gallons
  • Water capacity: 25,000 gallons
After traveling 1,031,205 miles, the locomotive was retired at the end of 1961. In 2013, Union Pacific undertook a 2.5-year restoration project to bring Big Boy back to life.

As part of the restoration, engineers Ed Dickens and Austin Barker replaced the standard MB-style stoker with a custom oil-burning apparatus.

FTW-big-boy-ed-dickens

Engineer Ed Dickens helped restore Big Boy to its current condition, which held its inaugural run in 2019.

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Photo by FTWtoday

We headed downtown near T&P Station to see the massive train and meet Dickens, who has been a Union Pacific engineer and mechanic for 20 years and knows just about everything there is to know about Big Boy.

Bring your cameras to snap a photo, get a signature, and swap train memories with Dickens from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. today.

Check this guide for getting there and where to park + read up on Fort Worth’s railroad history.
 
817BIZ
 
Events
Friday, Oct. 11
  • Christmas in Cowtown Gift Market | Friday, Oct. 11-Sunday, Oct. 13 | Times vary | Will Rogers Memorial Center | Price of Purchase | Start prepping for the holidays early by shopping for gifts at the annual Junior League market.
  • Chris Distefano: Chrissy Comedy Clubs | Friday, Oct. 11 | 7:30-9:15 p.m. | Big Laugh Comedy Club | $45+ | Distefano is known for his work on MTV shows “Guy Code” and “Girl Code” + his podcast with “Impractical Jokers” comedian Sal Vulcano.
Saturday, Oct. 12
  • Feed The City Bedford | Saturday, Oct. 12 | 8:30-10:30 a.m. | BoomerJack’s Grill, Bedford | Free | Volunteer to bring sandwich ingredients and make food for those in need — RSVP online.
  • Fort Worth Taco & Margarita Festival | Saturday, Oct. 12 | 12-6 p.m. | Panther Island Pavilion | $25+ | Sample some of the best tacos and margaritas that Cowtown has to offer, shop from local vendors, and listen to live music.
Sunday, Oct. 13
  • Fall Fest | Sunday, Oct. 13 | 11 a.m.-4 p.m. | Pioneers Rest Cemetery | Free | Celebrate fall with vendors, food trucks, antique cars, and beyond — take the free shuttle from Tarrant County College parking lots.
  • Fred Again | Sunday, Oct. 13 | 8 p.m. | Dickies Arena | $66.50+ | See singer, DJ, and multi-instrumentalist Frederick John Philip Gibson — aka Fred Again — on tour.
Friday, Oct. 25
  • Boo at the Zoo | Friday, Oct. 25-Sunday, Oct. 27 | 10 a.m.-5 p.m. | Fort Worth Zoo | $8+ | This annual family-friendly event transforms the Fort Worth Zoo into a Halloween haven of delightful surprises and festivities for all ages.*
Events calendar here
Click here to have your event featured.
 
News Notes
Development
  • A $59 million mixed-use project is planned for North Richland Hills, and work could start in early 2025. The Wheelhouse development project is set to feature 277 apartments, 15 townhomes, parking, and more than 10,000 sqft of retail space. (The Dallas Morning News)
Closing
Real Estate
  • Dream of living near transit? A planned residential-retail development adjacent to the Trinity Railway Express CentrePort/DFW Airport station could make that happen. The 56-acre development plan will go before City Council on Wednesday, Nov. 13. (Fort Worth Report)
Number
  • $2 million. That’s how much the Leo Potishman Foundation pledged to give Texas A&M for its new Fort Worth campus. Work on the campus’ first building is expected to be completed in December 2025. (Fort Worth Star-Telegram)
Sports
  • The Texas Rangers will no longer be partnering with Bally Sports to broadcast their games. Host of Locked On’s Texas Rangers podcast Brice Paterik discusses why the Rangers cut ties with Bally + what’s next. (WFAA)
Legacy
  • Sgt. Billy Randolph’s name was added to the Memorial Wall of Fort Worth police and firefighters who died in the line of duty. Randolph’s name will also be inscribed in Washington, DC + Austin memorials. (Fort Worth Star-Telegram)
Coming Soon
  • Forney is set to receive its first H-E-B soon. Construction on the nearly 140,000-sqft store will begin this month, with completion slated for late 2025. Don’t worry, you won’t have to drive an hour east — you can swing by the new Alliance store. (Fort Worth Star-Telegram)
Trending
  • Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott completely tore down his $3 million North Texas mansion earlier this week — reportedly with help from the Dude Perfect group. WFAA photojournalist Giovanni guesses that “he probably couldn’t find his tv remote.”
Eat
  • Haven’t been to brunch at Fat Daddy’s in Mansfield yet? Time to change that — their mouth-watering brunch menu is available from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. every Saturday and Sunday. Yum.*
Fact or Fiction
Finance
  • During economic times like these, balance transfers can really make a difference. Here’s how they work (hint: 18 months with 0% interest, plus 2% cash back) and why experts recommend this specific card.*
Read
  • Want unbiased, fact-centric national news delivered to your inbox daily? Subscribe to 1440’s free newsletter for neutral reporting on business, entertainment, sports, culture, and more.
Job
 
Seasonal

🎃 Pick a patch of pumpkins

Pick your pumpkin at these 10 patches around North Texas
FTW-arlington-pumpkin-patch
The pumpkins are already brightening up the patch in Arlington. | Photo courtesy of St. John the Apostle UMC
Oh my gourd — It’s the perfect time to get out, take a walk among the pumpkins, and revel in other fall festivities. If you’re looking for the perfect place for a photo backdrop, check out these 10 pumpkin patches around the area.

Texas Home and Garden | Stop by for a photo in front of a Texas-themed pumpkin patch with a scarecrow, werewolf, and decorative pumpkins.
    Christ Lutheran Pumpkin Patch | Bring your four-legged friend to this pet-friendly patch to grab a pumpkin and take family photos.
      Mainstay Farm | Take a ride on the Ferris wheel, pet the farm animals, solve the corn maze, and take seasonal photos in front of the pumpkin house.
        Pumpkin Nights at Howell Farms | Walk through the pumpkin tunnel + see 5,000 hand-carved real and synthetic pumpkins.

        Hall’s Pumpkin Farm and Corn Maze | The working farm lets guests pick pumpkins off the vine + features a two-acre maze of corn stalks and a petting zoo.
        5 more local patches
        The Buy
         
        Half Baked Harvest’s “Super Simple Cookbook.” Get inspired by this New York Times best seller with over 125 recipes for hassle-free meals — from spinach and artichoke mac and cheese to slow roasted salmon.
         
        Answered
         

        Who won the IndyCar race at Texas Motor Speedway the most?
        It’s a tie — after sharing the news of the new Grand Prix of Arlington, we asked our readers which driver had won the most IndyCar races in Fort Worth. The results took us to the photo finish with 38% voting for Hélio Castroneves and 38% voting for Scott Dixon.

        But after the checkered flag, the trophy went to Scott Dixon, the New Zealand racing driver who won the Texas Motor Speedway IndyCar race in 2008, 2015, 2018, 2020 + 2021.
         
         
        The Wrap
         
        Kate Mazade

        Today’s edition by:
        Kate
        From the editor
        Date night idea: Head to Loews Arlington Hotel’s signature restaurant Farena for the Jayson Pahlmeyer Wine Dinner on Friday, Oct. 25. The six-course dinner curated by executive chef Tony France will pair sips from Napa Valley winemaker Jayson Pahlmeyer.

        Plus, bookmark 25+ more ideas to woo your special someone.
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