A Kearney, Nebraska, man who loves the giant Big Boy 4014 suffered a small fracture to his spine when he fell off a ladder trying to climb into the cab of the locomotive during its historic whistle-stop tour on Thursday.

Trevor Allen Bentley told Cowboy State Daily that he was about to fulfill a longtime dream of riding inside the cab of the world’s largest operating locomotive. 

He was climbing on the outside of the Cheyenne-based locomotive and had one more step to go on the five-rung ladder to get into the cab when he fell backward about 8 feet, landing hard on the ground.

A 16-second video posted (see below) shows the heavyset man, wearing a bright yellow construction vest, jeans and tennis shoes, gripping the handles on either side of the ladder and struggling to get up to the last step. 

After a few seconds, he slips and falls to the ground, landing on his back between the train tracks.

Three others nearby, also in bright-colored vests, were at Bentley’s side immediately. Instinct seemed to kick in as they attempt to help him sit up.

Bentley said he was able to sit up and that he wanted to get up right away.

“I felt fine,” he told Cowboy State Daily on Friday. “Obviously, I was sore. But I just wanted to get up.”

He said he was more embarrassed than anything, “because the Big Boy attracts a show.”

He guessed a few hundred people had turned out to see the Big Boy at the station.

It also was raining, a factor Bentley said likely contributed to his slip.

Ride Of A Lifetime Dashed

Bentley, who works for the online news site CentralNebraskaToday.com, had planned to ride Big Boy 4014 on its approximate 40-mile leg between Kearney and Grand Island, Nebraska, documenting the trip on video for the outlet. 

He said he had emailed Union Pacific to request the ride, which the railroad granted.

In a social media post he shared after the fall, he wrote, “A boyhood dream got dashed as I fell 8 feet off of Big Boy 4014 before I got the ride of a lifetime.”

He later told Cowboy State Daily he has been a train enthusiast all his life. He had been in the Big Boy cab before, he said, “which is why I thought I could do it.”

“I just couldn’t get that last step in,” he added. 

30-Minute Delay

Big Boy was already running behind schedule when it pulled into the Kearney station, said Bentley. His fall caused an added 30-minute delay.

North Platte resident James Burns said he frequently visits the tracks and had decided to follow Big Boy from North Platte to Kearney. 

He was at the stop, taking pictures of Big Boy 4014 when Bentley fell, though he told Cowboy State Daily he did not see the fall. He also confirmed the incident caused an approximate 30-minute travel delay.

The fall sparked a lot of speculation on social media, with comments ranging from prayers that Bentley was OK to sharper criticisms of Bentley’s attempt to climb aboard. One such criticism was his wearing tennis shoes rather than work boots.

Bentley was taken via ambulance to CHI Good Samaritan Hospital in Kearney and said he was released later that day.

‘No Fault of UP’

He was home resting when he spoke with Cowboy State Daily via phone Friday.

“I’m just stiff more than anything,” he said, adding that he hopes to be back to work next week. “I am just extremely lucky.”

Bentley wanted to make it clear that his fall was no fault of Union Pacific or anyone but himself. He said what happened was a total accident and that’s why he signed a waiver with UP about riding in the locomotive.

“I do not fault them in any way, shape, or form,” he said. “I don’t want to put a blemish on their tour. It was no fault of Union Pacific. It was on my own accord.”

Union Pacific publicly responded to the incident in a 16-word statement: “We are glad the person is OK and appreciate the concern we’ve heard from rail fans.”

Contact Kate Meadows at kate@cowboystatedaily.com

Kate Meadows can be reached at kate@cowboystatedaily.com.

OMAHA, Neb. (WOWT) – First Alert 6 has the headlines you need to know to get your Friday started.

One hurt in Friday morning crash on I-80 in Omaha

One person was taken to the hospital after a crash Friday morning on Interstate 80 in Omaha.

The crash happened shortly before 6 a.m. on I-80 westbound near 72nd Street. Cameras show the car is completely flipped upside down.

Traffic is being impacted Friday morning, as the far left lane remains blocked.

Police dispatch says initial reports show the victim’s injuries are considered serious.

Nebraska softball defeats Arkansas in extra innings at WCWS

Ava Kuszak hit a two-run home run in the 10th inning as Nebraska defeated Arkansas 5-3 Thursday night at the Women’s College World Series. The victory marks the Huskers’ first WCWS win since 2002.

Jordy Frahm pitched all 10 innings for Nebraska, striking out nine batters. Hannah Coor also homered for the Huskers. Nebraska advances to face Alabama on Saturday at 6 p.m.

The fourth-seeded Huskers are making their eighth WCWS appearance and first since 2013. Six players on the roster are Omaha natives who developed through Nebraska Gold Softball.

Papillion native Frahm earned NFCA Player of the Year honors this season. Gretna’s Alexis Jensen also earned All-American recognition.

The WCWS runs through June 5. The full tournament bracket can be found here.

Nebraska baseball to open NCAA regional Friday

The first Lincoln baseball regional in nearly two decades will begin on Friday.

Nebraska hosts South Dakota State, Ole Miss and Arizona State in the double-elimination pod, hoping to advance to the program’s first super regional since 2005.

The Huskers open the weekend with the Jackrabbits on Friday at 3 p.m. The game will be streamed on ESPN+. The Rebels and Sun Devils play at 8 p.m.

Nebraska defeated South Dakota State 5-4 in a close midweek game on March 4. The Jackrabbits (24-31) made an unlikely run to a Summit League championship as the No. 4 seed to earn their place in this weekend’s regional.

STB pauses Union Pacific-Norfolk Southern merger proceedings

The Surface Transportation Board has accepted Union Pacific and Norfolk Southern’s updated merger application but is seeking more information before a full review.

The agency ordered an Environmental Impact Statement under federal environmental law and requested details on nine issues, including passenger rail, market-share projections and service assurance plans. Responses are due by July 27.

The EIS process will include at least 12 in-person public meetings and several virtual sessions.

In a release Thursday, Union Pacific and Norfolk Southern called the move “an important step forward” as the deal continues to advance.

Shareholders have backed the merger, and Nebraska Gov. Jim Pillen has endorsed it.

NU Board of Regents to hold emergency meeting Friday

The University of Nebraska Board of Regents is set to hold an emergency meeting Friday.

A notice sent to First Alert 6 does not state why the meeting was called.

According to the notice, the only business on the agenda is a motion to go into a closed session.

First Alert 6 is told the session is private to protect people who have not requested a public meeting to discuss confidential real estate acquisitions.

Farnam Street to close Friday morning for streetcar work

Farnam Street in Omaha is scheduled to be temporarily closed Friday morning for work in the streetcar project.

The closure is set between Turner Boulevard and 33rd Street for streetcar track concrete placement. Work is expected to begin at 6 a.m. and go until 10 a.m.

City officials say the street will reopen once the last truck has finished.

The full streetcar system is still on track to open by fall 2028.

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