A Nebraska man’s lifelong dream of riding in the cab of Union Pacific’s Big Boy 4014 turned into a hospital trip instead, and now the moment is making the rounds on social media all over again. Trevor Allen Bentley, a Kearney, Nebraska resident, fell about eight feet off the locomotive’s ladder while trying to climb aboard during a whistle-stop back in May. He landed hard on his back between the tracks, and video of the fall has resurfaced online, racking up new views and comments months later.
Big Boy 4014 is the largest operating steam locomotive in the world, and it draws crowds wherever it goes. Bentley had emailed Union Pacific ahead of time to request a ride so he could document the trip for the news outlet he works for, and the railroad said yes. He’d been in the cab before, so climbing that five-rung ladder didn’t seem like it should be a problem. Sometimes the universe has other plans.
A 16-second clip shows Bentley, wearing a bright yellow vest, jeans and tennis shoes, gripping the handles on either side of the ladder while trying to reach that last step. It had been raining, the rungs were slick, and after a few seconds of struggle he lost his grip and dropped straight down onto the ballast. A few bystanders in matching vests rushed over immediately to help him sit up, which is honestly the most Midwest thing that could happen in a crisis.
The fall ended up costing Bentley a small fracture in his spine, a 30-minute delay to the Big Boy’s already-late schedule, and no shortage of internet commentary about his choice of footwear. He’s doing fine now, and by his own account he’s more embarrassed than anything else. Given the size of the crowd that turns out for this train, embarrassment in front of a few hundred strangers is a special kind of pain all its own.
What Actually Happened On The Ladder
Nebraska man fractures spine after falling 8 feet from historic big boy 4014 locomotive pic.twitter.com/8rI92aRT0H
— Crazy Clips (@crazyclips_) July 13, 2026
Bentley told reporters he simply couldn’t get that last step in before he slipped backward. He guessed a few hundred people had gathered at the Kearney station to see the Big Boy roll through, so when he went down, plenty of them saw it happen in real time.
Three people nearby stepped in right away to check on him, and he was able to sit up almost immediately, though he stayed on the ground until paramedics arrived.
A Trip To The Hospital And A Fast Recovery
Bentley was taken by ambulance to a nearby hospital and released the same day. He said he was sore rather than seriously hurt, and he hoped to be back at work within the week.
Considering he fell eight feet onto train tracks, walking away with a small fracture and some stiffness counts as a pretty lucky outcome.
Bentley Says It Wasn’t Union Pacific’s Fault
Bentley was quick to clear the railroad of any responsibility, saying the fall was entirely on him and that he’d signed a waiver before climbing aboard. Union Pacific offered a short statement saying it was glad he was okay and appreciated the concern from rail fans.
No hard feelings on either side, and Bentley says he still hopes to get that cab ride someday, hopefully with better shoes and drier rungs.