As Nesquehoning gears up for a historic weekend with the arrival of Union Pacific’s Big Boy 4014 steam locomotive, many discussions are taking place to ensure the logistics are in place to help everyone stay safe during its overnight visit Saturday into Sunday.

Nesquehoning Borough Police Chief Bradley Hess said that his department will be out in force.

“It’s going to be a busy day,” he said. “We’re expecting a lot of people and a lot of traffic from the morning of June 13, straight through until probably 10 o’clock and beyond on June 14. The numbers that have been thrown around are between 5 and 10,000 people coming to town; but we really don’t know what to expect until that day. A lot of people are saying it’s going to be on the higher end as this is a once-in-a-lifetime thing and never in this area again.

“We are asking people to bear with us ... but we’re going to be inundated with work that day, keeping roads cleared, keeping traffic moving and pedestrians off the roads.” Hess said that there are plans to close a portion of Mill Street to Coal Street to only local traffic because of its proximity to the rail lines. Barricades will be placed along that portion of roadway and locals will have to access this area from Mermon Avenue.

“It’s probably the best plan we could come up with to keep those streets clear,” he said. “People who live on those streets, please bear with us.”

The borough police will have an officer on a bicycle patrolling the town because it may be quicker to respond that way than by a cruiser.

Once the Big Boy arrives in Nesquehoning, it will also be an all-hands-on-deck situation, with borough police, state police and railroad police patrolling.

Hess said that the railroad police will be enforcing all laws on the railroad property, while Union Pacific agents will be with the Big Boy overnight.

“They’re helping as much as they can,” he said.

One warning Hess issued is for offroaders who drive on borough streets.

“Nobody’s going to be allowed on ATVs and quads that day (on anywhere besides private land),” he said. “That’s fine if you’re on the mountain or off roads, but don’t make it worse for us. We’re going to be busy as is and it’s going to be zero tolerance that day as well.”

As plans come together, Carbon County officials say that it’s not just the borough planning for police coverage and logistics, but a county effort.

On Thursday, Commissioners’ Chairman Mike Sofranko said that while the Big Boy coming to Nesquehoning is an exciting time, there is a lot of planning ahead of this visit to make it a success.

“If you get on social media and watch the Big Boy coming across the county, it is something to really see,” he said. “Carbon County is very fortunate to have it coming here.”

However, he stressed for those trying to get to see it, to plan accordingly and leave enough time for travel delays.

“Don’t come down and be sitting in traffic and complaining about traffic,” Sofranko said. “We’re already telling you ahead of time that there are going to be a lot of people moving all over, taking pictures. Don’t say ‘I didn’t know this’ because if you didn’t, I don’t really know where you’re living. It’s definitely coming.”

Sofranko said that meetings between Nesquehoning and Jim Thorpe police, state police, the Carbon County Emergency Management Agency, fire companies and state entities have all been taking place ahead of the visit.

“We’re doing the best from all levels to address what’s coming,” he said, adding that after the Big Boy leaves Nesquehoning on Sunday all entities will again meet to go over the initial plan and see what worked and what didn’t to make adjustments for its second visit, this time to Jim Thorpe, on July 1.