For one night, the quietest day of the week in Jim Thorpe will belong to the biggest locomotive in the world.

The Union Pacific “Big Boy” steam locomotive No. 4014, the largest operational steam locomotive in the world, is scheduled to arrive in Jim Thorpe between 4:30 and 6 p.m. Wednesday, remain overnight in front of the train station, and depart Thursday at 9 a.m., according to a summary narrative of the Reading Blue Mountain & Northern Railroad’s passenger operations for the visit.

The stop is part of the railroad’s Semiquincentennial Steam Celebration, which is bringing the Union Pacific locomotive onto RBMN’s main line for the first time.

“I would say Wednesday is our slowest day, so we do expect a nice little bump up on the slowest day of the week,” said Trish Spillman, president of the Jim Thorpe Tourism Agency.

Several businesses that normally close on Wednesdays plan to open for the occasion. Notch Eight, which is normally closed Wednesdays, will be open from noon to 6 p.m. with a special Big Boy Burger and Big Boy smoked wings, according to information provided by tourism agency members. Sellers Books will offer a discount on train books for “4014 railfans” and stay open late. Mabacol is extending its hours until 10 p.m. Wednesday and reopening at 7 a.m. Thursday, with a free visitors bracelet and discounts.

The Union Publick House has rolled out a “Big Boy” themed menu featuring Frontier Bison Chili, a UPH Original Big Boy Burger and a sandwich named “The 4014,” while Wild Elder Wine & Cider Co. is offering red, white and blueberry wine slushies. The Doggie Wagon plans to sell a “Big Boy Dog” alongside its regular menu, and Jim Thorpe House of Jerky is offering 10% off its “Big” multi-packs.

Somersault Letterpress, located on Broadway, printed a limited-edition Jim Thorpe postcard commemorating the locomotive’s visit, selling for $5 in store only. Donerds Donuts is welcoming the Big Boy to the train station with a specially designed Big Boy donut, available through July 2, with the shop warning that supplies are expected to sell out quickly.

“Many of our businesses are highlighting train memorabilia in their stores,” Spillman said. “I’m hearing from shop owners saying that they want to see (the train) as well, so they’re going to take turns with shifts going down to see it.”

The tourism agency, along with the Pocono Mountains Visitors Bureau, is paying for crossing guards to help manage pedestrian and vehicle traffic.

Jim Thorpe Police Chief Joe Schatz said the planning for Wednesday’s crowds has involved multiple agencies, since the event does not follow the borough’s usual festival playbook.

“We’re going into this a little blind because usually with our festivals, we have a rough idea of what’s what,” Schatz said. He said the department coordinated with Union Pacific, Reading & Northern, Carbon County EMA, fire, police and the sheriff’s department, and drew on lessons from Nesquehoning, which hosted the Big Boy mid-June.

“We put together a good action plan so we can accommodate the viewers as well as making sure safety is at the utmost the forefront of this operation,” Schatz said.

Viewing areas will be set up where the corral was located next to the train station, in parking spaces across from the post office, and inside the county lot.

Schatz said the department is preparing for hot weather, with a command post set up jointly with police, fire, EMA and EMS, and misters and water on hand.

“We’re worried about the heat, so we have our command set up with police, fire, EMA and EMS, and they plan on bringing misters,” Schatz said. “We’re also stocking up with water. We don’t want anybody getting dehydrated.”

The locomotive will need to be refueled overnight ahead of its Thursday departure, Schatz said.

“That big boy, it’s steam, but it’s also oil fed as well, so a big oil tanker has to be brought in to refill that steamer at night and make sure it’s operational for the morning,” he said.

For visitors looking to avoid the parking search altogether, the Lehighton Outdoor Center is offering free parking and discounted bike rentals for a five-mile ride along the Lehigh Canal section of the Delaware & Lehigh Trail into Jim Thorpe. Owner Jerry McAward said the idea grew out of concerns about parking shortages similar to what occurred in Nesquehoning.

“When that was there a few weeks ago, in Nesquehoning, some parking lots were charging $50 to park there. So our suggestion was to park here for free,” McAward said. The outdoor center will stay open late Wednesday and reopen early Thursday so riders can see the locomotive both nights.

Bike rentals are priced at $17.76, a nod to the Fourth of July.

“That was no accident there,” McAward said.

A discount of $17.76 off also applies to raft trips and e-bike rentals.

McAward described the canal route as one of the more scenic stretches of the trail. “There’s not too many places where you can have a river on one side of you and a canal on the other side, as you ride upstream,” he said, noting that the view from the pedestrian bridge near Jim Thorpe is among the most photographed spots in town.

He said the event could help establish the trail as a regular alternative route into Jim Thorpe during high-traffic weekends.

“We’ve spent years trying to convince people to park here and ride there,” McAward said.

Forecasts call for hot conditions both days of the visit. The locomotive is expected to depart Jim Thorpe at 9 a.m. Thursday headed for Reading, with scheduled photo stops in Tamaqua, New Ringgold, Port Clinton, Hamburg, Mohrsville and Leesport before arriving at the Reading Outer Station, where it will again be open to public viewing.