Over 100 Vintage Train Fans Fall Ill Seeing Locomotive Roll Through Their Pennsylvania Town

More than 100 group received aesculapian attraction owed to heat-related illness Thursday astatine a train show successful Reading, Pennsylvania, declaring it a “mass casualty incident.”

Crowds gathered astatine Reading Outer Station successful Muhlenberg Township to watch nan historical Union Pacific Big Boy No. 4014 steam locomotive.

Operational delays pushed nan locomotive’s presence backmost much than an hour, leaving attendees waiting successful astir 106-degree heat, nan Muhlenberg Township Police Department said successful a news release.

“More than 100 individuals received aesculapian curen connected scene, and 35 patients were transported to area hospitals for further information and care. One diligent suffered cardiac apprehension and was successfully resuscitated anterior to transport,” nan constabulary said.

The train's delayed presence owed to nan power meant galore spectators had to stay successful nan blistering sun longer than expected, worsening nan situation, officials said. Emergency aesculapian crews quickly exhausted section resources and called for assistance from neighboring Chester and Montgomery counties.

Police specify a wide casualty incident arsenic “any emergency wherever nan number, type, aliases severity of victims overwhelms nan disposable section resources, first responders, and aesculapian personnel.”

It is not wished by a circumstantial diligent count, but by whether nan strategy is overwhelmed and incapable to grip nan volume, constabulary said successful an update Friday.

The arena was portion of Big Boy No. 4014's nationwide circuit celebrating America's 250th anniversary. Built successful nan 1940s, nan legendary motor is nan world's largest operating steam locomotive.

Big Boy No. 4014 is making respective stops crossed nan state earlier heading to nan Philadelphia Navy Yard for nationalist displays connected Saturday and Sunday.

Philadelphia is besides gearing up for an aggravated power activity complete nan weekend, pinch heavy humidity pushing feels-like temperatures good complete 100 degrees. On apical of that, scattered thunderstorms could rotation successful during nan day and evening, perchance disrupting outdoor events and celebrations.