Marcus Leshock

Marcus Leshock The Roller Coaster Bureau Chief. The Trending News Anchor. See me on TV on #9 in Chicago starting at 4am weekdays!
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06/03/2026

BIG BOY NO. 4014 - the world’s largest operating steam locomotive comes to Chicagoland!

The Union Pacific masterpiece from 1941 was on display in West Chicago, drawing thousands of people from all over to take an up close look at this massive train. BIG BOY is:

🚂 1.2 million pounds
🤯 133 feet long
📏 17 feet tall

It’s on a journey across America making multiple stops. It is in West Chicago today only before it heads out east.

GOOD MORNING! I am hanging out with Union Pacific BIG BOY NO. 4014 today!This is the world’s largest operating steam loc...
06/03/2026

GOOD MORNING! I am hanging out with Union Pacific BIG BOY NO. 4014 today!

This is the world’s largest operating steam locomotive, weighing 1.2 MILLION POUNDS. It’s 133 feet long.

Big Boy was built in 1941 and retired in 1961. Of the eight remaining Big Boys, it’s the only one still in operation.

It will be on display in West Chicago today and we are LIVE checking it out this morning. Are you coming to see it?

06/03/2026

Let’s take a ride on the VOYAGE wooden roller coaster at Holiday World in Santa Claus, Indiana - with NO TRIM BRAKES! 🎢🙌🤯

154’ first drop
67mph top speed

During their annual Holiwood Nights event held for coaster enthusiasts, the theme park turns OFF the trim brakes halfway through, causing the second half of the ride to fly faster through the run. It’s a wild experience!

This video was filmed with permission from Holiday World during Holiwood Nights 2026.

Have you been on VOYAGE without the trims?

NEW: Big Boy No. 4014 has made its way to Chicagoland.At 1.2 MILLION POUNDS, Big Boy is the world’s largest operating st...
06/02/2026

NEW: Big Boy No. 4014 has made its way to Chicagoland.

At 1.2 MILLION POUNDS, Big Boy is the world’s largest operating steam locomotive. It stretched 133 feet long. Thousands of people were on hand to see it make a whistle stop in Rochelle, Illinois earlier today.

Big Boy was there for just about 20 minutes before it left to make a longer stop in West Chicago. It will be on display tomorrow from 9am-3pm and is expected to draw massive crowds.

Did you see Big Boy today?? I’d love to see your photos if you share them here! Here are a few from some WGN viewers who happen to catch it earlier today! 🚂🙌

📸 : Kerri Saikin, Tom Davis, SkyCam 9

NEW BEARS STADIUM …. what now?!After the Illinois legislature did not pass a bill giving the Bears incentives to build i...
06/02/2026

NEW BEARS STADIUM …. what now?!

After the Illinois legislature did not pass a bill giving the Bears incentives to build in Arlington Heights, many are wondering what will happen next.

The team says they are doing their due diligence on both the Arlington Heights property and the proposal in Hammond, Indiana, with the timeline of making a decision in late spring / early summer.

I spent the day yesterday watching and listening to so many takes on this issue. Many politicians are releasing statements about who is to blame or if there’s still any hope of the Bears staying in Illinois.

All of this is happening as other teams in other cities are getting their stadiums built. Here locally, WGN’s Ben Bradley made a good comparison with the United Center project that is moving forward with a dramatic reimagining of the area around the west side stadium. Somehow the owners of the Bulls and Blackhawks were able to get that done. And Northwestern is opening their new Ryan Field this year.

Why can’t the Bears get this over the finish line? If they could go back, would they handle the negotiations differently? Will we go into another season with this project STILL up in the air?

How are you feeling about this situation?

GOOD MORNING! It’s 4:58am on TUESDAY and I am back on the anchor desk 4-6am before heading out to an Around Town segment...
06/02/2026

GOOD MORNING! It’s 4:58am on TUESDAY and I am back on the anchor desk 4-6am before heading out to an Around Town segment today.

Lauren Jiggetts is either very excited I'm here or counting the minutes until I leave the building.

Who’s up with us?!

Can’t believe our little girl is 16 YEARS OLD today! 🎂 🥹 Beautiful, bold, hilarious, smart, responsible - I am so proud ...
06/02/2026

Can’t believe our little girl is 16 YEARS OLD today! 🎂 🥹

Beautiful, bold, hilarious, smart, responsible - I am so proud to be her father.

Happy birthday, Ruby … WE LOVE YOU! 💕 🎉

06/01/2026

Let’s take a ride on VOYAGE at Holiday World & Splashin’ Safari - front row! 🎢🙌 🦃

154’ first drop
67mph top speed
Opened in 2006

There is no way to put the VOYAGE experience into words. The ride is relentless and builds up speed as it goes. It’s considered by many enthusiasts to be the best wooden roller coaster in the world.

This video was filmed with permission from Holiday World.

Have you been on VOYAGE? Where does it rank on your wooden coaster rankings?

06/01/2026

GOOD MORNING! It’s 6:17am on MONDAY. Who’s up with us?!

WHAT A WEEKEND at Holiday World in Santa Claus, Indiana! We were able to check out their Holiwood Nights event for the f...
05/31/2026

WHAT A WEEKEND at Holiday World in Santa Claus, Indiana!

We were able to check out their Holiwood Nights event for the first time. The park stays open after closing for coaster enthusiasts to have exclusive ride time on their roller coasters.

But the highlight is their wooden roller coaster VOYAGE. The park turns off the trim brakes on the ride … which makes it fly even FASTER through the layout. It’s one of the wildest experiences you will ever have on a roller coaster. And at night? You can’t see ANYTHING. I’ll have some video to share soon of these rides and our entire experience.

I’ve been coming to this family run park for over a decade now and it’s one of my favorite places. They do all of the little things right and they have one of the best water parks anywhere in the country. Oh, and you can’t forget the free drinks and free sunscreen!

It was awesome to give Jonna and Ruby their first HW experience. Everyone had a great time.

OH! And they’re adding something major for next year. They gave me an exclusive teaser that I will be showing you in the next few days! I still have no idea what this attraction will be, but maybe you can help me figure it out. 🧐🎢🙌

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