Several years ago that AN-125 (?) was at RDU to pick up a huge generator.
A bunch of us watched it take off that rainy evening.
Amazing how quiet it was.
The picture is the AN-225. I would guess the plane you saw as the AN-124.
I've had pipeline projects that used the AN-124s. It is a very unusual load that requires the 225. The 124 can carry a 150 ton load. It has been used to carry a locomotive, submarine, etc.