World’s largest steam locomotive about to start first-ever coast-to-coast tour

CHEYENNE, Wyo. — The world’s largest steam locomotive is returning to the rails this year in honor of America’s 250th anniversary.

Union Pacific Railroad said its first-ever coast-to-coast steam tour will be led by Big Boy No. 4014.

The first leg of the tour will begin Sunday, March 29, with the Big Boy and historical passenger cars from Union Pacific’s Heritage Fleet traveling west to California from Cheyenne, Wyoming, the steam locomotive’s homebase.

The first leg of the tour ends Friday, April 24, in Cheyenne.

Union Pacific said the eastern leg of the tour, anticipated to start in late spring, is still being finalized and will be announced soon.

• Friday and Saturday, April 10-11: Roseville, Cali.
• Saturday and Sunday, April 18-19: Ogden, Utah

• Sunday, March 29: Cheyenne, Laramie, Medicine Bow, Wyo.
• Monday, March 30: Rawlins, Wamsutter, Wyo.
• Tuesday, March 31: Rock Springs, Wyo.
• Wednesday, April 1: Rock Springs, Green River, Wyo.
• Thursday, April 2: Evanston, Wyo.; Morgan, Utah; Salt Lake City
• Saturday, April 4: Salt Lake City; Wells, Nev.
• Monday, April 6: Elko, Carlin, Battle Mountain, Nev.
• Tuesday, April 7: Winnemucca, Gerlach, Nev.
• Wednesday, April 8: Portola, Cali.
• Thursday, April 9: Oroville, Marysville, Lincoln, Roseville, Cali.
• Friday, April 10: Roseville, Cali.
• Saturday, April 11: Roseville, Cali.
• Sunday, April 12: Roseville, Colfax, Truckee, Cali.
• Monday, April 13: Sparks, Nev.
• Tuesday, April 14: Sparks, Lovelock, Nev.
• Wednesday, April 15: Winnemucca, Carlin, Elko, Nev.
• Thursday, April 16: Elko, Nev.
• Friday, April 17: Elko, Wells, Montello, Nev.
• Saturday, April 18: Ogden, Utah
• Sunday, April 19: Ogden, Utah
• Monday, April 20: Ogden, Morgan, Utah; Evanston, Wyo.
• Tuesday, April 21: Evanston, Green River, Wyo.
• Thursday, April 23: Rock Springs, Point of Rocks, Wamsutter, Wyo.
• Friday, April 24: Rawlins, Medicine Bow, Laramie, Cheyenne, Wyo.

Union Pacific said locations where the Big Boy stops overnight are closed to the public due to safety and security reasons.

“We will celebrate our nation’s 250th anniversary by bringing out Big Boy No. 4014 to make history on its first-ever coast-to-coast tour,” said Union Pacific CEO Jim Vena . “I look forward to announcing the tour schedule soon, so Union Pacific and Norfolk Southern employees can bring their families to key stops on the route as a celebration of where we came from and where we are headed.”

The Cheyenne-based Big Boy No. 4014 was last in Colorado in July and October. The locomotive was accompanied from Cheyenne to Greeley in July by the No. 1616 Lincoln Locomotive, the railroad’s newest commemorative locomotive, which honors Abraham Lincoln’s role in uniting the nation through rail and laying the foundation for America’s freight rail network.

The 1.2 million-pound Big Boy steam locomotive was built in the 1940s to conquer mountains while carrying equipment during World War II. 

Big Boy No. 4014 was delivered to Union Pacific in December 1941, built to cross the Wasatch Mountain Range east of Ogden, Utah. Union Pacific said No. 4014 was retired in 1961 after traveling a little over a million miles, reacquired by Union Pacific in 2013 and restored to service in 2019.

Twenty-five Big Boy locomotives were built for Union Pacific. No. 4014 is the world’s only functioning Big Boy.

Eight Big Boys remain throughout the United States. Big Boy No. 4005 is on display at the Forney Museum of Transportation in Denver. Big Boy No. 4004 is on display at Holliday Park in Cheyenne.