Union Pacific Railroad’s Big Boy No. 4014, said to be the world’s largest operating steam locomotive, will journey to the East Coast this summer for the first time as part of a historic coast-to-coast tour to celebrate America’s 250th anniversary.
The tour includes a Fourth of July celebration in Philadelphia, major display events in eight cities and more than 50 whistle-stops in 10 states, including stops for the first time in Indiana, Ohio, New York and Pennsylvania.
In addition to the public display days, rail fans can see this historic machine in action at over four dozen whistle-stops, generally 15 to 30 minutes long.
The locomotive will make stops at seven New York communities from June 9th to June 13th. No passenger excursion opportunities will be offered.
Twenty-five Big Boys were commissioned for Union Pacific Railroad, the first of which was delivered in 1941. These massive locomotives were built to haul heavy equipment in support of the World War Two war effort, normally operating between Ogden, Utah, and Cheyenne, Wyoming. The Big Boys are 133 feet long and weigh 1.2 million pounds.
Due to their great length, their frames are “hinged,” or articulated, to allow them to negotiate curves. They have a 4-8-8-4 wheel arrangement, which means they have four wheels on the leading set of “pilot” wheels to guide the engine; eight drivers on the first engine; another set of eight drivers on the second engine; and four wheels trailing that support the rear of the locomotive.
No. 4014 was retired in December 1961 after traveling more than a million miles. Union Pacific reacquired it from the RailGiants Train Museum in California in 2013 and moved it back to Cheyenne for a multi-year restoration. It returned to service in May 2019 to celebrate the 150th Anniversary of the Transcontinental Railroad’s Completion.
The seven other remaining Big Boys are on public display in St. Louis, Missouri; Dallas, Texas; Omaha, Nebraska; Denver, Colorado; Scranton, Pennsylvania; Green Bay, Wisconsin; and Cheyenne, Wyoming.
The New York Area Schedule
A complete schedule with times and public availability is located here. Not all locations are providing public access. Some locations have special access rules.
Tuesday, June 9
North East, PA
Ripley, NY
Buffalo, NY
Wednesday, June 10
Buffalo, NY
Thursday, June 11
Buffalo, NY
Silver Springs, NY
Letchworth State Park
Hornell, NY
Friday, June 12
Sayre, PA
Owego, NY
Binghamton, NY
Saturday, June 13
Binghamton, NY
Photo of Union Pacific Railroad’s Big Boy No. 4014 locomotive provided.
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