Union Pacific Big Boy 4014, 250th Anniversary Ride the Rails

Union Pacific Steam Engine ^ | May 8, 2026 | Union Pacific

[KitJ]

Union Pacific's famed Big Boy No. 4014, 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.

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TOPICS: History
KEYWORDS: 4884; alco; bigboy4014; unionpacific

[KitJ]

For anyone that likes trains, Union Pacific is funding the Big Boy 4014. Only barely. This is the first time that UP can cross tracks owned by other companies. Warren Buffet, Burlington, SF, etc.

[PAR35]

Makes sense to send it east, given the merger (takeover) of Norfolk Southern underway by UP.

I remember seeing it at the Worlds Fair in New Orleans, so it has been east of the Mississippi River before. I don’t think it’s been any further east than that.

[sasquatch]

4014 is big, even in N scale.

[hillarys cankles]

Saw big boy up close and personal a couple weeks ago as he pulled out of Roseville, CA. It was the first time my wife had ever seen such a glorious machine such as big boy up close and personal.

Brought back a lot of memories for me. My dad worked for the Southern Pacific at the downtown rail yards in Sacramento. I got to enjoy Railfair 1984 in downtown Sacramento up close because of my dad. So many trains from all over the country. It was a young boys dream come true.

[kvanbrunt2]

I’d like to see it go thru my back yard. I’m a chessie neighbor. I’ve seen Circus trains and the presidents car. Lots of OJ and lumber today.

[kvanbrunt2]

And philly should find some Baldwin Locos to go with it. It was the largest philly employer in early 1900. Had 8 Blocks where the inky building is today.

[Fireone]

Saw Big Boy go through Cambridge, MN a few years back. That thing was bigger than life. What a thrill!

[dagunk]

Watched it go by in Kansas last time it was out.
Impressive, and Hoo Boy that whistle was LOUD.

Got another chance this year, overnight in Salina.

[Organic Panic]

I’d love to see that up close. The closest I was to a steamer that big was in my office just outside Dresden Germany. We heard that thing a mile away and the ground shook. The smell of the steam and coal was intoxication.

[Midwesterner53]

How about coming South???

[meyer]

The merger. Of course, that explains the use of NS tracks across Ohio. Hadn’t even thought of that. I just assumed they got a better rate than CSX would give them.

[ladyjane]

Typical of how they now run trains.

Union Pacific could have set up a schedule and viewing areas for people to see Big Boy going through their area. Hundreds of thousands of people could have seen Big Boy. Instead they have a series of ‘no public access’ and ‘private employee events’ that serve them but don’t serve the viewing public.

What a shame. This could have been a wonderful event for our 250th and they did this self-serving PR stunt.

[sonova]

I saw 4014
up close, rolling and static and hot!
Touched it, it’s hot! Drive wheels are 68 or 70 inches diameter.
Don’t miss it.

[hillarys cankles]

That’s sad to hear.
When big boy was here in northern CA weeks ago UP had a schedule where BB could be seen steaming through or when it stopped in Roseville CA overnight.

[sonova]

I saw 4014
up close, rolling and static and hot!
Touched it, it’s hot! Drive wheels are 68 or 70 inches diameter.
Don’t miss it.

+++++++++++++++
Steamer Engine well over 1 million pounds. Modern engines about 400,000 pounds.
Yes, I may be slightly off but really close.

[TTFlyer]

I was fortunate to see the last days of steam on the UP, Western Pacific, the D&RGW, and the Southern Pacific. From the SP Daylights, to the Rio Grande on the Monarch, the Big Boys through the Wasatch, and the WP through the Sierras and Niles Canyon.

What a wonderful time it was.