BRIGHTON - Rail enthusiasts gathered at Bachman Road in Brighton, Illinois, as Union Pacific’s Big Boy No. 4014 passed through during a coast-to-coast tour tied to the America 250 celebration.
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Among those watching was Anthony Ventimiglia, who said he and his father have been following trains for years and that this was their third time seeing No. 4014.
“My name is Anthony Ventimiglia. I started getting into trains at age five and have been into it ever since,” Ventimiglia said. “My dad and I have been doing it for eighteen years. This was our third time catching UP4014.”
Union Pacific’s Big Boy No. 4014 is described as the largest, most powerful operating steam locomotive in the world. Built in the 1940s to haul heavy freight over steep mountain grades, 25 were constructed, and eight survive today. Locomotive No. 4014 was restored to full operational status in 2019 and regularly tours the United States.
As part of the 2026 tour, No. 4014 embarked on what Union Pacific described as its first journey to the East Coast. The tour includes 50 whistle-stops and major exhibition events in cities across 10 states, including New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania and Indiana.
According to the provided information, the locomotive is 133 feet long, weighs between 1.2 million and 1.3 million pounds, has a 4-8-8-4 wheel arrangement and produces 7,000 horsepower.
