CHEYENNE, Wyo. — A relic of American railroad history, Big Boy No. 4014, continues to captivate train enthusiasts and history buffs alike. Originally delivered to Union Pacific Railroad in December 1941, this colossal locomotive has a storied past, having traveled over a million miles in its 20 years of service before its retirement in December 1961.
Get The Latest News!
Don't miss our top stories and need-to-know news everyday in your inbox.
Big Boy No. 4014 will depart on the "Heartland of America Tour" on Wednesday, Aug. 28, 2024, from Cheyenne, Wyoming, and travel across nine additional states: Arkansas, Colorado, Illinois, Iowa, Kansas, Missouri, Nebraska, Oklahoma and Texas. The eight-week tour concludes in late October. No. 4014 will be on display in the following locations:
- Sunday, Sept. 8: Rochelle, Illinois (Chicago metro area)
- Sunday, Oct. 6: Houston, Texas
- Thursday/Friday, Oct. 10-11: Fort Worth, Texas
Big Boy No. 4014, part of a fleet of 25 locomotives built exclusively for Union Pacific, is notable for its immense size and engineering prowess. Measuring 132 feet in length and weighing 1.2 million pounds, the locomotive's articulated frame allowed it to navigate curves despite its considerable length. The 4-8-8-4 wheel arrangement, comprising four leading wheels, two sets of eight driving wheels, and four trailing wheels, further underscored its engineering sophistication.
The Heartland of America Tour schedule is below and will include a stop through St. Louis.
These massive engines were primarily used to haul freight between Ogden, Utah, and Cheyenne, Wyoming. Today, seven Big Boys remain on public display across the United States, in cities such as St. Louis, Missouri; Dallas, Texas; Omaha, Nebraska; Denver, Colorado; Scranton, Pennsylvania; Green Bay, Wisconsin; and Cheyenne, Wyoming.
Union Pacific reacquired No. 4014 from the Rail Giants Museum in Pomona, California, in 2013, with the goal of restoring it to operational condition. The multi-year restoration project culminated in May 2019 when No. 4014 returned to service to commemorate the 150th anniversary of the Transcontinental Railroad's completion.
The revival of Big Boy No. 4014 serves as a testament to the enduring legacy of American railroads and the engineering marvels that powered them.
As it steams through the American landscape once more, it continues to evoke a sense of nostalgia and admiration for a bygone era of rail travel.
Heartland of America Tour
Note: All schedule times and locations are subject to change. Please check back periodically for updates and be aware there is no public access to the Big Boy outside these listed stops. Overnight stops are closed to the public unless otherwise noted; afternoon arrival times are not available.
| Wednesday, August 28 | ||
|---|---|---|
| Cheyenne, Wyo. (9:00 a.m. departure) to Sidney, Neb. | ||
| Kimball, Neb. E. 1st St. & S. Walnut St. | Arrival Depart | 12:00 Noon MT 12:30 p.m. MT |
| Thursday, August 29 | ||
| Sidney, Neb. (9:00 a.m. departure) to North Platte, Neb. | ||
| Ogallala, Neb. S. Spruce St. Crossing | Arrival Depart | 12:00 Noon MT 12:30 p.m. MT |
| Friday, August 30 | ||
| Locomotive Maintenance NO PUBLIC ACCESS | ||
| Saturday, August 31 | ||
| North Platte, Neb. | Private Union Pacific Employee Event NO PUBLIC ACCESS Employee Event Information | |
| Sunday, Sept. 1 | ||
| North Platte, Neb. (9:00 a.m. departure) to Grand Island, Neb. | ||
| Overton, Neb. Pedestrian Overpass Wayside Park Near C St. & Hwy. 30 | Arrival Depart | 12:00 Noon CT 12:30 p.m. CT |
| Monday, Sept. 2 | ||
| Grand Island, Neb. (9:00 am departure) to Council Bluffs, Iowa | ||
| Columbus, Neb. 26th Ave. Crossing | Arrival Depart | 11:00 a.m. CT 11:30 a.m. CT |
| Omaha, Neb. Durham Museum 801 S. 10th St. | Arrival Depart | 2:45 p.m. CT 4:45 p.m. CT |
| Union Pacific Museum cab ride auction! Visit rarauctions.com/upm for more information. | ||
| Tuesday, Sept. 3 | ||
| Locomotive Maintenance NO PUBLIC ACCESS | ||
| Wednesday, Sept. 4 | ||
| Council Bluffs, Iowa (8:00 a.m. departure) to Boone, Iowa. | ||
| Union Pacific Museum cab ride auction! Visit rarauctions.com/upm for more information. | ||
| Carroll, Iowa Old Depot 407 W. 5th St. | Arrival Depart | 12:30 p.m. CT 1:00 p.m. CT |
| Thursday, Sept. 5 | ||
| Boone, Iowa (9:00 a.m. departure) to Cedar Rapids, Iowa. | ||
| Belle Plaine, Iowa. 9th Ave. Crossing | Arrival Depart | 12:15 p.m. CT 12:30 p.m. CT |
| Friday, Sept. 6 | ||
| Cedar Rapids, Iowa (9:00 a.m. departure) to Rochelle, Ill. | ||
| Grand Mound, Iowa Smith St. Crossing | Arrival Depart | 11:00 a.m. CT 11:15 a.m. CT |
| Sterling, Ill. Sterling Marketplace 111 W. 2nd St. | Arrival Depart | 1:30 p.m. CT 1:45 p.m. CT |
| Saturday, Sept. 7 | ||
| Rochelle, Ill. | Private Union Pacific Employee Event NO PUBLIC ACCESS Employee Event Information | |
| Sunday, Sept. 8 | ||
| Rochelle, Ill. Union Pacific Ike Evans Global III Terminal 2701 Intermodal Drive | On Display: 9:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m. CT Admission to see the Big Boy is Free and Open to the Public. | |
| Monday, Sept. 9 | ||
| Rochelle, Ill. (8:00 a.m. departure) to Villa Grove, Ill. | ||
| Rochelle, Ill. Rochelle Railroad Park 124 N. 9th St. | Arrival Depart | 8:45 a.m. CT 9:00 a.m. CT |
| Watseka, Ill. North St. Crossing | Arrival Depart | 5:00 p.m. CT 5:30 p.m. CT |
| Tuesday, Sept. 10 | ||
| Villa Grove, Ill. (9:00 a.m. departure) to St. Louis, Mo. | ||
| Nokomis, Ill. Maple St. Crossing | Arrival Depart | 12:15 p.m. CT 12:45 p.m. CT |
| Wednesday, Sept. 11 | ||
| St. Louis, Mo. | Private Union Pacific Employee Event NO PUBLIC ACCESS Employee Event Information | |
| Thursday, Sept. 12 | ||
| St. Louis, Mo. (8:30 a.m. departure) to Poplar Bluff, Mo. | ||
| De Soto, Mo. Commercial St. Crossing | Arrival Depart | 11:00 a.m. CT 11:30 a.m. CT |
| Arcadia - Ironton, Mo. Arcadia Valley Amtrak Station 13700 MO-21 | Arrival Depart | 1:30 p.m. CT 2:00 p.m. CT |
| Friday, Sept. 13 | ||
| Poplar Bluff, Mo. (9:00 a.m. departure) to Jonesboro, Ark. | ||
| Piggott, Ark. Jackson St. Crossing | Arrival Depart | 1:30 p.m. CT 2:00 p.m. CT |
| Saturday, Sept. 14 | ||
| Jonesboro, Ark. (9:00 a.m. departure) to North Little Rock, Ark. | ||
| Hickory Ridge, Ark. Laurel St. Crossing | Arrival Depart | 10:30 a.m. CT 11:00 a.m. CT |
| Brinkley, Ark. Central Delta Depot Museum 100 W. Cypress St. | Arrival Depart | 12:15 p.m. CT 12:45 p.m. CT |
| Pine Bluff, Ark. Pine Bluff Museum Depot 201 E. 4th Ave | Arrival Depart | 3:00 p.m. CT 3:30 p.m. CT |
| Sunday, Sept. 15 | ||
| North Little Rock, Ark. 1000 W 4th St. | Private Union Pacific Employee Event NO PUBLIC ACCESS until 5:00 p.m. Employee Event Information Public Viewing Only: 5:00 p.m. - 7:00 p.m. CT | |
| Monday, Sept. 16 | ||
| North Little Rock, Ark. (8:00 a.m. departure) to Texarkana, Ark. | ||
| Kingsland, Ark. Johnny Cash Birthplace Maple St. Crossing | Arrival Depart | 11:45 a.m. CT 12:15 p.m. CT |
| Tuesday, Sept. 17 | ||
| Texarkana, Ark. (9:00 a.m. departure) to Dallas, Texas | ||
| Big Sandy, Texas Pearl St. Crossing | Arrival Depart | 1:00 p.m. CT 1:45 p.m. CT |
| Wednesday, Sept. 18 | ||
| Dallas, Texas | Private Union Pacific Event NO PUBLIC ACCESS | |
| Thursday, Sept. 19 | ||
| Dallas, Texas (9:00 a.m. departure) to Hearne, Texas | ||
| Mexia, Texas East Commerce St. Crossing | Arrival Depart | 12:45 p.m. CT 1:15 p.m. CT |
| Friday, Sept. 20 – Thursday, Oct. 3 | ||
| Locomotive Maintenance NO PUBLIC ACCESS | ||
| Friday, Oct. 4 | ||
| Hearne, Texas (9:00 a.m. departure) to Houston, Texas | ||
| Navasota, Texas E. McAlpine St. Crossing | Arrival Depart | 11:00 a.m. CT 11:30 a.m. CT |
| Hempstead, Texas Wilkins St. Crossing | Arrival Depart | 12:15 p.m. CT 12:45 p.m. CT |
| Saturday, Oct. 5 | ||
| Houston, Texas | Private Union Pacific Employee Event NO PUBLIC ACCESS Employee Event Information | |
| Sunday, Oct. 6 | ||
| Houston, Texas Houston Amtrak 902 Washington Ave. | On Display: 9:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m. CT Admission to see the Big Boy is Free and Open to the Public. | |
| Monday, Oct. 7 | ||
| Houston, Texas (9:00 a.m. departure) to Bryan, Texas | ||
| Spring, Texas Elm Street Crossing | Arrival Depart | 11:00 a.m. CT 11:30 a.m. CT |
| Navasota, Texas E. McAlpine St. Crossing | Arrival Depart | 1:30 p.m. CT 2:00 p.m. CT |
| Tuesday, Oct. 8 | ||
| Bryan, Texas Wellborn Road and F & B Road Crossing | Viewing Only | |
| Wednesday, Oct. 9 | ||
| Bryan, Texas (9:00 a.m. departure) to Fort Worth, Texas | ||
| Marlin, Texas Wood St. Crossing | Arrival Depart | 11:45 a.m. CT 12:15 p.m. CT |
| West, Texas Broadway St. Crossing | Arrival Depart | 1:45 p.m. CT 2:15 p.m. CT |
| Thursday, Oct. 10 | ||
| Fort Worth, Texas 275 W. Lancaster Ave. | On Display: 9:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m. CT Admission to see the Big Boy is Free and Open to the Public. | |
| Friday, Oct. 11 | ||
| Fort Worth, Texas 275 W. Lancaster Ave. | On Display: 9:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m. CT Admission to see the Big Boy is Free and Open to the Public. | |
| Saturday, Oct. 12 | ||
| Fort Worth, Texas | Private Union Pacific Employee Event NO PUBLIC ACCESS Employee Event Information | |
| Sunday, Oct. 13 | ||
| Fort Worth, Texas (8:00 a.m. departure) to McAlester, Okla. | ||
| Durant, Okla. Louisiana St. Crossing | Arrival Depart | 1:15 p.m. CT 1:45 p.m. CT |
| Monday, Oct. 14 | ||
| McAlester, Okla. (9:00 a.m. departure) to Coffeyville, Kan. | ||
| Muskogee, Okla. Okmulgee St. Crossing | Arrival Depart | 11:00 a.m. CT 11:30 a.m. CT |
| Claremore, Okla. Florence Ave. Crossing | Arrival Depart | 1:15 p.m. CT 1:45 p.m. CT |
| Tuesday, Oct. 15 | ||
| Coffeyville, Kan. (9:00 a.m. departure) to Kansas City, Mo. | ||
| Osawatomie, Kan. W. Pacific Ave. Crossing | Arrival Depart | 2:15 p.m. CT 2:45 p.m. CT |
| Kansas City, Mo. Union Station 30 W. Pershing Rd. | Arrival | 6:45 p.m. CT |
| Wednesday, Oct. 16 | ||
| Kansas City, Mo. Union Station 30 W. Pershing Rd. | Viewing Only | |
| Thursday, Oct. 17 | ||
| Kansas City, Mo. (9:00 a.m. departure) to Salina, Kan. | ||
| Topeka, Kan. Great Overland Station 701 N. Kansas Ave. | Arrival Depart | 12:15 p.m. CT 12:45 p.m. CT |
| Friday, Oct. 18 | ||
| Salina, Kan. Salina Depot 400 N. 13th St. | Viewing Only | |
| Saturday, Oct. 19 | ||
| Salina, Kan. (9:00 a.m. departure) to Hays, Kan. | ||
| Wilson, Kan. Avenue E Crossing | Arrival Depart | 11:00 a.m. CT 11:30 a.m. CT |
| Sunday, Oct. 20 | ||
| Hays, Kan. (9:00 a.m. departure) to Sharon Springs, Kan. | ||
| Grainfield, Kan. Main St. Crossing | Arrival Depart | 12:00 Noon CT 12:30 p.m. CT |
| Monday, Oct. 21 | ||
| Sharon Springs, Kan. (9:00 a.m. departure) to Denver, Colo. | ||
| Strasburg, Colo. Monroe St. Crossing | Arrival Depart | 3:45 p.m MT 4:15 p.m. MT |
| Tuesday, Oct. 22 | ||
| Denver, Colo. | Private Union Pacific Employee Event NO PUBLIC ACCESS Employee Event Information | |
| Wednesday, Oct. 23 | ||
| Denver, Colo. (9:00 a.m. departure) to Cheyenne, Wyo. | ||
| Greeley, Colo. 10th St. Crossing | Arrival Depart | 12:35 p.m MT 1:05 p.m. MT |
Key Definitions
On Display Admission to display days are free (no tickets required), though parking at surrounding parking facilities may involve a charge. These are the best times to see the Big Boy.
Passenger Excursion Opportunities to ride are rare, but when they are available as a fundraiser for charitable groups, they are listed on this schedule. Any passenger excursion tickets are sold by outside entities -- not Union Pacific -- and are not available on the day of the excursion. There will not be a passenger excursion during the Heartland of America tour, though there will be an exciting opportunity to ride in the Big Boy's cab! As part of the tour, the Union Pacific Railroad Museum will be auctioning off four cab rides on Big Boy No. 4014, with proceeds going to two worthy causes: the Union Pacific Museum Association and Union Pacific’s Friend-to-Friend Network, a nonprofit that benefits railroad families in times of need, such as medical or natural disaster hardships. The auction starts Monday, Aug. 12 and ends Monday, Aug. 19. Details can be found at https://rarauctions.com/upm .
Overnight Stops Locations where the Big Boy stops overnight are closed to the public due to safety and security reasons, unless otherwise noted on the schedule. Non-employees who access these locations without permission will be treated as trespassers. Afternoon arrival times are not available.
Westward Bound Tour
Earlier this summer, Union Pacific's legendary Big Boy No. 4014 toured in five states during its 2024 Westward Bound Tour from Wyoming to California. In addition, this mighty steam locomotive was on public display for two days each in Roseville, California and Ogden, Utah. During the tour, the Union Pacific Museum hosted a special, sold-out passenger trip from Roseville to Sparks, Nevada. The unique experience was the annual gala fundraiser for the nonprofit organization and provided a rare opportunity to travel on this historic heritage equipment. In all, Big Boy No. 4014 will visit 14 of the 23 states Union Pacific serves in 2024.
Union Pacific Steam Club
To be notified when news about Union Pacific's legendary steam program becomes available, join the Official Union Pacific Steam Club at http://UP.com/SteamClub ! Steam club members always get notified first when news about Union Pacific's steam program is released!
Future Schedules
Last fall, we had anticipated including Boise, Idaho, and Portland, Oregon on the Westward Bound tour. As planning continued, we determined that the network capacity on our northern corridor could not accommodate Big Boy No. 4014 along with anticipated demand on a single track. Our goal is to share the Big Boy with as many rail fans as possible across our network, and we look forward to seeing everyone track side – 25 feet back – this fall.
More like this:
