News photos: UP Big Boy arrives in the Midwest

Three-quarter view of steam locomotive

ROCHELLE, Ill. — The vast expanse of Union Pacific’s Ike Evans Global III terminal just west of Rochelle played host to a “Family Days” event for Chicago area UP employees today (Saturday, Sept. 7) prior to a public display featuring Big Boy 4-8-8-4 No. 4014 on Sunday at the same location. It proved to be […]

Read More…

News photos: Big Boy on the road in Nevada and California

Steam locomotive and short train in desert passing below camera location. Elrond Lawrence photo

ROSEVILLE, Calif. — Union Pacific Big Boy No. 4014 has reached the westernmost point of its current tour, beginning the first of two days of public display today in Roseville. Information on the display is available here. Here are a few images catching up on recent days of the “Westward Bound” tour, with Elrond Lawrence […]

Read More…

News photos: Big Boy heads west

Steam locomotive with passenger and freight cars passes under signal bridge on high plains.

EVANSTON, Wyo. — Union Pacific Big Boy No. 4014 is four days into its “Westward Bound” tour, preparing for a Fourth of July move from Evanston to Salt Lake City after travel from Cheyenne, Wyo., to Evanston in three days of travel, with an off-day Tuesday in Rock Springs, Wyo., for an employee event. The […]

Read More…

Big Boy’s ‘Heartland of America Tour’ to begin Aug. 29

Large black steam locomotive with train against a dark blue sky.

CHEYENNE, Wyo. — Union Pacific has announced plans for its second tour this year with Big Boy No. 4014, which will cover 10 states in eight weeks beginning Aug. 29. The “Heartland of America Tour” will launch from Cheyenne on that date and also include Arkansas, Colorado, Illinois, Iowa, Kansas, Missouri, Nebraska, Oklahoma, and Texas, […]

Read More…

Union Pacific No. 4014 can now run on its own

Big Boy steam locomotive rounds curve on a sunny day.

CHEYENNE, Wyo. — This week the Union Pacific made a short run with 4-8-8-4 No. 4014 to test the new PTC system installed on the locomotive. While Big Boy has operated with a LeaPTC system since 2021, says a UP statement, the new equipment permits operation without support of a diesel locomotive. The original PTC […]

Read More…

Union Pacific plans major Big Boy tour in 2024

Big Boy steam locomotive rounds curve on a sunny day.

OMAHA, Neb. — Union Pacific will send Big Boy No. 4014 on a “Four Corners” tour of its system in 2024, the railroad announced today, including stops in Oregon, California, Texas, and Illinois. “As we move forward at Union Pacific, we remember where we came from; the Big Boy represents the history of Union Pacific […]

Read More…

Big Boy’s Home Run Replay (with video)

Big Boy steam locomotive rounds curve on a sunny day.

CHEYENNE, Wyo. — Union Pacific’s Big Boy No. 4014 made its 2023 debut in June and July with the Home Run Express to the NCAA Men’s College World Series in Omaha, Neb. Though a tradition for the Class I railroad to showcase its various equipment at the 12th Street display site outside Charles Schwab Field, […]

Read More…