CHEYENNE, Wyo. — Union Pacific has announced its long-awaited schedule for steam operations this summer, featuring the return of Big Boy 4-8-8-4 No. 4014.
Events begin Saturday, April 27, with 4-8-4 No. 844’s departure from Cheyenne. It will travel to Rock Springs, Wyo., that day, and to Ogden, Utah, on April 28. It will be on display in Ogden April 29-May 4 and May 6-8, then take part in the Gold Spike 150th anniversary celebration in Ogden on May 9.
The Big Boy will be christened on Saturday, May 4, in Cheyenne at 9:30 a.m., and depart a half-hour later for Rawlins, Wyo. On May 5, it will go from Rawlins to Rock Springs; on May 6, from Rock Springs to Evanston, Wyo. After a day in Evanston with no public display, it will travel from Evanston to Ogden on May 8 and take part in the celebration on May 9.
Both locomotives will be displayed in Ogden May 10-11 before double-heading back to Cheyenne, traveling from Ogden to Evanston, on May 12 and Evanston to Rock Springs on May 13. After two days of display in Rock Springs (May 14-15), the doubleheader will move to Rawlins on May 16 and to Laramie, Wyo., on May 17. After one day in Laramie with no public access, they will complete the return to Cheyenne on Sunday, May 19.
A full schedule with times and information on intermediate stops each day is available on the Union Pacific website.
I was born in Shoshoni WY 1940 My father would take us to the RR crossing and we would count the cars and the number of engines pulling coal from the eastern coal fields. (Nothing much to do in a little town at night.) 1947 we moved to Evanston and my dad still had his love affair with the trains. We would go to the depot and watch the trains coming up out of Echo canyon. You could always tell when there was a big boy or perhaps a couple of challengers pulling the train because of the way the earth would shake when they made the round to come up in front of the station. I am still in awe of the raw power the engines displayed. You could get within 20 feet of the tracks and the vibration force and steam would raise the hair on the back of your neck. Some nights the freight would be ‘sided’ and we would wait for the streamliner to come through. If there was no one getting on/off, they only slowed down enough to snatch the mail from the hook and proceed on down the canyon. Then we got to watch the big boy or whatever 4-6-4s or perhaps a couple of 4-8-4s was moving the freight have to reorganize the train and it would disappear into the darkness. 1960 I renewed my love affair with steam only it was pushing a navy destroyer down the Chesapeake bay. ECH
Where can we see Big Boy after May 19, 2019? Will it be on display to the pubic? Any info you can give will be appreciated. We are in South Florida and need time to make travel plans. Thanks!
I agree with Mr. Kuehn concerning the Centennial. This seems like the very type of event that it was preserved for.
Wonderful to visit the UP Site in Cheyanne last year and see 4014 under restoration. So encouraging that UP takes its history seriously
Thank you UP
Congratulations to Ed and the steam team. You are keeping a small, but important, part of our nation’s history alive. I’m happy to see the schedule, limited as it is. I do hope UP will see fit to run these engines around the system, including to our neck of the woods in Fort Worth, Texas. We did have the good fortune of visits by 844 some years ago and 3985 a few years before that. Anyway, good work guys!
I am a little disappointed that the ‘Centennial’ diesel will not be part of the festivities as it was named for the 1969 Centennial of the Golden Spike. I also see it as kind of the diesel counter part to the Big Boy.
I would think trial run would be needed before this grand event occurs.
Will Trains have a live video feed?
About now I’d love more up to date news. Last we heard was the hydrostatic test some weeks ago. Even some good photos would be nice. But beyond that, Ed and his crew haven’t just done amazing job, they’ve done it very well. Many don’t realize that at the same time as Big Boy is coming back to life that the Challenger benefits from many of the part orders and from the experience on rebuilding its close cousin.
Alright!!! Flight booked!
Thank you, UP, for making this happen.
Highball 4014 and 844! Way to go, UP!
CONGRATULATIONS, Union Pacific! WELL DONE, and hats off to Ed Dickens and all the dedicated men and women who work tirelessly under him to make great moments like this happen! This is an accomplishment for the ages! What was once just a “pipe dream” is really coming to pass… IN THE YEAR 2019!!! Years ago, who would have guessed it?!
I’m sure the people that have been furloughed or let go in pursuit of cost cutting for PSR and the holy grail 55 OR will be able to sleep better now knowing this.
The late, great Jim Boyd once said a Big Boy would run again someday. Why? Well, as he put it…
“Like Mount Everest, because it’s there!”
Too bad he didn’t live to see it and to know he was right after all.
JJ Johnson
At the end of the day the UP is a business that has to please many souls. This isn’t the first time that cutting payroll even in good times affects many.
You missed my point in your frustration with my statement. The Union Pacific has for decades embraced the past and continues to be successful.
Well David a few of us from the Midwest are flying out. I’m flying out on the 8th to see the ceremony on the 9th in Ogden.
https://www.up.com/heritage/steam/schedule/index.htm?fbclid=IwAR2ng9UEgD36EH21rz9X1a459avCE6PN4CGp80NhTnXOydH6_Y1NnERVO2I
Highball, UP4014!
You know what? John Stjohn is truly a man of his own idiolect! He could’ve typed that statement in the dark & I would’ve known it was him, because only John could use the word “negating” so fallibly! Steve Bauer wasn’t trying to derail “a happy UP moment”! Quite the opposite as Steve is a real strong fella, a real ‘type’! I’m sure he merely stated what most of us are thinking & that’s the audacity to layoff thousands of employees amid a period of record profits, cloaked under the draconian guise of Precision Scheduled Railroading while continuing to rollout the hideously expensive steam elephant into the room! You’ve really got to admire a stand-up guy like that!
I’m confused.
“The Big Boy will be christened at Ogden on Saturday, May 4, in Cheyenne at 9:30 a.m.”
4014 cannot be in Ogden and Cheyenne at the same time.
anyone chasing it this year with video…..lot of work
A Big Thank You to Union Pacific and the U.P.Steam Crew. For 60 years people have been saying that a Big Boy would never run again. Ed Dicken’s and his crew have proved them to be wrong. Great Job Guys. See You trackside.
so glad to see that a big boy is back on the rails. i was only 7 when they made their last run. i am disappointed that those of us in the midwest and the east won’t be able to see it. any chance that a trip to, or near, Detroit will be planned?
It’s a shame to have Steve Bauer negating a UP happy moment. When they proposed this process give years ago PSR was not on the horizon.