CHEYENNE, Wyo. — Union Pacific has released the full schedule for the 10-state “Heartland of America” tour by Big Boy No. 4014, to begin Aug. 28 in Cheyenne and return there Oct. 23.
As previously announced, public display events are planned for Sunday, Sept. 8, in Rochelle, lll.; Sunday, Oct. 6, in Houston; and Thursday and Friday, Oct. 10-11, in Fort Worth, Texas. Viewing-only events are scheduled in Bryan, Texas (Oct. 8), Kansas City (Oct. 16), and Salina, Kan. (Oct. 18). As on other trips, a number of brief “whistle stops” are planned elsewhere on the route.
Unlike the earlier trip to California, no public excursion is planned on this outing, but four cab rides are being auctioned to benefit the Union Pacific Museum Association and the UP Friend-to-Friend Network. Two will be offered Sept. 2 on the trip into Omaha, Neb., and two will be Sept. 4 outbound from Council Bluffs, Iowa. Each ride will be approximately 90 minutes in duration; riders must be 18 or older and comply with requirements listed on the site where bidding is being conduced. Bidding began this morning (Aug. 12) at 10 a.m. CT and will conclude Aug. 19 at 7 p.m. CT. For information or to bid, visit this web page.
The Big Boy’s looping route will take it through Nebraska, Iowa, Illinois, Missouri, Arkansas, Texas, Oklahoma, Kansas (crossing briefly back into Missouri at Kansas City, Mo.), and Colorado before returning home to Cheyenne. In addition to its public display dates, private Union Pacific employee events are planned in North Platte, Neb.; Rochelle; St. Louis; North Little Rock, Ark.; Dallas; Houston; Fort Worth; and Denver. The full schedule is available here.
As always, UP advises to check the steam website for updates, that all schedule times and locations are subject to change, and that there is no public access to the Big Boy outside of listed stops.
$4,000 opening bid. Probably more than I can find in the cupholder in the car…