Heartland of America Tour
ROCHELLE, Ill., — UP’s Heartland of America Tour took a large leap through Illinois Monday with No. 4014 and train departing from Rochelle, Ill., traveling east over former Chicago & North Western trackage to Provo Junction where it ran over the Indiana Harbor Belt Railroad from Bellwood to Dolton, Ill.
At Dolton the train got back on home rails and traveled over former Chicago & Eastern Illinois rails to Yard Center and then south over the Villa Grove Subdivision, ending at Villa Grove, Ill., at dusk. Today, the Big Boy and train will operate from Villa Grove to the St. Louis area.
![train at dusk](https://www.trains.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/TDC-Big-Boy-Heartland-of-America-Tour-Dailey-Illinois-UP-Villa-Grove-Steve-Smedley.jpg)
![black steam train on prairie](https://www.trains.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/TDC-Big-Boy-Heartland-of-America-Tour-Goodwine-Illinois-UP-Villa-Grove-Steve-Smedley.jpg)
![people taking photos of black steam locomotive](https://www.trains.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/TDC-Big-Boy-Heartland-of-America-arrives-Villa-Grove-Illinois-UP-Villa-Grove-Steve-Smedley.jpg)