THE infamous "Big Boy" Union Pacific steam train has announced a fall tour that includes stops across 10 states over two months. It plans to stop in over three dozen communities as part of the 2024 Heartland of America Tour. The tour takes off on August 28 from Cheyenne, Wyoming, per Union Pacific.
"Big Boy" No. 4014 will pass through Arkansas, Colorado, Illinois, Iowa, Kansas, Missouri, Nebraska, Oklahoma, Texas, and Wyoming. The Westward Bound Summer Tour was earlier in the summer from June 30 to July 26.
'BIG BOY' HISTORY During World War II, 25 "Big Boys" were built for the Union Pacific Railroad, per Union Pacific. READ MORE on Travel The trains were 132 feet long and weighed 1.2 million pounds.
Due to their size, when designing the trains, engineers made the frames hinged so they were able to take curves smoothly. Each train also had 24 wheels and used 56,000 lbs of coal to fuel its engine. When they were used, they often operated between Ogden, Utah, and Cheyenne, Wyoming.
Most read in Travel In December 1941, "Big Boy" No. 4014 was delivered to Union Pacific and later retired in 1961. During its 20 years of operation, it traveled 1,031,205 miles.
There are only eight surviving "Big Boys" and seven are on display across the country. They are in St. Louis, Missouri, Dallas, Texas, Omaha, Nebraska, Denver, Colorado, Scranton, Pennsylvania, Green Bay, Wisconsin, and Cheyenne, Wyoming.
"Big Boy" No. 4014 is the only one still operating and it remains the world's largest op.