OGDEN — Union Pacific’s legendary Big Boy No. 4014 — the world’s largest operating steam locomotive — is preparing to roll through Utah as part of a coast-to-coast tour celebrating America’s 250th birthday, with public display days scheduled in Ogden this April.
The 1.2-million-pound steam engine will be on public display April 18-19 in Ogden during the western leg of its tour across four states. The event is part of a broader tribute to the role railroads played in building and unifying the nation.
Union Pacific said the tour includes 27 whistle-stops and four public display days across Wyoming, Utah, Nevada and California. In addition to its Ogden stop, the locomotive will be on display April 10-11 in Roseville, California.
Big Boy No. 4014 will depart its home base in Cheyenne, Wyoming, on March 29 and travel through communities in Wyoming before entering Utah on April 2 with stops in Morgan and Salt Lake City. It will return through the state later in the month, including another whistle-stop in Morgan on April 20.
Originally built during World War II, 25 Big Boy locomotives were designed to haul heavy freight over Utah’s Wasatch Range. While eight were preserved following retirement more than 60 years ago, No. 4014 is the only one still operating today.
Display days will offer visitors an up-close look at the historic locomotive along with the “Experience the Union Pacific” rail car, a walk-through exhibit highlighting more than a century of American railroading innovation.
As part of the Utah visit, the Union Pacific Museum will auction two cab rides aboard the locomotive on April 17, with proceeds benefiting the nonprofit museum. The auction begins March 2 and runs through March 19 at rarauctions.com/upm.
In addition to its display days, the historic locomotive will be making whistle-stops in communities along its journey. Whistle-stops are generally 15- to 30- minutes long.
Wyoming
- March 29 – Laramie
- March 29 – Medicine Bow
- March 30 – Wamsutter
- March 31 – Rock Springs
- April 1 – Green River
- April 21 – Green River
- April 23 – Point of Rocks
- April 23 – Wamsutter
- April 24 – Medicine Bow
- April 24 – Laramie
Utah
- April 2 – Morgan
- April 2 – Salt Lake City
- April 20 – Morgan
Nevada
- April 4 – Wells
- April 6 – Carlin
- April 6 – Battle Mountain
- April 7 – Gerlach
- April 14 – Lovelock
- April 15 – Carlin
- April 15 – Elko
- April 17 – Wells
- April 17 – Montello
California
- April 9 – Oroville
- April 9 – Marysville
- April 9 – Lincoln
- April 12 – Colfax
- April 12 – Truckee
Union Pacific officials are urging rail fans to prioritize safety by remaining at least 25 feet from the tracks, avoiding standing on tracks or ballast and not climbing on railroad equipment.
A real-time tracking map showing the locomotive’s location and route will be available at UPSteam.com.
The eastern leg of the coast-to-coast tour will be announced at a later date.
Union Pacific operates in 23 western states and traces its origins to 1862, when President Abraham Lincoln signed the Pacific Railway Act, creating the company and launching construction of the nation’s first transcontinental railroad.