A historic Union Pacific locomotive pulls a small convoy from Wyoming across the Mississippi River to Philadelphia for America’s birthday party.
‘Big Boy’ train begins its journey across the Mississippi River to U.S. 250
The world’s largest steam locomotive in operation has begun a multi-month tour around the eastern United States to commemorate the nation’s 250th anniversary.
CHEYENNE, Wyo. – Under wide blue skies, the world’s largest operating steam locomotive begins its journey east toward Philadelphia and the nation’s 250th anniversary celebration.
Union Pacific’s “Big Boy” is heading east of the Mississippi River with a small convoy of vehicles in tow. It’s a rare journey to the eastern United States for a locomotive that was born to haul heavy loads across the Continental Divide between Wyoming and Utah. Prior to the sound of the iconic train whistle, the 133-foot-long locomotive will stop at multiple public locations during its run to coincide with the July 4th anniversary celebration.
“Steam locomotives are great machines from a bygone era,” said Ed Dickens, a locomotive engineer and Union Pacific’s senior manager of steam operations. “You don’t have to be a rail fan to spark your imagination.”
Trains stop or appear in cities including Nebraska, Iowa, Illinois, West Chicago, Indiana, Ohio, Pennsylvania, and upstate New York before turning south to Philadelphia. Heading back west, we plan to make stops in St. Louis and Kansas City before returning to Cheyenne in late July. Union Pacific recommends checking the Big Boy website for specific dates and times and using the “Steam Tracker” to track the train’s historic journey.
Big Boy has already traveled west to California, via Utah and Nevada, this year as part of the 250th anniversary. Union Pacific officials said they expect more than 1 million people to see the train in person by the time it returns to the Cheyenne depot. Those watching the train depart from Cheyenne on May 25 came from as far as New Jersey, along with enthusiasts from North Dakota, Colorado and Nebraska.
President Abraham Lincoln created the Union Pacific Railroad during the Civil War, using its tracks to connect the then-new state of California to other states in the Union. The Big Boy is a type of heavy locomotive built to transport munitions from coast to coast during World War II, and is the last remaining locomotive in operation. Keeping the train, officially known as 4014, running was a labor of love for Dickens and his crew.
Union Pacific purchased 21 Big Boy locomotives, the first of which was delivered in 1941. Unlike modern locomotives, which use diesel engines to drive electric motors, the Big Boy class was originally powered by burned coal, which heated water to create steam that moved pistons connected to the wheels. Today, the last remaining Big Boy has been converted to burn fuel oil, but the railroad also uses waste engine oil from conventional locomotives.
The train covered more than 1 million miles during its service life and was retired in 1961. Union Pacific bought the train back from the museum, and Dickens and his crew spent several years restoring it, often handcrafting replacement parts that were no longer available. Now, the train is unique, so it can pull special cars full of machine tools like drill presses and lathes, allowing workers to make necessary repairs along the way. It also tows a dormitory car for the crew to sleep in.
Mr Dickens asked people coming to watch the eastbound train to stay at least seven meters back for safety. As you get closer, the enormous heat emanating from the steam boiler is a stark reminder of just how powerful the locomotive is.
“When (people) come, they’re going to hear that whistle, and they’re probably going to hear that whistle long before they see it. They’re going to feel the rumbling, they’re going to feel the heat coming off this huge machine. This locomotive doesn’t disappoint,” he said. “It runs like a Swiss watch.”
