Huge 'Big Boy' train makes a rare trip East for America 250
USA Today • • nation
Key Points:
- The world's largest steam train, Big Boy No. 4014, is embarking on a 10-state tour starting in late May to celebrate America's 250th birthday, crossing the Mississippi River eastward for the first time since 1941.
- Built in 1941 and originally coal-powered, Big Boy was converted to burn oil in the 1960s and is the last operational locomotive of its kind, having hauled over 1 million miles of wartime freight across Wyoming and Utah.
- Union Pacific Railroad, founded by President Abraham Lincoln in 1862, is showcasing Big Boy as part of its 164-year history and the nation’s story, with the train drawing large crowds of rail enthusiasts during its journey.
- The locomotive is 133 feet long, weighs 1.2 million pounds, and has previously toured the western U.S., including California; its upcoming eastern trip includes multiple public stops and real-time tracking via the Union Pacific website.
