Big Boy No. 4014 is the world’s largest operating steam locomotive. Of the eight remaining Big Boys in existence today, No. 4014 is the only one still in operation.
Twenty-five Big Boys were commissioned exclusively for Union Pacific Railroad, the first of which was delivered in 1941. These massive locomotives were built to haul heavy equipment in support of the war effort, normally operating between Ogden, Utah, and Cheyenne, Wyoming. The Big Boys are 133 feet long and weigh 1.2 million pounds.
Due to their great length, the frames of the Big Boys are “hinged,” or articulated, to allow them to negotiate curves. They have a 4-8-8-4 wheel arrangement, which means they have four wheels on the leading set of “pilot” wheels to guide the engine; eight drivers on the first engine; another set of eight drivers on the second engine; and four wheels trailing that support the rear of the locomotive.
No. 4014 was retired in Dec. 1961 after traveling 1,031,205 miles. Union Pacific reacquired it from the RailGiants Train Museum in Pomona, California, in 2013 and relocated it back to Cheyenne, Wyoming, for a multi-year restoration. It returned to service in May 2019 to celebrate the 150th Anniversary of the Transcontinental Railroad's Completion.
I saw this with my dad (RIP) when I was (much) younger. He had Rail Enthusiast Disease..The biggest guy at any train club you visit will be affectionately called Big Boy or "4014". Shout out EBMRC...
I saw this with my dad (RIP) when I was (much) younger. He had Rail Enthusiast Disease..The biggest guy at any train club you visit will be affectionately called Big Boy or "4014". Shout out EBMRC and SLHRS.
I got to see it last year while on tour. It is so unbelievably cool. A technical marvel too! Its hard to put into perspective just how big these monstrous locos are until you're standing next to...
I got to see it last year while on tour. It is so unbelievably cool. A technical marvel too! Its hard to put into perspective just how big these monstrous locos are until you're standing next to one. Definitely worth checking out if you are at all interested. They seem to do annual tours along UP lines all over the country.
This came to Philly and I’m really upset I didn’t see it. It came before the July 4th weekend and it was around 100 degrees Fahrenheit every day. It was unsafe to go and even up in Reading there...
This came to Philly and I’m really upset I didn’t see it. It came before the July 4th weekend and it was around 100 degrees Fahrenheit every day. It was unsafe to go and even up in Reading there was a mass casualty event due to the heat when people gathered to see it up there.
From the article:
I saw this with my dad (RIP) when I was (much) younger. He had Rail Enthusiast Disease..The biggest guy at any train club you visit will be affectionately called Big Boy or "4014". Shout out EBMRC and SLHRS.
I got to see it last year while on tour. It is so unbelievably cool. A technical marvel too! Its hard to put into perspective just how big these monstrous locos are until you're standing next to one. Definitely worth checking out if you are at all interested. They seem to do annual tours along UP lines all over the country.
This came to Philly and I’m really upset I didn’t see it. It came before the July 4th weekend and it was around 100 degrees Fahrenheit every day. It was unsafe to go and even up in Reading there was a mass casualty event due to the heat when people gathered to see it up there.
I would have liked to see this train in person.