Union Pacific “Big Boy” 4014 will travel to the East Coast for the first time as part of a coast-to-coast tour marking the 250th anniversary of the United States. The eastern portion of the trip will operate over Norfolk Southern, representing a rare collaboration between the two railroads. The tour will include a special July 4 appearance in Philadelphia, along with major display events in eight cities and more than 50 whistle-stops across 10 states. Scheduled stops include first-time visits by the locomotive to Indiana, Ohio, New York, and Pennsylvania.
This marks the first time the 4-8-8-4 has operated east of Chicago. As it traverses former industrial corridors on Norfolk Southern rails, the trip brings the locomotive to regions historically tied to the nation’s railroad and manufacturing heritage. The tour resumes May 25 from Cheyenne, following the completion of its western leg, which concluded April 24 with events in Sacramento near the original starting point of the Central Pacific Railroad.
In addition to brief stops for servicing along the way, eight major public display events will be held in:
- May 30 – Omaha, Nebraska (near UP’s historic Milepost 0)
- June 3 – West Chicago, Ill.
- June 10 – Buffalo, N.Y.
- June 15-16 – Scranton, Pa.
- July 4-5 – Philadelphia, Pa.
- July 9-10 – Altoona, Pa.
- July 14 – Fostoria, Ohio
- July 19 – St. Louis, Mo.
In addition to the public display days, railfans can see this historic machine in action at over four dozen whistle-stops, generally 15- to 30- minutes long. Complete details can be found on UP.com in the official steam schedule.
As part of the tour, the Union Pacific Museum will be selling tickets for rides in vintage passenger cars pulled by Big Boy on Reading & Northern through the Poconos Mountains in Pennsylvania on June 14. Tickets can be purchased at www.UPtrainTix.org. This will be the only public passenger excursion opportunity on this tour.
During the eastern leg, No. 4014 will be accompanied by commemorative locomotives from Norfolk Southern Railway, along with several cars from the railroad’s Heritage Fleet. The tour highlights the histories of Union Pacific Railroad in the West and Norfolk Southern and its predecessor lines in the East, reflecting the broader role of railroads in the nation’s economic development. Norfolk Southern is also expected to unveil a new locomotive commemorating the 250th anniversary of the United States in the coming weeks.
Union Pacific “Big Boy” No. 4014 is a massive 4-8-8-4 articulated steam locomotive built in 1941 to haul heavy freight over the Wasatch Mountains. After retiring in 1961, it was restored by Union Pacific and returned to service in 2019, making it the world’s largest operational steam locomotive. Union Pacific and Norfolk Southern announced an $85 billion merger in July 2025 to form a coast-to-coast system linking the Atlantic and Pacific. The proposal, aimed at improving freight efficiency, is under federal review amid concerns over competition, with a revised application due April 30, 2026, and a decision expected in 2027.
