By Railfan & Railroad Staff

Union Pacific 4-8-8-4 “Big Boy” 4014 – the world’s largest operating steam locomotive – will head east and south this fall as part of the “Heartland of America Tour.” The locomotive and train will depart its home base of Cheyenne, Wyo., on August 29. 

The tour announced this week will hit Arkansas, Colorado, Illinois, Iowa, Kansas, Missouri, Nebraska, Oklahoma and Texas. The eight-week tour concludes in late October. It follows a month-long tour to California set to begin at the end of this month. In total, locomotive 4014 will visit 14 states in 2024. 

Details of the tour’s route and exact timing have yet to be announced, however, display dates have been announced for Rochelle, Ill. (September 8), Houston, Tex. (October 6), and Fort Worth, Tex. (October 10-11).