By Railfan & Railroad Staff

CHEYENNE, Wyo. — Union Pacific “Big Boy” 4014 will embark on a month-long, multi-state tour starting Aug. 5, the railroad announced Monday. 

The summer tour will mark the first time since 2019 that the world’s largest steam locomotive has hit the main line. The locomotive’s 2020 tour was derailed by the COVID-19 pandemic. 

The locomotive will depart its home base in Cheyenne on Aug. 5, and head east toward Kansas City before heading south to Texas and then east to New Orleans. The locomotive will then head north to St. Louis and then west to Denver. After a stop in Denver over Labor Day Weekend, the locomotive will return home. 

While officials released a map of the tour, they did not have exact dates for when the locomotive would be in specific locations except for the following: Saturday, Aug. 14: Fort Worth, Texas; Tuesday, Aug. 17: Houston, Texas; Saturday, Aug. 21: New Orleans, Louisiana; Sunday, Aug. 29: St. Louis, Missouri; Monday, Sept. 6: Denver, Colorado. The railroad said more information would be released in the coming weeks. 

“Stay tuned to the UP Steam Club for more details, but we wanted to get the word out so you can save the dates!” the railroad wrote.