DENVER — The world's largest steam engine will be making whistle stops across the United States during two tours planned for summer and fall.
Westward Bound summer tour
Union Pacific’s famed Big Boy No. 4014 will begin its first tour, the summer "Westward Bound Tour," beginning Sunday, June 30.
Big Boy will leave its home base in Cheyenne on June 30 and will travel across five states, Wyoming, Utah, Nevada, California and Idaho, during July.
The summer tour will make whistle stops across the West before arriving in Roseville, California, on July 11. The tour will then travel back east, returning to Cheyenne on Friday, July 26.
The Big Boy locomotive will have extended display hours in Roseville and Ogden, Utah, on the summer tour.
Heartland of America fall tour
Union Pacific said another Big Boy tour is planned for this fall.
The "Heartland of America Tour" begins Thursday, Aug. 29, and will travel from Cheyenne to nine states: Colorado, Arkansas, Illinois, Iowa, Kansas, Missouri, Nebraska, Oklahoma and Texas. The eight-week tour will end in late October.
The fall tour will make whistle stops in Colorado, but will not be stopping for a longer display visit. Union Pacific said additional details will be announced closer to the autumn tour.
In all, Big Boy No. 4014 will visit 14 states in 2024, including five states during this summer's "Westward Bound" tour from Wyoming to California.
The massive Big Boy steam locomotive was built in the 1940s to conquer mountains while carrying equipment during World War II. The tour is to honor Union Pacific’s 160th anniversary and the historical role railroads serve in America.
Big Boy No. 4014 was delivered to Union Pacific in December of 1941, built to cross the Wasatch Mountain Range east of Ogden, Utah. Union Pacific said No. 4014 was retired in 1961 after traveling a little over a million miles, reacquired by Union Pacific in 2013 and restored to service in 2019.
The Cheyenne-based Big Boy No. 4014 was last in Denver in July 2022 at Denver's Union Station.
Twenty-five Big Boy locomotives were built for Union Pacific, No. 4014 is the world’s only functioning Big Boy.
Eight Big Boys remain throughout the United States. Big Boy No. 4005 is on display at the Forney Museum of Transportation in Denver. Big Boy No. 4004 is on display at Holliday Park in Cheyenne.
> Top stories curated daily just for you! Sign up for the 9NEWSLETTER to get can’t-miss stories, Next and Broncos content, weather and more delivered right to your inbox.
SUGGESTED VIDEOS: Colorado Guide
MORE WAYS TO GET 9NEWS
Subscribe to our daily 9NEWSLETTER
Download the 9NEWS APP
iTunes: http://on9news.tv/itunes
Google Play: http://on9news.tv/1lWnC5n
HOW TO ADD THE 9NEWS APP TO YOUR STREAMING DEVICE
ROKU: add the channel from the ROKU store or by searching for KUSA.
For both Apple TV and Fire TV, search for "9news" to find the free app to add to your account. Another option for Fire TV is to have the app delivered directly to your Fire TV through Amazon.