Historic Big Boy Steam Locomotive to Roll Through Nevada at Month’s End

World’s largest operating steam engine on first coast-to-coast tour sparks excitement in rail fans and communities alike

Rachel Dahl
Today, 09:22 AM

Historic Big Boy Steam Locomotive to Roll Through Nevada at Month’s End

A living piece of American railroad history is headed this way.

Union Pacific’s legendary steam locomotive Big Boy No. 4014, the largest operating steam engine in the world, will travel through Nevada as part of its first-ever coast-to-coast tour beginning later this month. The journey celebrates the 250th anniversary of the United States, honoring the century-plus legacy of railroads in connecting communities and fueling economic growth.

The Big Boy, one of only eight of its type still in existence and the only one currently operational, departs its home base in Cheyenne, Wyoming, on March 29, pulling historical passenger cars from the Union Pacific Heritage Fleet. The locomotive will travel across Wyoming, Utah, Nevada and California before looping back.

Though full stop details for Lovelock and Pershing County have not yet been published, the steam train’s scheduled passage through Nevada presents a rare opportunity for residents to see one of the most iconic machines in American industrial history up close. Railfans and curious locals alike are already talking about sightings and potential viewing locations along Union Pacific’s main lines.

Public display days are scheduled during the western leg of the tour in Roseville, California (April 10 to 11) and Ogden, Utah (April 18 to 19). During those stops, the locomotive will remain stationary for fans to view and photograph, and the Experience the Union Pacific rail car, an interactive history exhibit, will be available for visitors.

Rail fans should note that most whistle stops, short official brief stops of 15 to 30 minutes where the train slows or briefly halts, are the primary way communities along the route will see Big Boy in motion. These stops are usually announced closer to the event or through Union Pacific’s locomotive tracking tools.

Big Boy No. 4014 was built in 1941 to haul heavy freight over mountain grades during World War II and was retired in the early 1960s. Restored to operation again in 2019 for the 150th anniversary of the transcontinental railroad’s completion.