LITTLE ROCK, Ark. — Union Pacific's Big Boy No. 4014, the world’s largest operating steam locomotive, is returning to Arkansas as part of the "Heartland of America Tour," which starts on Aug. 29 and ends in late October.
It's unclear when Big Boy No. 4014 will travel through the Natural State as the route details haven't been made public. Still, Union Pacific said the eight-week tour would start in Cheyenne, Wyo., and travel across nine additional states: Arkansas, Colorado, Illinois, Iowa, Kansas, Missouri, Nebraska, Oklahoma and Texas.
Twenty-five Big Boy locomotives were built for Union Pacific in 1941 to "conquer mountains" between Cheyenne, Wyo. and Ogden, Utah. According to Union Pacific, No. 4014 is the only one still operating.
In November 2019, No. 4014, the only operating Big Boy of the eight still in existence, traveled through Prescott, Gurdon, Arkadelphia, Malvern, and Little Rock before parking overnight in North Little Rock, where it was on display for Arkasans to see at Union Pacific's headquarters.
Click here for more information on Union Pacific's Big Boy No. 4014 and scheduled tours.
