Union Pacific's Historic Big Boy to Make Springfield Stop

Rail enthusiasts and history buffs will have an opportunity to see the world's largest operating steam locomotive when Union Pacific's Big Boy No. 4014 makes a scheduled stop in Springfield on Saturday, July 18, as part of a cross-country tour commemorating America's 250th anniversary.

The locomotive is traveling west from the East Coast in partnership with Norfolk Southern Railway as part of the nationwide celebration. The trip marks the first time Big Boy has operated on eastern rail lines since it was built.

Big Boy No. 4014 is scheduled to arrive at the Springfield Amtrak Depot at 10:45 a.m. and will remain there until departing at 11:15 a.m. The stop is free to attend, and no tickets are required. While visitors will be able to view the locomotive from the outside, public access inside the engine will not be available.

Following its Springfield appearance, the locomotive will continue south to Girard, where it is expected to arrive around noon the same day. It will then travel to St. Louis, where it will be on public display from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Sunday, July 19, at St. Louis Union Station, 1820 Market St.

Built in 1941, Big Boy No. 4014 was one of 25 locomotives commissioned by Union Pacific to haul heavy freight in support of the nation's war effort during World War II. The engines primarily operated between Ogden, Utah, and Cheyenne, Wyoming, transporting heavy loads across the Wasatch Mountains.

Today, No. 4014 is the only Big Boy locomotive still in operation. The locomotive measures 133 feet in length and weighs approximately 1.2 million pounds, making it the largest operating steam locomotive in the world.

The current tour began in Pennsylvania and will conclude in Wyoming. Earlier this year, the locomotive traveled through California, including a stop at Sacramento's Central Pacific Milepost Zero, where construction of the transcontinental railroad began. On July 4, Big Boy served as the centerpiece of the America250 Block Party in Philadelphia before continuing its journey west.

Additional information about the locomotive's tour schedule and visitor information is available from Union Pacific.