Big Boy No. 4014 — the world’s largest operating steam train — is on its way to Fort Worth.
The massive train embarked on the "Heartland of America Tour" on Aug. 28, 2024, departing from Cheyenne, Wyoming. The locomotive will travel through nine states: Arkansas, Colorado, Illinois, Iowa, Kansas, Missouri, Nebraska, Oklahoma and Texas. The tour will last eight weeks and is set to conclude in late October.
The Fort Worth stop offers the public their first opportunity to view the locomotive up close. It will be displayed at the downtown Fort Worth train station located at 275 W. Lancaster, from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Oct. 10 and from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Oct. 11. Admission is free to the public.
Big Boy No. 4014 is an impressive 132 feet long and weighs 1.2 million pounds, with a water capacity of 25,000 gallons. Not only is it the largest steam locomotive currently in operation, but it is also one of only eight surviving out of the 25 that were built during World War II, making it the sole operating locomotive among them. The train was delivered to Union Pacific in December 1941 and remained in service for 20 years until its retirement in December 1961. During that time, it traveled a total of 1,031,205 miles.
According to Union Pacific, safety should always be a priority when near railroad tracks, even when they are not active. It is essential to stay at least 25 feet away from all railroad tracks, including when using drones. Remember that railroad tracks, trestles, yards and rights-of-way are private property, so do not trespass. Never assume that tracks are abandoned or inactive; always expect a train. Big Boy will be located in a working rail environment with uneven walking surfaces that may pose challenges to accessibility.
If you can’t make it to see Big Boy No. 4014, seven non-active Big Boys are on public display in various cities across the country. You can find them in Dallas, Texas; St. Louis, Missouri; Omaha, Nebraska; Denver, Colorado; Scranton, Pennsylvania; Green Bay, Wisconsin; and Cheyenne, Wyoming.
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