Union Pacific’s historic Big Boy No. 4014 steam locomotive is set to travel across Nebraska later this month as part of a nationwide tour marking America’s 250th anniversary, with multiple whistle-stops across the state and several high-profile viewing opportunities for the public.
The world’s largest operating steam locomotive launched its coast-to-coast journey April 10 from Sacramento, California, near Milepost 0 — the site where construction of the first transcontinental railroad began in 1863. The tour, which spans 14 states, is designed to highlight the role railroads have played in shaping the nation’s economy and connecting communities. Union Pacific, which constructed the eastern portion of the transcontinental line, held its own groundbreaking in Omaha about a year after construction began in California. The locomotive’s journey will culminate with a Fourth of July stop in Philadelphia before wrapping up in Cheyenne, Wyoming, on July 29.
The tour reflects the vital role railroads have played in helping to shape and build America, by connecting factories, ports and communities.
Nebraska Whistle-stops
• May 25 – Kimball, 1-1:30 p.m. MDT, E. 1st and S. Walnut St.
• May 26 – Ogallala, 12-12:30 p.m. MDT, S. Spruce Street Crossing
• May 28 – Gothenburg, 10:30-11 a.m. CDT, Lake Avenue Crossing
• May 28 – Overton, 12-12:30 p.m. CDT, Wayside Park near C. St and Highway 30
• May 28 – Kearney, 1:15-1:30 p.m. CDT, Central Avenue Crossing
• May 28 – Grand Island, 3:15-4 p.m. CDT, Walnut Street Crossing
• May 29 – Columbus, 11:15-11:45 p.m. CDT, 26th Avenue Crossing
In addition to the official whistle-stops, North Platte will host a unique viewing opportunity May 27 at the Golden Spike Tower, overlooking Bailey Yard — the world’s largest classification rail yard. While not an official stop on the tour schedule, Big Boy will pass through the area, and visitors can view the locomotive from the tower’s seventh and eighth floors between 10 a.m. and 1 p.m. Admission is required for that experience.
Union Pacific officials say the tour is intended to celebrate both the upcoming national milestone and the enduring legacy of railroads in the United States. In a statement, CEO Jim Vena said the transcontinental railroad was a pivotal moment that united east and west and laid the foundation for today’s freight rail system.
The original transcontinental railroad was completed in 1869 at Promontory Summit, Utah, a project that required more than 20,000 workers over six years. Its completion revolutionized travel and commerce, shrinking a cross-country journey from months by wagon to less than a week by rail.
Big Boy No. 4014 itself stands as a symbol of that industrial achievement. Built during the steam era to haul heavy freight across the West, it remains the largest operating steam locomotive in the world and a major draw for railfans nationwide. Its appearance in North Platte carries added significance, given the city’s deep ties to Union Pacific operations and its role as home to Bailey Yard.
