Historic Big Boy steam locomotive draws crowds as America 250 tour heads east

WEST CHICAGO, Illinois – Union Pacific's Big Boy No. 4014, the world's largest operating steam locomotive, is making its archetypal circuit of the East Coast arsenic portion of celebrations starring up to America's 250th birthday.

The locomotive arrived successful Illinois this week arsenic portion of Union Pacific's America 250 tour, a multi-state travel that volition instrumentality the historical motor done Indiana, Ohio, New York and Pennsylvania earlier arriving successful Philadelphia up of Fourth of July celebrations.

Rail enthusiasts lined the tracks successful Sterling, Illinois, connected Tuesday to ticker the locomotive walk done during 1 of galore whistle-stops planned on the route.

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Spectators stitchery successful Sterling, Illinois, to ticker Union Pacific's Big Boy No. 4014 walk done during its America 250 circuit connected June 3, 2026. (Olivianna Calmes )

"I've ever loved trains. It's conscionable the past of it," 1 visitant told Fox News.

Others traveled crossed authorities lines for the accidental to spot the locomotive successful person.

"It's huge. It's beautiful," said Wisconsin nonmigratory Brandon Becker.

Big Boy No. 4014 was built successful 1941 to haul dense freight done the mountains of the American West. Union Pacific says 25 Big Boy locomotives were primitively built, but No. 4014 is the lone 1 operating today.

The locomotive weighs astir 1.1 cardinal pounds and stretches much than 130 feet long. It was restored to operating information successful 2019 aft spending decades connected nationalist display.

Visitors were besides capable to get an up-close look astatine the locomotive during a nationalist show lawsuit successful West Chicago connected Wednesday earlier it continued east.

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Steam rises from Union Pacific's Big Boy No. 4014 during a whistle-stop successful Sterling, Illinois, June 2, 2026. (Olivianna Calmes)

"I took the time disconnected conscionable to spot the bid due to the fact that I conscionable emotion it," Marcia Simler said.

The locomotive's way is portion of Union Pacific's broader effort to commemorate the nation's upcoming 250th anniversary. According to the railroad, the America 250 circuit includes much than 50 whistle stops and nationalist show events crossed 10 states.

Inside the cab, unit members show pressure, h2o and occurrence systems that powerfulness the monolithic steam engine. The locomotive continues to run utilizing steam exertion archetypal developed much than a period agone portion drafting crowds of modern-day obstruction enthusiasts astatine each stop.

For galore visitors, the attraction is adjacent parts engineering and history.

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Ed Dickes, elder manager of Heritage Operations for Union Pacific Railroad, wrong the cab of Union Pacific's Big Boy No. 4014 during a whistle-stop successful Sterling, Illinois, connected June 2, 2026. (Olivianna Calmes)

"Stirring patriotic feelings successful me, that's for sure," John Bollig said.

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Union Pacific says the eastbound limb of the circuit is being conducted successful concern with Norfolk Southern and marks the archetypal clip Big Boy has traveled to the East Coast.

The circuit is scheduled to proceed done Pennsylvania earlier arriving successful Philadelphia, wherever the locomotive volition enactment successful events tied to the nation's semiquincentennial celebration.