August 8, 2021
Union Pacific Railroad’s “Big Boy” No. 4014 steams into Plaquemine, Louisiana. I got to chat with a group of railroad enthusiasts while waiting for the locomotive to arrive. They spent this summer following this historic locomotive around the country. The historic steam engine made the short trip from Addis, Louisiana. It crossed the Bayou Plaquemine Railroad Bridge. Seeing it on a bridge built in 1921 was quite something to see. Local folks, tourists, and even some Union Pacific VIPs came to see this massive steam engine. It stopped on Railroad Avenue in the center of town.
They built "Big Boy" in 1941. It operated in revenue service until 1959. The donor gave it to the Railway and Locomotive Historical Society in late 1961. Fairplex displayed it at the Rail Giants Train Museum in Pomona, California. In 2013, Union Pacific re-bought the locomotive. Union Pacific started a restoration project at their Steam Shop in Cheyenne, Wyoming. In May 2019, after almost six decades of dormancy, the locomotive known as "Big Boy" operated for the first time. Experts estimate that restoring this locomotive to its present condition will cost up to 4 million. They base this estimate on similar restorations. It ran its first excursion, double-headed with Union Pacific 844, three days later on May 4, 2019. Now, it is part of the Union Pacific's heritage fleet. It runs on excursions and hauls freight when ferried.
“Big Boy” is the world's largest steam locomotive, weighing 1.2 million pounds. The massive machine is 132 feet long and can pull up to 3,600 tons - equal to 25 freight cars! They designed the "Big Boy" to haul coal over the Wasatch Mountains. It ran between Ogden, Utah, and Green River, Wyoming. Union Pacific built 25 of these behemoths between 1941 and 1944; today, only eight remain. While the Big Boy may be best known for its size, it's also renowned for its beauty. The massive engine has brass filigree and intricate metalwork. "Big Boy" is a true work of art.
If you can witness the "Big Boy" in person, its size and power will amaze you. But even if you don't have the chance to see it up close, you can still appreciate its beauty through photos. Check out our gallery of the world's largest steam locomotive, the Union Pacific “Big Boy” No. 4014.
