Here in Utah, we love trains. From the Heber Valley Railroad to Promontory Point, the site where the first Transcontinental Railroad was completed, there are many destinations in the state where we can admire and learn all about these remarkable machines. But coming to Utah in 2024 is one of the largest trains in the world and it’s a sight you’ll want to see.
Union Pacific’s Big Boy No. 4014 is the world’s largest steam train. It will be coming to Utah in 2024 as part of the Union Pacific Four Corners 2024 tour.
Big Boy was a locomotive for the Union Pacific Railroad in the 1940s. This locomotive weighs up to 1.1 million pounds and is at least 133 feet long.
Big Boy No. 4014 was one of 25 locomotives produced in the early 1940s. It was so large it could hold up to 56,000 pounds of coal at once. Today, only eight of these trains are still in existence and the Big Boy No. 4014 is the only one still in operation.
Here in Utah, you would typically see these large locomotives as they traveled between Ogden and Cheyenne, Wyoming. They were used on this route as they could handle the challenging mountain terrain with ease.
In 2024, you can see Big Boy No. 4014 in all of its glory as it will be making a stop in Salt Lake City on its Four Corners 2024 Tour. The tour is to celebrate this incredible train and its history, particularly during its early days. The tour is expected to reach all four corners of the Union Pacific’s 23-state system.
Dates for its visit to Salt Lake City, Utah have not yet been announced but additional stops are planned in Illinois, Texas, California, Idaho, and Oregon.
For more information on the Four Corners 2024 tour, including upcoming tour dates around the country, visit the Union Pacific Steam Schedule website.
Have you ever seen Big Boy No. 4014 in person? Are you planning on taking a look during the tour? What train-themed destinations do you enjoy in Utah? Let us know in the comments!
For a lesser-known train-themed destination in Utah, check out the Tooele Railroad Museum and Historic Park in Tooele. This museum and historic park are excellent stops on a Utah road trip. Just don’t forget the car-friendly snacks for your drive!
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