GREELEY, Colo. — The world's largest operating steam locomotive — Union Pacific Railroad's Big Boy No. 4014 — is scheduled to make two stops in Colorado during a limited 2025 tour.
It will leave Cheyenne, Wyoming at 10 a.m. on Thursday, July 17 and arrive in Greeley just an hour and a half later, where it will make a 30-minute public whistle stop from 11:30 a.m. to 12:01 p.m.
The locomotive then heads to Denver, where Union Pacific says there will be no public access "for safety and security concerns."
On July 19, Big Boy No. 4014 makes its return trip to Cheyenne, making another public whistle stop between 8:20 and 8:50 a.m.
While public access is limited this year, the Union Pacific website teases a "return to the rails in a big way in 2026" in honor of America's 250th anniversary.
This year, Big Boy No. 4014 will travel with Union Pacific's newest commemorative locomotive — No. 1616 Lincoln Locomotive. The Union Pacific Railroad Museum said the No. 1616 Lincoln Locomotive honors Pres. Abraham Lincoln's role in laying the groundwork for the country's railroad network.
Before Big Boy No. 4014's arrival, the Union Pacific Railroad Museum said in June, it will auction off four rides in the cab of the colossal locomotive, traveling between Cheyenne and Denver. All of the money brought in by the auction will go back to the museum.
All other enthusiasts looking to get a glimpse of the massive train in July must remain 25 feet back from the tracks at all times, according to Union Pacific safety protocols.
While this year's Big Boy No. 4014's trips are limited, the museum said it will make up for it in 2026 with the 250th anniversary of the founding of the United States. For a map of where the locomotive will travel, click here. For more details on its schedule, click here.
Last October, the one-million-pound steam locomotive made a stop in Denver as part of a nine-state excursion.
SMD Photography shared this picture with Denver7’s Discover Colorado | Through Your Photos group on Facebook of Big Boy No. 4014 as it was wrapping up its 2024 Colorado visit and heading back to Cheyenne.
In 2022, the locomotive also made the trip from Cheyenne to Denver to honor Union Pacific's 160th anniversary.
Carol Havrda posted this snapshot of Big Boy No. 4014 at Union Station that year on Denver7’s Discover Colorado | Through Your Photos Facebook group.
The story of Big Boy No. 4014 dates back to World War II when 25 of the massive locomotives were built for Union Pacific. They were all 132 feet long and weigh roughly 1.2 million pounds. Eight were preserved, but No. 4014 is the only one remaining that's still functioning.
Big Boy No. 4014 traveled more than one million miles before it was retired in December 1961 after 20 years in service, beginning in December 1941. The behemoth returned to service in May 2019 after a multi-year restoration process.
Jamie Hall Definitive Imaging shared this photo of it in 2019 on Denver7’s Discover Colorado Facebook group.
Prior coverage:
- Watch: Big Boy No. 4014, the massive steam locomotive, stops in Denver
- Union Pacific's iconic Big Boy No. 4014 to make two Colorado stops
- Big Boy No. 4014 will travel to Denver on Thursday
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