DENVER (KDVR) — The world’s largest operating steam locomotive, known as Big Boy No. 4014, is coming back to Colorado — and this time, it’s bringing a friend.
Union Pacific, a transportation company, announced that the locomotive is coming to Colorado during a limited 2025 excursion. The locomotive is one of eight surviving Big Boys out of the 25 built during World War II. After it traveled over a million miles in its 20 years of service, the locomotive retired and spent years in a California railroad museum.
‘Big Boy,’ the 1.2M pound locomotive, still operates like it did in the mid-1900s
Union Pacific eventually restored it, making it the world’s largest operating steam locomotive at 132 feet long and 1.2 million pounds. After touring across the country in 2024, it’s coming back to Colorado, and this time, the railroad’s newest commemorative locomotive will be joining.
Union Pacific’s new No. 1616 Lincoln Locomotive, which Union Pacific said “honors Abraham Lincoln’s role in uniting the nation through rail and laying the foundation for America’s freight rail network,” is coming as well.
‘Big Boy,’ the million pound train passes through Colorado
The two locomotives will be making whistle stops in Greeley this summer. During these stops, the Union Pacific Railroad Museum will auction off four exclusive cab rides between Cheyenne, Wyoming and Denver.
Big Boy No. 4014 stops in Colorado
Here’s when the locomotives will be on their way into the state:
- July 17
- Cheyenne, Wyoming, departs at 10 a.m.
- Greeley, Colorado, 11:30 a.m.-12 p.m.
- July 19
- Greeley, Colorado, 8:30-8:50 a.m.
- Cheyenne, Wyoming, arrives at 10:30 a.m.
While there are only two whistle stops in Colorado this summer, Big Boy will be back on the rails in 2026 to celebrate America’s 250th anniversary…