Historic Locomotive ‘Big Boy’ No. 4014 Could Travel Through Texas During Coast-to-Coast Tour

If you are a fan of trains, or just history, or maybe you just want to see something that is powerful and cool. Union Pacific is set to have a coast-to-coast tour for the historic Big Boy locomotive. The move comes after a tour back in 2024 called Heartland of America Tour.

Union Pacific Seeks to Merge With Norfolk Southern

According to WGN, Union Pacific announced earlier this week a merger application with Norfolk Southern. The merger would create what is called The Great Connection that would combine the railroad lines of both companies creating a transcontinental railroad network.

Big Boy No. 4014 Tour

Union Pacific also announced that the historic Big Boy 4014 engine would return for a tour of the nation for the 250th anniversary according to WGN.

“We will celebrate our nation’s 250th anniversary by bringing out Big Boy No. 4014 to make history on its first-ever coast-to-coast tour. I look forward to announcing the tour schedule soon, so Union Pacific and Norfolk Southern employees can bring their families to key stops on the route as a celebration of where we came from and where we are headed.”

Big Boy No. 4014 is one of 25 engines constructed during WW II to haul heavy equipment. Only eight Big Boys remain and only one still travels om tracks.

Texas is one of the states that Norfolk Southern's network goes through. So it's very possible the Big Boy will travel through Texas on its tour.

A detailed schedule will be released in the future.