The historic Big Boy train makes the first East Coast tour of the America 250
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West Chicago, Illinois – Big Boy No. Union Pacific’s 4014, the world’s largest steam locomotive, made its maiden voyage on the East Coast as part of the celebrations leading up to America’s 250th birthday.
The train arrived in Illinois this week as part of Union Pacific’s America 250 tour, a multi-state tour that will take the historic engine through Indiana, Ohio, New York and Pennsylvania before arriving in Philadelphia ahead of the Fourth of July celebrations.
Train buffs lined the tracks in Sterling, Illinois, on Tuesday to watch a train pass through one of the many slots planned for the line.
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Spectators gathered in Sterling, Illinois, to watch Big Boy No. Union Pacific’s 4014 passes during its America 250 tour on June 3, 2026. (Olivianna Calmes)
“I’ve always loved trains. It’s just history,” one visitor told Fox News.
Others crossed state lines to get a chance to see the train first hand.
“Great. Great,” said Wisconsin resident Brandon Becker.
Big Boy No. 4014 was built in 1941 to transport heavy goods in the mountains of the American West. Union Pacific says 25 Big Boy trains were originally built, but No. 4014 is the only one that works today.
The train weighs about 1.1 million pounds and stretches over 130 feet in length. It was restored to working order in 2019 after spending decades in public view.
Visitors were also able to get a closer look at the train during a public display in West Chicago on Wednesday before it continued east.
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Steam rises from Big Boy No. 4014 of Union Pacific during the closing call in Sterling, Illinois, June 2, 2026. (Olivianna Calmes)
“I took a day to see the train because I love it,” said Marcia Simler.
The railroad is part of Union Pacific’s broader effort to commemorate the nation’s upcoming 250th anniversary. According to the railroad, the America 250 tour includes more than 50 whistle stops and public demonstrations across 10 states.
Inside the cabin, crew members monitor the pressure, water and fire systems that power the large steam engine. The train continues to operate using steam technology first developed more than a century ago while drawing crowds of modern train enthusiasts at each stop.
For many visitors, the attraction is equal parts engineering and history.
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Ed Dickes, senior manager of Heritage Operations for Union Pacific Railroad, inside Union Pacific’s Big Boy No. 4014 during a sermon in Sterling, Illinois, on June 2, 2026. (Olivianna Calmes)
“It’s patriotic for me, that’s for sure,” John Bollig said.
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Union Pacific says the eastern leg of the tour is being run in partnership with Norfolk Southern and is the first time Big Boy has traveled to the East Coast.
The trip is scheduled to continue through Pennsylvania before arriving in Philadelphia, where the train will participate in events related to the nation’s centennial celebration.
