The legendary Big Boy Engine No. 4014, the largest operating steam locomotive in the world, is set to roll through nine states, including East Texas, Arkansas, and Oklahoma, as part of its “Heartland of America” tour.
The tour begins on Wednesday, August 28, departing from Cheyenne, Wyoming. The locomotive will be on display at various locations during its eight-week journey.
On Tuesday, September 17, Big Boy will leave the Texarkana, Arkansas station at 9 a.m. and travel along the former Cotton Belt railroad line. It will pass through Mount Pleasant, Pittsburg, and Gilmer before arriving in Big Sandy at 1 p.m.
In Big Sandy, the locomotive will be on display for 45 minutes at the Pearl Street Crossing, offering visitors a chance to view and photograph the massive engine.
Big Boy, measuring 132 feet long and weighing 1.3 million pounds, was built during World War II to haul heavy freight. After traveling over a million miles, it was retired and displayed in a California museum before being restored by Union Pacific about a decade ago.
The 14-wheeled engine, with 68-inch wheels and a firebox nearly 20 feet long, can pull 3,600 tons, living up to its “Big Boy” name.
