Iconic Big Boy locomotive steaming to West Chicago to mark nation’s 250th
Union Pacific’s Big Boy No. 4014 is returning to West Chicago in June, and he’s bringing some friends.
The earth-shaking, 1.2-million-pound, 133-foot-long steam locomotive drew 45,000 people during a visit to the suburb in 2019.
This time, Big Boy will be accompanied by two commemorative locomotives and several historical passenger cars as the railroad marks the nation’s 250th anniversary with a coast-to-coast trip.
The locomotive will be in West Chicago between 9 a.m. and 3 p.m. June 3 for a free, public display. More details will be released later.
West Chicago Mayor Daniel Bovey said Big Boy’s reappearance “is the kind of moment that brings people together.”
“West Chicago was built by the railroad, and the ability to host Big Boy connects our story to a national celebration in a truly unforgettable way,” Bovey said in a statement.
Big Boy will hold court at the Larry Provo Union Pacific Train Center, 335 Spencer St., West Chicago, which is a short walk from the city’s Metra station. UP officials are advising visitors to take Metra to the event.
A 2024 stop in Rochelle, Illinois, attracted about 61,000 people.
Union Pacific commissioned 25 Big Boys, including No. 4014, which were delivered in 1941. Their frames were jointed to allow the unusually long engines to safely navigate curves in mountainous terrain.
No. 4014 was completed in December 1941 and taken out of service in December 1961, after logging more than 1 million miles, UP officials said. The engine was restored and went on tour in 2019.
The Big Boy locomotives earned their keep during World War II, hauling raw materials and military equipment.
Union Pacific CEO Jim Vena said the railroad is proud to share a piece of America’s history during the semiquincentennial.
“This tour celebrates our company’s rich 164-year history, our nation’s amazing story and the people who have helped build our great country and our railroad,” Vena said in a statement.
The two commemorative engines include the No. 1616 Abraham Lincoln locomotive, and No. 1776 — America 250.
Big Boy will also make some “whistle-stops,” lasting 15 to 30 minutes, at four other Illinois locations: Sterling and Rochelle on June 2; and Springfield and Girard on July 18.
Other cities on the tour include Omaha, Nebraska: Buffalo, New York; Scranton and Altoona, Pennsylvania; Philadelphia; Fostoria, Ohio; and St. Louis.
For more information, visit UP.com.