The UP4014 is one of 25 masterpieces of the engine ever built by man and one of only eight giant engines still in existence.
In fact, the UP4014 is the only working steam engine in the world. For the first time in 57 years, this huge engine is back in service.
With a weight of nearly 600 tons, the UP4014 is not only large but also very strong. When new, this engine produces 6,300 horsepower using only fire and boiled water.
Dubbed the Big Boy , the UP4014 was among 25 giant engines built specifically for Union Pacific by the American Locomotive Company (Alco) between 1941-1944. All run on coal taken from the Wyoming mine.
A Big Boy can pull a 4,040-ton train at 96km/h as it crosses the Wasatch Range toward the Union Pacific’s main shipping lane between Ogden, Utah, and Cheyenne.
The UP4014 engine was operated by Union Pacific for 20 years, from December 1941 to December 1961. Union Pacific later donated this engine to the railroad history museum in Southern California.
For the past 57 years, UP4014 has been located at this museum but is quite well preserved. As a result, engineers can easily get it back up and running without any major problems.
UP4014 will return on a five-day route from Cheyenne (Wyoming) to Ogden (Utah) to celebrate the 150th anniversary of the founding of the American railroad.