MORAN — Big Boy No. 4014, the famed Union Pacific steam locomotive built in the 1940s to conquer mountains while carrying equipment during World War II, will be in Moran Wednesday as part of its 10-state tour.
The train, which departed from Cheyenne, Wyo., Thursday, is currently in Kansas City, Mo. The train will pass through Paola before arriving at Moran at about 1:45 p.m., and will remain in town for about 45 minutes before heading on to Parsons for the evening. Big Boy will then parade through Oklahoma Thursday and Friday, eventually making its way back to Cheyenne Sept. 7.
Spectators are encouraged to pay a visit when the train stops in Moran, near the intersection of Chestnut and Randolph streets.
THIS is the first time Big Boy has gone on tour since its post-restoration debut in 2019 to celebrate the 150th anniversary of the transcontinental railroad’s completion.
Train enthusiasts of all ages will get a chance to hear, smell and see the train when it passes through their town. Depending on the schedule, Big Boy will be in town for about 45 minutes for each whistle stop. This will give participants plenty of time to see or talk to the steam team, as well as take a “selfie” with the world’s largest steam locomotive, one of 25 of its kind built and the only one operating today.
Fans can share their photos on Facebook, Instagram or Twitter and use the #BigBoy2021 hash tag for a chance to win a Big Boy T-shirt. Fifty winners will be selected throughout the tour. Union Pacific reminds all participants to be safe and stay 25 feet back from the tracks when taking a picture. (Big Boy is so big that putting a little distance between you and this mighty locomotive makes for a better photo.)
Big Boy No. 4014 was delivered to Union Pacific in December of 1941. This powerful machine was built to cross the Wasatch Mountain Range east of Ogden, Utah. It was retired in 1961 after traveling a little over a million miles, reacquired by Union Pacific in 2013 and restored to service in 2019.
