One of the most iconic machines in American railroading history is heading back to the region.
Union Pacific Railroad announced this week that the legendary Union Pacific Big Boy 4014 will return to the mainline in spring 2026 as part of a historic, first-ever coast-to-coast steam tour celebrating 250 years of American independence and innovation.
The massive steam locomotive, recognized as the largest operating steam engine in the world, is scheduled to make a highly anticipated public stop in Roseville on April 10 and 11, 2026, bringing thousands of rail enthusiasts, history buffs and families to the region.
The first leg of the national tour begins Sunday, March 29, 2026, when Big Boy 4014 departs its home base in Cheyenne, Wyoming, traveling west toward California with a consist of historic passenger cars from Union Pacific’s Heritage Fleet. The western journey will conclude with a return to Cheyenne on Friday, April 24.
Union Pacific officials said a detailed daily schedule and route map, including additional station stops, will be released closer to the tour’s launch in spring 2026.
Built by the American Locomotive Company between 1941 and 1944, the articulated 4-8-8-4 Big Boy locomotives were designed to haul massive freight trains over steep mountain terrain, including the Wasatch Range between Ogden, Utah, and Green River, Wyoming, before later working Sherman Hill out of Cheyenne. The class was officially retired in 1961.
Of the eight surviving Big Boys, all but one are on static display at museums nationwide. No. 4014, delivered to Union Pacific in November 1941, was restored to operating condition in 2019 and has since become the centerpiece of the railroad’s public heritage program, drawing enormous crowds wherever it runs.
For the 2026 tour, Big Boy 4014 will be accompanied by two commemorative diesel locomotives, including Union Pacific No. 1776 – America250, which honors the signing of the Declaration of Independence and features the emblem of the America250 Semiquincentennial Commission, the national nonpartisan organization established by Congress to lead the anniversary celebration.
Union Pacific also confirmed that no passenger excursions will be offered on the first leg of the tour. Instead, the locomotive will operate on the mainline pulling active freight and heritage equipment as it travels across the western United States.
The Roseville stop is expected to be among the most heavily attended events of the western leg, continuing the city’s longstanding role as a major rail hub and gathering point for historic rail movements in California.
Union Pacific has said the eastern leg of the coast-to-coast tour, which will include operations over both Union Pacific and Norfolk Southern trackage, is still being finalized and will be announced later this year.
Additional details on public viewing locations, operating times and safety guidance will be released by the railroad closer to the tour’s launch.
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