From the Alco erecting shop in 1941 to a coast-to-coast tour in 2026, here are the milestones in the life of Big Boy 4014.
Timeline
| When | What happened |
|---|---|
| November 1941 | No. 4014 is built by ALCO in Schenectady, New York, part of the first group of Big Boys (Nos. 4000 to 4019). |
| 1944 | The second group, Nos. 4020 to 4024, is built, completing the order of 25. |
| November 30, 1958 | All Big Boys are placed in storage, according to SteamLocomotive.com. |
| July 6, 1959 | 4014 is put back in service for the final season. |
| July 20-21, 1959 | 4014 leaves Laramie at 10:15 PM on its last revenue trip over Sherman Hill and arrives in Cheyenne at 1:50 AM on July 21. That is the last revenue run of a Big Boy, per RailGiants. |
| December 1961 | 4014 is retired after 1,031,205 miles. |
| January 8, 1962 | After an 11-day trip from Cheyenne, it arrives at RailGiants Train Museum at the Los Angeles County Fairgrounds in Pomona, California, donated to the Southern California Chapter of the Railway & Locomotive Historical Society. |
| July 23, 2013 | Union Pacific announces it has reacquired 4014 to restore it. |
| January 26, 2014 | 4014 leaves the Fairgrounds and reaches Union Pacific's West Colton facility in Bloomington, California, the same day. |
| April 28 - May 8, 2014 | The 1,250-mile move to Cheyenne, Wyoming, across four states. |
| August 2016 | Restoration begins in earnest after the overhaul of Union Pacific's No. 844, per American-Rails. |
| May 1-2, 2019 | 4014 leaves the Cheyenne roundhouse under its own power, then makes a test run to Greeley, Colorado. |
| May 4, 2019 | Christened in Cheyenne. It runs to Ogden, Utah, for the 150th anniversary of the Golden Spike (May 4 to 8). |
| 2019 | Over a million people turn out to see the locomotive during its first season, according to American-Rails. |
| 2023 | Home Run Express to the NCAA Men's College World Series in Omaha. |
| 2024 | Westward Bound Tour (June 30 to July 26) to Roseville, California, and the Heartland of America Tour (Aug. 28 to Oct. 23) through 10 states. |
| 2026 | Coast-to-Coast Tour for America's 250th birthday, March 29 to July 29, ending in Cheyenne after 7,442 miles. |
Going Deeper
- How the locomotive came back to life: Big Boy Restoration History
- Every tour in detail: Big Boy 4014 Tour History
- How it compares with its sister engine: 4014 vs 4012: Two Big Boys, Two Very Different Lives
- The numbers: Big Boy 4014 Specifications Explained
Celebrate the milestone with the Big Boy Coast to Coast Tour Commemorative Collection.
Shop Big Boy Gear
Love the engine? Wear it. Browse the Big Boy Coast to Coast Tour Commemorative Collection, the full Big Boy 4014 Shirts & Merch collection, or more railfan gear for the railroad lovers in your life. Every design is made by Broken Knuckle Apparel, a veteran-owned small business.
Keep Reading in the Big Boy 4014 Knowledge Hub
- Big Boy Restoration History
- Big Boy 4014 Tour History
- 4014 vs 4012: Two Big Boys, Two Very Different Lives
- Where Big Boy Locomotives Are Today
Start with the complete guide to Big Boy 4014 for the full overview.