CHEYENNE, Wyoming – Union Pacific has released the full schedule for Big Boy No. 4014’s 10-state “Heartland of America” tour, which begins in Cheyenne on Aug. 28 and returns there on Oct. 23.
As previously announced, public exhibitions are planned for Sunday, September 8, in Rochelle, Illinois, Sunday, October 6, in Houston, and Thursday and Friday, October 10 and 11, in Fort Worth, Texas. Viewing-only events are planned in Bryan, Texas (October 8), Kansas City (October 16), and Salina, Kansas (October 18). As with other trips, some brief “whistle stops” are planned at other locations along the route.
Unlike the earlier trip to California, there is no public outing planned for this trip, but four taxi rides will be auctioned to benefit the Union Pacific Museum Association and the UP Friend-to-Friend Network. Two will be offered on September 2 for the trip to Omaha, Nebraska, and two on September 4 for the outbound trip from Council Bluffs, Iowa. Each trip will take approximately 90 minutes. Riders must be at least 18 years old and meet the requirements listed on the bidding website. Bidding began this morning (August 12) at 10 a.m. CT and will end on August 19 at 7 p.m. CT. For more information or to bid, visit this webpage.
The Big Boy’s loop route will pass through Nebraska, Iowa, Illinois, Missouri, Arkansas, Texas, Oklahoma, Kansas (with a brief crossing into Missouri in Kansas City, Missouri) and Colorado before returning to Cheyenne. In addition to the public display dates, private events for Union Pacific employees are planned in North Platte, Nebraska, Rochelle, St. Louis, North Little Rock, Arkansas, Dallas, Houston, Fort Worth and Denver. The full schedule can be found here.
As always, UP recommends checking the Steam website for updates. All schedules and locations are subject to change, and there is no public access to the Big Boy outside of the stops listed.
