Union Pacific’s historic “Big Boy” No. 4014 rolls through East Texas | Community

TEXARKANA, Arkansas – The legendary steam locomotive Big Boy Engine No. 4014 will soon roll through nine states, including East Texas, Arkansas and Oklahoma.

The historic train is the world’s largest operational steam locomotive and will begin its eight-week tour of nine states in the American heartland on August 28 in Cheyenne, Wyoming, and will be on display at certain locations along the way.

On September 17, Big Boy will depart the station in Texarkana, Arkansas at 9 a.m. and follow the former Cotton Belt railroad line, passing through Mount Pleasant, Pittsburg and Gilmer, arriving in Big Sandy at 1 p.m.

The locomotive will be on display at the Pearl Street Crossing for approximately 45 minutes, during which time it will be available for photos and visitors will be able to admire its machinery and its immensity.

The “Big Boy”, which is 40 meters long and weighs 600 kilograms, is known to attract crowds of onlookers.

It was built at the beginning of the Second World War as a class of heavy-duty locomotives for pulling heavy freight trains.

After traveling over a million miles, it was decommissioned and sat in a California museum for years.

Later, about 10 years ago, it was acquired again by Union Pacific and, after a lengthy renovation, is now a traveling museum on very large wheels.

The 14-wheeled locomotive has 68-inch diameter wheels and a firebox about 235 inches long and 96 inches wide. It can pull 3,600 tons, earning it its name “Big Boy”.