4-8-8-4 Articulated Steam Locomotive
2026 pricing - all options
option 1
Departure Date - mar 28
Return Date - apr 3
$2,850 - Double Room Occupancy
$600 - Single Room Supplement
Final Payment Due By -
full amount due at time of booking
Tour Includes:
*Fully escorted
*6 Nights Lodging
*11 Meals
option 2
Departure Date - apr 3
Return Date - apr 8
$2,400 - Double Room Occupancy
$500 - Single Room Supplement
Final Payment Due By -
full amount due at time of booking
Tour Includes:
*Fully escorted
*5 Nights Lodging
*9 Meals
option 3
Departure Date - apr 3
Return Date - apr 10
$3,200 - Double Room Occupancy
$700 - Single Room Supplement
Final Payment Due By -
full amount due at time of booking
Tour Includes:
*Fully escorted
*7 Nights Lodging
*13 Meals
option 4
Departure Date - apr 11
Return Date - apr 18
$3,200 - Double Room Occupancy
$700 - Single Room Supplement
Final Payment Due By -
full amount due at time of booking
Tour Includes:
*Fully escorted
*7 Nights Lodging
*13 Meals
option 5
Departure Date - apr 19
Return Date - apr 25
$2,850 - Double Room Occupancy
$600 - Single Room Supplement
Final Payment Due By -
full amount due at time of booking
Tour Includes:
*Fully escorted
*6 Nights Lodging
*11 Meals
Union Pacific Big Boy 4014 Crossing The Vast Open Spaces Of Wyoming With A Solid
Freight Train Of Refers Headed To Market
Union Pacific will join the nation in celebrating 250 years of American independence and innovation this year with its first-ever coast-to-coast steam tour led by the legendary Big Boy No. 4014. The first leg of the tour starts Sunday, March 29, 2026 with the Big Boy and several historical passenger cars from Union Pacific's Heritage Fleet traveling west to California from Cheyenne, Wyoming, the steam locomotive's home base. The first leg of the tour ends Friday, April 24, in Cheyenne.
There will NOT be any passenger excursions offered to the public on the Western leg of the tour to California. Big Boy No. 4014, the world's largest operating steam locomotive, will be joined by two commemorative locomotives, including the railroad's newest locomotive: No. 1776 – America250. This new commemorative locomotive pays tribute to the signing of the Declaration of Independence and the founding of this nation. The locomotive will feature the emblem of the America250 Semiquincentennial Commission, the national nonpartisan organization established by Congress to lead the nation's 250th anniversary.For the first time, the Big Boy will operate from ocean to ocean running over the Union Pacific and Norfolk Southern Railroads.
The Union Pacific Big Boy is an articulated 4-8-8-4 steam locomotive built by Alco between 1941 and 1944 to haul long heavy freight trains over the Wasatch Range between Ogden, Utah and Green River, Wyoming. In later years they worked Sherman Hill out of Cheyenne. The Big Boy is the largest steam locomotive in the world and was not officially retired until 1961.
Today, eight Big Boys survive, with all except one on static display at museums across the United States. No. 4014 was delivered to Union Pacific in November 1941 and has now been put back into operation by Union Pacific in 2019 and is used to tour the entire UP system as a public relations tool. Union Pacific has announced that the last operating Big Boy will again operate on the mainline during the summer of 2026 in celebration of America 250.
Big Boy 4014 Pulling A Manifest Freight Train Across Wyoming
Railroad photographic enthusiasts from all over the world will have the opportunity to enjoy the excitement of experiencing the largest steam locomotive in the world operate on the mainline pulling a train at speed! This action packed experience will give you fond memories for many years to come.
Keep in mind just knowing how to drive on the highways and navigate through the many towns along the route while following the Big Boy is important. If you are not from the USA just getting accustom to driving in this country can be challenging. Why take the chance, book with us and enjoy the maximum exposure to the Big Boy for your money. Our guides know what speed the train will be traveling and where it will stop for water and service. That is the advantage of having local guide drivers that are retired from the railroad and know not only the local roads but the railroad routes too.
When You Catch The Union Pacific Police
Taking Photos Of The Big Boy Then You
Know You Are Not Going To Get In
Trouble - next photo
The Big Boy Brings Out All Types Of Railfans From
Around The World - next photo
The Big Boy Travels Through The Wide Open American West
The Photos Below Are Of Recent Big Boy Excursions In The West - next 14 photos
Day 1 Saturday March 28:
Arrive in Denver, Colorado either by plane or train. Met and transferred to Cheyenne, Wyoming and hotel check-in.
Day 2 Sunday March 29:
Trackside following the Big Boy Cheyenne to Rawlins, Wyoming.
Day 3 Monday March 30:
Trackside following the Big Boy Rawlins to Rock Springs, Wyoming.
Day 4 Tuesday March 31:
The Big Boy will layover in Rock Springs, Wyoming today. Full day trackside along the Union Pacific mainline. Over 40 trains per day run over this section of the Union Pacific Railroad.
Day 5 Wednesday April 1:
Trackside following the Big Boy Rock Springs to Evanston, Wyoming.
Day 6 Thursday April 2:
Trackside following the Big Boy Evanston, Wyoming to Salt Lake City, Utah.
Day 7 Friday April 3:
End of tour transferred to the airport or train station.
Day 1 Friday April 3:
Arrive Salt Lake City, Utah. Met at the airport or train station and transferred to the hotel.
Day 2 Saturday April 4:
Trackside following the Big Boy Salt Lake City, Utah to Elko, Nevada. The Big Boy will travel over the former Western Pacific Railroad via Wendover, Utah.
Day 3 Sunday April 5:
The Big Boy lays over in Elko, Nevada. We spend the day trackside along the Union Pacific Railroad shooting freight trains.
Day 4 Monday April 6:
Trackside following the Big Boy Elko to Winnemucca, Nevada. Overnight lodging in Reno, Nevada.
Day 5 Tuesday April 7:
Trackside following the Big Boy Sand Pass, Nevada to Portola, California over the former Western Pacific mainline. Hotel lodging in Reno, Nevada.
Day 6 Wednesday April 8:
End of tour transferred to the airport or train station in Reno, Nevada.
Day 1 Friday April 3:
Arrive Salt Lake City, Utah. Met at the airport or train station and transferred to the hotel.
Day 2 Saturday April 4:
Trackside following the Big Boy Salt Lake City, Utah to Elko, Nevada. The Big Boy will travel over the former Western Pacific Railroad via Wendover, Utah.
Day 3 Sunday April 5:
The Big Boy laysover in Elko, Nevada We spend the day trackside along the Union Pacific Railroad shooting freight trains.
Day 4 Monday April 6:
Trackside following the Big Boy Elko to Winnemucca, Nevada. Lodging in Reno, Nevada.
Day 5 Tuesday April 7:
Trackside following the Big Boy Sand Pass, Nevada to Portola, California.
Day 6 Wednesday April 8:
The Big Boy laysover in Portola, California. Trackside in the Feather River Canyon on the Union Pacific & BNSF Railroads including the famous Keddie Wye Bridge.
Day 7 Thursday April 9:
Trackside following the Big Boy Portola to Roseville, California through the Feather River Canyon. Lodging in Sacramento, California.
Day 8 Friday April 10:
End of tour in Sacramento, California. Transferred to the airport or train station.
Day 1 Saturday April 11:
Arrival in Sacramento, California. Met at the airport or train station and transferred to the hotel.
Day 2 Sunday April 12:
Trackside following the Big Boy Roseville, California to Sparks, Nevada running over Donner Pass in the High Sierra Mountains.
Day 3 Monday April 13:
The Big Boy laysover in Sparks, Nevada. Trackside along the Union Pacific over Donner Pass shooting freight trains.
Day 4 Tuesday April 14:
Trackside following the Big Boy Sparks to Winnemucca, Nevada.
Day 5 Wednesday April 15:
Trackside following the Big Boy Winnemucca to Elko, Nevada.
Day 6 Thursday April 16:
The Big Boy laysover in Elko, Nevada. Trackside along the Union Pacific mainline shooting freight trains.
Day 7 Friday April 17:
Trackside following the Big Boy Elko, Nevada to Odgen, Utah, Running via the former Southern Pacific Railroad over the Great Salt Lake on the Lucin Cutoff.
Day 8 Saturday April 18:
End of tour in Salt Lake City, Utah. Transferred to the airport or train station.
Day 1 Sunday April 19:
Arrival in Salt Lake City, Utah. Met at the airport or train station and transferred to the hotel.
Day 2 Monday April 20:
Trackside following the Big Boy Odgen, Utah to Evanston, Wyoming.
Day 3 Tuesday April 21:
Trackside following the Big Boy Evanston to Green River, Wyoming.
Day 4 Wednesday April 22:
The Big Boy laysover in Green River, Wyoming. Trackside along the Union Pacific mainline shooting freight trains.
Day 5 Thursday April 23:
Trackside following the Big Boy Green River to Rawlins, Wyoming.
Day 6 Friday April 24:
Trackside following the Big Boy Rawlins to Cheyenne, Wyoming. Travel to Denver, Colorado for lodging.
Day 7 Saturday April 25:
End of tour transferred to the airport or train station.
TOUR CONDITIONS PRICING - PLEASE READ CAREFULLY
Tour Pricing:
All tour prices are subject to change without notice, at any time. All prices based on double room occupancy. We reserve the right to change tour prices if it becomes necessary and is beyond our control. If payments are made by credit card a 3% conveyance fee will be added.
