Union Pacific’s Big Boy to Steam Through Nevada

It’s not every year that one of the largest operating steam locomotives in the world rolls through town. But this spring, Union Pacific’s legendary Big Boy No. 4014 will travel across Nevada as part of its first-ever coast-to-coast tour celebrating America’s 250th anniversary.

The locomotive departs its home base in Cheyenne, Wyoming, on March 29 and will head west, retracing historic rail lines that helped shape the American West. Along the way, it will make several appearances across northern Nevada, offering rail fans rare opportunities to see the massive steam engine in motion.

Big Boy should arrive in Wells on Saturday, April 4, pulling into the Pacific Avenue railroad crossing in the late afternoon.

On Monday, April 6, the locomotive begins the day in Elko, though the rail yard will not be open to the public. It will make a public viewing stop at Carlin’s B Street Crossing late that morning before continuing to Battle Mountain in the early afternoon.

The tour continues Tuesday, April 7, departing Winnemucca without public yard access before making a scheduled midday appearance in Gerlach.

After a week away, Big Boy returns to western Nevada on Tuesday, April 14, departing Sparks following a private employee event and arriving in Lovelock early that afternoon for public viewing.

On Wednesday, April 15, the locomotive will pass through Winnemucca and Carlin before stopping in Elko in the afternoon near Manzanita Drive and Zagaway, giving fans another opportunity to see the train up close.

The Nevada leg wraps up Friday, April 17, when Big Boy rolls through Wells in the morning before heading to Montello later in the day. Union Pacific is offering auctioned cab rides in Montello as a fundraiser, providing a rare chance for enthusiasts to ride inside the historic locomotive.

Originally built during World War II to haul heavy freight over steep mountain grades, Big Boy No. 4014 is the largest operating steam locomotive in the world. Today, it serves as a moving tribute to America’s rail heritage, and this spring, Nevada communities will have a front-row seat to history in motion.