Big Boy 4014 thunders out of Cheyenne to start historic coast-to-coast tour

CHEYENNE — Little Weston Gall of Colorado pumped a fist high to the sky as Big Boy 4014 pulled into the historic Union Pacific Cheyenne Depot. It was a magic moment for Weston, perched high on his dad’s shoulder, as the big, black steam engine arrived in a giant puff of swirling steam and a thunderous chuffing sound. “Big Boy is here!” a shrill voice could be heard shouting over all that noise.

People came from all over for the occasion — Colorado, Montana, and even Denmark. Many of those who were in Cheyenne for the send-off chased Big Boy on to Laramie as well. They’re well aware this is a historic first for the world-famous steam locomotive, which will be making its first coast-to-coast tour as a salute to America’s 250th birthday.

Big Boy’s summer tours are always one part engineering feat and one part nostalgia, but this year it’s also a 6,000-horsepower birthday card to America. Traveling with Big Boy are two historic locomotives: Lincoln Locomotive No. 1616 honoring Abraham Lincoln’s role in uniting the nation via rail, and the America250 Locomotive No. 1776, which carries large, flowing flag motifs on both sides. “Union Pacific is honored to take part in the 250th anniversary of this great nation,” Union Pacific CEO Jim Vena said in a statement.

Big Boy is one of 25 super locomotives built during World War II. At 133 feet, it was designed to be as long as possible and still navigate curves. It weighs more than 1 million pounds when fully loaded with fuel and water. Its power is a physical presence that arrives with its own wind and its own thundering sound. Heat pours off the train as it comes in and, with eyes closed, it feels almost like standing inside a giant storm cloud.

The first leg of Big Boy’s tour passes through several Wyoming towns, including Laramie, Medicine Bow, Rawlins, Rock Springs, Green River and Evanston, before continuing to Salt Lake City, Nevada and California. It returns to Cheyenne on April 24 for maintenance before the eastern leg resumes May 25 with stops planned in Omaha, Chicago, Buffalo, Scranton, Philadelphia, and other cities.

Artist Carey Moose Hosterman had to make special arrangements to catch Big Boy in Medicine Bow. “It’s just an amazing machine,” he said. “Every time I get close to that thing, when it starts pulling up next to you, it just gives you kind of a knee jerk reaction going, ‘My God, this thing’s huge.'” He sees the locomotive as a moving sculpture. “Today’s locomotives are all covered up. You don’t see the engines or nothing. With Big Boy, you get the steam, the smoke, the whistles, everything. You have to love the sound of the Big Boy.”