The massive "Big Boy" steam locomotives were built exclusively for Union Pacific Railroad, to operate between Ogden, Utah, and Cheyenne, Wyoming. Union Pacific first ordered and received No. 4014 at the end of 1941, and it was retired 20 years later after over a million miles in service. The UP 4014 Big Boy steam locomotive was restored to service in May, 2019, after years of effort by Union Pacific's steam shops in Cheyenne. The following photos and videos show the inaugural run of the restored Big Boy, starting on May 4, 2019 and ending on May 19. Union Pacific’s historic steam locomotives Big Boy No. 4014 and the Living Legend No. 844 were both employed in this run, "The Great Race to Ogden," to commemorate the 150th anniversary of the completion of the Transcontinental Railroad on May 10, 1869.
These images show the "Big Boy" and "Living Legend" steam double-headers, after they leave Cheyenne, Wyoming on their inaugural run after the completion of Big Boy's restoration, on May 4, 2019. The Heritage cars that help make up the train are also highlighted, on both the video and the still photos. The first stop we visited was at Harriman Crossing, in Harriman, Wyoming, just West of Cheyenne. We ended up in Laramie, Wyoming where we spent time with the train before it left again, heading further West.
On May 19, the Big Boy and its heritage train steamed up in Laramie Wyoming, for its return leg of The Great Race to Ogden. The cold, cloudy morning and early morning start-up steam releases made dramatic departure imaging. We chased the train and made a couple of stops along its path to Cheyenne. We end up at the Cheyenne Railroad Museum, next to the UP roundhouse where Big Boy was restored.
The following Union Pacific historical equipment has been identified as being in this train, either Westbound or Eastbound. Links are to PDF documents about that equipment, from UP's Historical Equipment page. They include descriptions and photos of the interiors, where appropriate.
"Big Boy" No. 4014 (4-8-8-4 Steam Locomotive)
"Living Legend" Northern No. 844 (4-8-4 Steam Locomotive)
Art Lockman (Maintenance Tool Car)
Challenger (Dome Coach)
City of San Francisco (Dome Lounge Car)
Columbine (Dome Coach)
Green River (Deluxe Sleeper)
Howard Fogg (Boiler Car)
Idaho (Inspection Car)
Joe Jordon No. 814, and No. 809 (Water Tenders)
Little Rock (Deluxe Sleeper)
Lynn Nystrom (Baggage Car)
Omaha (Deluxe Sleeper)
Overland (Diner)
St. Louis (Business Car)
Walter Dean (Dome Lounge Car)