I have to admit that, although I'm not the biggest train enthusiast in the world, the idea of train travel has become increasingly appealing as technology takes over more and more of our lives. I've spent more hours than I'd care to admit watching YouTubers, who have made it their life's work to document train travel, test all sorts of routes and different kinds of compartments – and I've loved every second of it.
Yes, I've taken the Amtrak Acela to New York City like any good DC-dweller does, and, sure, my husband and I have chugged around places like Disney World and Dollywood on tiny trains to keep the kids happy back in the day, but I've never embarked on serious train journey.
"Big Boy 4014" might change everything.
Big Boy is apparently one of 20 massive steam locomotives commissioned by Union Pacific Railroad back in 1941 "to haul heavy equipment in support of the war effort, normally operating between Ogden, Utah, and Cheyenne, Wyoming. The Big Boys are 133 feet long and weigh 1.2 million pounds." He's apparently the only one still operational, while others are on display in St. Louis, Dallas, Omaha, Denver, Scranton, Green Bay, and Cheyenne.
SEE ALSO: Life in the Fast Lane: IndyCar Burns Rubber at White House As America 250 Roars On
New One Dollar Trump Coin Is Sure to Make Leftists Seethe
According to Big Boy's website, his large size doesn't mean he's not nimble.
Due to their great length, the frames of the Big Boys are “hinged,” or articulated, to allow them to negotiate curves. They have a 4-8-8-4 wheel arrangement, which means they have four wheels on the leading set of “pilot” wheels to guide the engine; eight drivers on the first engine; another set of eight drivers on the second engine; and four wheels trailing that support the rear of the locomotive.
I first became aware of Big Boy and his coast-to-coast trek to celebrate America 250 when I saw a video of a young man who had made his way from overseas to witness the locomotive in person. It's hard to take too much notice of Big Boy (or 2102, who made a surprise appearance) because of the man's reaction, which is pure awe and wonder.
This train enthusiast traveled all the way to the United States to see Big Boy 4014, the largest steam locomotive in the world. Bro is standing in front of one of the most powerful machines ever built, casually explaining it in the most soothing voice pic.twitter.com/RzrIUKnP04
— Dudes Posting Their W’s (@DudespostingWs) July 10, 2026
And then I saw this and realized how big the bad boy actually is – just look at his size!
Big Boy.. Symbol of American might. Steam locomotive beast. 4014. pic.twitter.com/rniJ9p2j9n
— Kelly (@KLSouth) July 16, 2026
When you see the crowds gathered in relation to Big Boy, you realize what a wonder he is to behold. He's a beast, and pure American might.
Big Boy is currently traversing the United States as part of the ongoing America 250 celebrations, so some of you may be able to catch him as he rolls through your town. He left Philadelphia on July 6, has passed through Ohio, and is scheduled to be in Indiana on Thursday; he's headed next to Illinois, Missouri, Kansas, and Colorado, before ending his journey in Wyoming. (You can see the schedule here.)
This is a good reminder that, even though Independence Day has passed, we should keep on celebrating our hard-earned 250 years throughout the year. There's still the Freedom Grand Prix taking place next month in Washington, D.C., and the Patriot Games are set to take place this Fall.
And what better way to keeping the party going than by marveling at 1.2 million pounds of American steel, steam, and history thundering across the fruited plain? If you can, get out there to see Big Boy 4014 as he carries 250 years of American ingenuity, muscle, and spirit along with him.
