Plans to Restore One of the Largest Steam Locomotives Ever Built

Union Pacific Railroad Acquires Big Boy Locomotive No. 4014

Railroad Plans to Restore One of the Largest Steam Locomotives Ever Built

Omaha, Neb., July 23, 2013 – Union Pacific Railroad today announced it reached an agreement with the Southern California Chapter - Railway & Locomotive Historical Society in Pomona, Calif., to transfer ownership of one of the world's largest steam locomotives, Big Boy No. 4014, back to Union Pacific.

Union Pacific plans to relocate No. 4014 to Cheyenne, Wyo., where Union Pacific's Heritage Fleet Operations team will work to restore it to operating condition. Details regarding those efforts will be made public at a later date.

Union Pacific donated No. 4014 to the historical society December 7, 1961. The locomotive arrived January 8, 1962, at its current display location at the Rail Giants Train Museum in Pomona.

No other railroad has retained its historical equipment or honored its American roots like Union Pacific.

"Our steam locomotive program is a source of great pride to Union Pacific employees past and present," said Ed Dickens, senior manager - Union Pacific Heritage Operations. "We are very excited about the opportunity to bring history to life by restoring No. 4014."

Union Pacific 4-8-8-4 "Big Boy" #4014, preserved by the Railway and Locomotive Historical Society's Southern California chapter at Pomona Fairplex, Pomona, California, USA. {{GFDL}}

BIG BOY NO. 4014

Twenty-five Big Boys were built exclusively for Union Pacific Railroad, the first of which was delivered in 1941. The locomotives were 132 feet long and weighed 1.2 million pounds. Because of their great length, the frames of the Big Boys were "hinged," or articulated, to allow them to negotiate curves. They had a 4-8-8-4 wheel arrangement, which meant they had four wheels on the leading set of "pilot" wheels which guided the engine, eight drivers, another set of eight drivers, and four wheels following which supported the rear of the locomotive. The massive engines normally operated between Ogden, Utah, and Cheyenne, Wyo.

Eight of the Big Boys were donated for public display in various cities around the country. They can be found in Pomona, Calif.; St. Louis, Mo.; Dallas, Texas; Omaha, Neb.; Denver, Colo.; Scranton, Penn.; Green Bay, Wis.; and Cheyenne, Wyo.

Big Boy No. 4014 was delivered to Union Pacific in December 1941. The locomotive was retired in December 1961, having traveled 1,031,205 miles in its 20 years in service.

No. 4014 will be moved from its display location in Pomona, Calif., to Cheyenne, Wyo., where it will undergo restoration that is anticipated to take three to five years.

The backhead (controls) of Union Pacific Big Boy #4017 at the

National Railroad Museum, Green Bay, WI Photo by Sean Lamb

Vital Statistics
Tender Type: 14-wheeled
Water Capacity: 24,000 gallons
Fuel: Coal**
56,000 lbs.
Gauge of Track: 4 ft. 8-1/2 in.
Cylinder: Diameter: 23 3/4 in.
Stroke: 32 in.
Driving Wheel Diameter: 68 in.
Boiler: Outside Diameter: 106 9/16 in.
Pressure: 300 lbs.
Fire Box: Length: 235 1/32 in.
Width: 96 3/16 in.
Tubes: 2-1/4 in. Diameter: 75 x 22 ft. 0 in.
4 in. Diameter: 184
Wheel Base: Driving: 47 ft. 3 in.
Engine: 72 ft. 5 1/2 in.
Engine & Tender: 132 ft. 9 7/8 in.
Weight in Working Order,
Pounds: Leading:   97,000
Driving:    540,000
Trailing:   125,000
Engine:    762,000
Tender:    427,500
Evaporating Surfaces,
Square Feet: Tubes: 967
Flues: 4,218
Fire Box: 593
Circulators: 111
Total: 5,889
Superheating Surface,
Square Feet: 2,466
Grate Area: 150
Maximum Tractive Power: 135,375 lbs.
Factor of Adhesion: 4.00
**Current configuration. Plans call for a conversion to No. 5 Oil