‘Big Boy,’ the million pound train, set to make stops in Colorado next week

DENVER ( KDVR ) — One of the world’s largest trains is heading for Colorado next week with three stops around the state.

The train, known as Big Boy No. 4014, was built in the mid-1900s as one of 25 trains that were 132 feet long and weighed 1.2 million pounds. According to Union Pacific Railroad , it’s over half the length of a Boeing 747 airplane.

The trains were built exclusively for Union Pacific Railroad but eventually they went out of service. Some still reside in museums around the country.

After traveling over a million miles within its 20 years of service, Big Boy No. 4014 retired as well, spending many years in a California railroad museum. That is until Union Pacific began the multi-year restoration process which turned Big Boy No. 4014 into the world’s largest operating steam locomotive.

Now, the train is up and running and heading throughout the United States on the “ Heartland of America Tour ,” which started in Wyoming in late August. So far, Big Boy has made its way through states like Texas, Oklahoma, Missouri and Kansas. Up next is Colorado.

Big Boy No. 4014 stops in Colorado

The train will be in Colorado from Monday, Oct. 21 until Wednesday, October 23. During that time, it will make two 30-minute stops in the state as well as a private stop in Denver.

Here’s the schedule:

Monday, Oct. 21:

• 9 a.m. departure from Sharon Springs, Kansas to Denver
• 3:45 p.m. arrival in Strasvurd
• 4:15 p.m. departure from Monroe St. Crossing

Tuesday, Oct. 22:

• Private Union Pacific employee event in Denver (no public access)

Wednesday, Oct. 23:

• 9 a.m. departure from Denver
• 12:35 arrival in Greeley
• 1:05 p.m. departure from 10th Street Crossing

The schedule is subject to changes. To track the train on its journey into Colorado, you can keep up with the Steam Locomotive Tracking which records the train’s time and stops.

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