‘Big Boy’ locomotive chugs through Arkansas in September, here’s when you can see it

ARKANSAS (KNWA/KFTA) — The “Big Boy” locomotive, one of the world’s largest trains will pass through the Natural State next month.

Union Pacific Railroad will be showcasing the 1.1-million pound train as it travels through 10 states, including Arkansas.

Big Boy No. 4014 was delivered to Union Pacific in December 1941 and retired two decades after traveling more than a million miles.

Following a multi-year restoration process the train hit the tracks in 2019 to celebrate the 150th anniversary of the completion of the Transcontinental Railroad.

25 Big Boys were built during World War II, with only eight surviving. No. 4014 is the only one that is still in operation and is the world’s largest operating steam locomotive, Union Pacific said.

The train will make stops in more than three dozen communities across America’s Heartland with six in Arkansas.

Here’s the schedule for Big Boy as it makes its way through Arkansas:

Friday, Sept. 13

Poplar Bluff, Mo. (9:00 a.m. departure) to Jonesboro, Ark.

Piggott, Ark.

Jackson St. CrossingArrival

Depart1:30 p.m. CT

2:00 p.m. CT

Saturday, Sept. 14

Jonesboro, Ark. (9:00 a.m. departure) to North Little Rock, Ark.

Hickory Ridge, Ark.

Laurel St. CrossingArrival

Depart10:30 a.m. CT

11:00 a.m. CT

Brinkley, Ark.

Central Delta Depot Museum

100 W. Cypress St.Arrival

Depart12:15 p.m. CT

12:45 p.m. CT

Pine Bluff, Ark.

Pine Bluff Museum Depot

201 E. 4th AveArrival

Depart3:00 p.m. CT

3:30 p.m. CT

Sunday, Sept. 15

North Little Rock, Ark.

1000 W 4th St.NO PUBLIC ACCESS until 5:00 p.m.

Public Viewing Only: 5:00 p.m. – 7:00 p.m. CT

Monday, Sept. 16

North Little Rock, Ark. (8:00 a.m. departure) to Texarkana, Ark.

Kingsland, Ark.

Johnny Cash Birthplace

Maple St. CrossingArrival

Depart11:45 a.m. CT

12:15 p.m. CT

Tuesday, Sept. 17

Texarkana, Ark. (9:00 a.m. departure) to Dallas, Texas

For those in Northwest Arkansas and the River Valley wanting to catch a glimpse of Big Boy, it won’t make a trip directly to those areas but it also won’t be far away. Big Boy will make stops in eastern portions of Oklahoma.

Here are those stops:

Sunday, Oct. 13

Fort Worth, Texas (8:00 a.m. departure) to McAlester, Okla.

Durant, Okla.

Louisiana St. CrossingArrival

Depart1:15 p.m. CT

1:45 p.m. CT

Monday, Oct. 14

McAlester, Okla. (9:00 a.m. departure) to Coffeyville, Kan.

Muskogee, Okla.

Okmulgee St. CrossingArrival

Depart11:00 a.m. CT

11:30 a.m. CT

Claremore, Okla.

Florence Ave. CrossingArrival

Depart1:15 p.m. CT

1:45 p.m. CT

The train’s tour begins on August 28 in Cheyenne, Wyoming.

For more information on Big Boy and the train’s full travel schedule, visit the Union Pacific website.