Dozens of Big Boy No. 4014 Western Stops Announced, Laramie Scheduled

Laramie will hear Union Pacific Big Boy No. 4014 on March 29 and again on April 24 as the locomotive departs Cheyenne on March 29 and returns April 24 for the conclusion of a western leg that includes 27 whistle stops across Wyoming, Utah, Nevada and California. The trip was circulated to Steam Club members in an email Feb. 24, and local schedules list 10 distinct whistle-stop events in Wyoming tied to the March 29–April 24 window.

Wyoming towns and dates published for the western leg are: March 29, Laramie, Medicine Bow; March 30, Wamsutter; March 31, Rock Springs; April 1, Green River; April 21, Green River; April 23, Point of Rocks, Wamsutter; April 24, Medicine Bow, Laramie. Counting each town appearance yields 10 whistle-stop events in Wyoming, consistent with local headlines stating “Big Boy No. 4014 to make 10 whistle-stops in Wyoming.”

The western whistle stops are short and limited in access. “Whistle stops are short, running 15 to 30 minutes, and don’t offer up-close viewing or public access. They’re perfect for photos though, and for taking in that awe-inspiring moment when Big Boy is heard from a distance and finally appears on the horizon,” one report noted. Multiple outlets also state there will be no passenger excursions during the western leg, reinforcing that most interactions will be brief visual opportunities rather than rides or onboard tours.

Two multi-hour public display days offer broader access. Roseville, California will host public display days April 10–11 and Ogden, Utah will host public display days April 18–19, with those dates also offering the “Experience the Union Pacific” railcar walk-through exhibit on railroad history. Standard also lists two Morgan, Utah appearances with specific times: April 2 from 11:45 a.m.–12:15 p.m. and April 20 from 9:30–10 a.m., and notes that display times for Salt Lake City on April 2 will be released later.

For fans seeking closer access, Union Pacific will auction two cab rides scheduled for April 17 in Utah; the auction registration window runs March 2 through March 19 and proceeds will benefit the Union Pacific Railroad Museum in Council Bluffs, Iowa. Organizers advise using UP’s official steam-tracking and event resources for real-time routing and local planning ahead of those auction and display dates.

The locomotive on tour, Union Pacific Big Boy No. 4014, is described in release language as “the world’s largest operating steam locomotive.” “Union Pacific’s legendary Big Boy No. 4014, the world’s largest operating steam locomotive, is steaming up for the western leg of its coast‑to‑coast tour to celebrate America’s 250th birthday with 27 whistle‑stops and four public display days scheduled during its journey across four western states,” the release said. East-coast leg details remain under wraps while organizers finalize routing and safety filings. Local governments and public-safety officials in Albany County and neighboring jurisdictions should expect brief staging windows and plan for concentrated viewing crowds in Laramie and Medicine Bow on the March 29 and April 24 dates.