The Union Pacific’s No. 4014, known as “Big Boy” departed Coffeyville shortly before 8:30 Sunday morning to begin it’s journey through Kansas this week. Big Boy arrived in Coffeyville Saturday evening to crowds of a couple of thousand people. Sunday morning thousands gathered again at the Union Pacific’s railroad yard as well as crossings on Read Street, Buckeye and Overlook.
After making several brief stops across the state today Big Boy is expected to arrive at Kansas City’s Union Station at about 6:30 this evening where it will remain on display until Tuesday morning when it departs on the rest of it’s tour through Kansas before arriving in Colorado next Saturday.
Built in 1941, Big Boy weighs 1.2 million tons and is the largest steam locomotive in the world. Big Boy was retired from service in 1961 and has been recently restored. The giant locomotive’s trip across the country is part of the Union Pacific Railroad’s 150th anniversary.
