"The Journey Begins: Union Pacific’s Famed Big Boy Kicks Off America 250 Tour from Historic Transcontinental Site"
"The Journey Begins: Union Pacific’s Famed Big Boy Kicks Off America 250 Tour from Historic Transcontinental Site ... Milepost 0 in Sacramento, California."
The "Big Boy [steam locomotive] will travel across 14 states during its historic tour from California to New York, with a two-day Fourth of July stop in Philadelphia, the birthplace of America."
[Courtesy Google Alerts]
Union Pacific Big Boy Steam Locomotive #4000, 1941.
Courtesy of Union Pacific.
posted from CPRR Discussion Group at 7:20 AM
3 Comments:
From: "Bruce Cooper" centpacrr@comcast.net
Re: 4th of July 2026 stop in Philadelphia!
Union Pacific has confirmed that Big Boy 4014 will be in Philadelphia on July 4, 2026, but they have not yet published the exact stopping location in the city or the detailed Philadelphia-area trackage it will use.[1][2][3]
## What is known now
- Union Pacific’s official announcements state that the eastern leg of the 2026 “America 250” tour includes a display stop in Philadelphia for Independence Day.[1][2][4]
- The online schedule page currently lists city-level stops and display days, but does not yet show a specific Philadelphia station, yard, or milepost for July 4.[3][5]
- Media and railfan coverage reiterate “Philadelphia for the Fourth of July” but likewise do not give a precise spot (e.g., 30th Street Station vs. a freight yard vs. a nearby display site).[6][7][8]
Given how UP has handled prior 4014 visits, the exact spot (and public viewing arrangements) will likely appear later on the same official schedule page and in updated press releases as we get closer to July.[5][3]
## Will it use the Keystone Corridor?
- Current public information focuses on the broader eastern route: after Philadelphia, the return leg is expected to follow the former Pennsylvania Railroad main line west toward Altoona, Harrisburg, and on to Cleveland, using Norfolk Southern routes.[7][9]
- A detailed discussion of potential routings notes that some enthusiasts think 4014 might use Amtrak’s Keystone Corridor west from Philadelphia to Lancaster, then NS to Columbia and the Royalton Branch, but others doubt Amtrak will allow a heavy steam special on the Keystone and instead expect NS’s freight Harrisburg Line to be used.[10]
- None of Union Pacific’s official materials or Norfolk Southern’s public filings so far explicitly say that 4014 will operate on Amtrak’s Keystone Corridor; it remains speculation in railfan forums, not a confirmed plan.[1][9][10]
## Practical advice
- To find the exact Philadelphia stop once it is announced, keep checking Union Pacific’s official Big Boy schedule page and press releases; they have said more detailed stop information will be released as the tour progresses.[1][3][5]
- For routing specifics (Keystone vs. NS freight lines), the most reliable eventual sources will be:
- Updated UP announcements or operating notices.[2][1]
- Any published waiver documents or advisories involving Norfolk Southern and Amtrak for this move.[9][10]
Right now, all that can be said with confidence is: 4014 will be in Philadelphia on July 4, 2026, but the precise stop location and whether it will actually use the Keystone Corridor have not been officially specified yet.[7][1][2]
[Continued]
[Continued]
Sources
[1] Union Pacific's Famed Big Boy Kicks Off America 250 Tour from ... https://investor.unionpacific.com/news-releases/news-release-details/journey-begins-union-pacifics-famed-big-boy-kicks-america-250
[2] Union Pacific Celebrates America's 250th with New Locomotives No ... https://www.up.com/news/heritage/big-boy-east-260320
[3] Big Boy No. 4014's Schedule | Union Pacific https://www.up.com/about-us/history/steam/schedule
[4] Union Pacific Celebrates America's 250 th with New Locomotives ... https://www.up-nstranscontinental.com/news-details/union-pacific-celebrates-americas-250-th-with-new-locomotives-no-4547-and-no-1776
[5] https://up.com/about-us/history/steam/schedule https://up.com/about-us/history/steam/schedule
[6] Union Pacific 4-8-8-4 Big Boy No. 4014 Will Pass Through North East https://northeastpaonline.com/union-pacific-4-8-8-4-big-boy-no-4014-will-pass-through-north-east/
[7] Union Pacific Big Boy eastern trip includes July 4 in Philadelphia https://www.railway.supply/union-pacific-big-boy-eastern-trip-includes-july-4-in-philadelphia/
[8] Big Boy No. 4014 steam locomotive to stop at Steamtown in ... https://fox56.com/news/local/big-boy-steam-locomotive-to-make-stop-at-steamtown-in-scranton-for-america250-tour
[9] News regarding Big Boy's coast to coast tour. Concerning the Old ... https://www.reddit.com/r/trains/comments/1rfk3qa/news_regarding_big_boys_coast_to_coast_tour/
[10] Big Boy East Coast Tour - Trainorders.com https://www.trainorders.com/discussion/read.php?10%2C6153407
[11] East Coast, here we come! Union Pacific's coast-to-coast Big Boy ... https://www.facebook.com/unionpacific/posts/east-coast-here-we-come-union-pacifics-coast-to-coast-big-boy-tour-is-heading-ea/1346727064157244/
[12] Big Boy No. 4014 Historic Coast-to-Coast Tour to Make 27 Whistle ... https://investor.unionpacific.com/news-releases/news-release-details/big-boy-no-4014-historic-coast-coast-tour-make-27-whistle-stops/
[13] BIG BOY “Coast to Coast” 2026 Tour Details! Celebrating ... - YouTube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B1XdS-dab4U
[14] Big Boy 4014 returns to New York in 2026 - Facebook https://www.facebook.com/groups/928378735177021/posts/1658774875470733/
[15] Big Boy No. 4014 Historic Coast-to-Coast Tour to Make 27 Whistle ... https://www.up.com/press-releases/heritage-steam/big-boy-2026-western-leg-260224
[Continued]
Sources
[1] Union Pacific's Famed Big Boy Kicks Off America 250 Tour
[2] Union Pacific Celebrates America's 250th with New Locomotives No ...
[3] Big Boy No. 4014's Schedule | Union Pacific
[4] Union Pacific Celebrates America's 250 th with New Locomotives ...
[5] https://up.com/about-us/history/steam/schedule
[6] Union Pacific 4-8-8-4 Big Boy No. 4014 Will Pass Through North East
[7] Union Pacific Big Boy eastern trip includes July 4 in Philadelphia
[8] Big Boy No. 4014 steam locomotive to stop at Steamtown in ...
[9] News regarding Big Boy's coast to coast tour. Concerning the Old ...
[10] Big Boy East Coast Tour - Trainorders.com
[11] East Coast, here we come! Union Pacific's coast-to-coast Big Boy ...
[12] Big Boy No. 4014 Historic Coast-to-Coast Tour to Make 27 Whistle ...
[13] BIG BOY “Coast to Coast” 2026 Tour Details! Celebrating ... - YouTube
[14] Big Boy 4014 returns to New York in 2026 - Facebook
[15] Big Boy No. 4014 Historic Coast-to-Coast Tour to Make 27 Whistle ...
Post a Comment
<< Recent Messages