Union Pacific’s Big Boy No. 4014, the world’s largest operating steam locomotive, rolled through Northeast Ohio on June 8, 2026, marking the historic locomotive’s first-ever visit to the state. The 1.2 million-pound giant made scheduled stops in Lorain at West 11th Street and Reid Avenue from 11:15 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. EDT, and in Euclid at the Chardon Road crossing from 1:30 p.m. to 2:00 p.m. EDT, drawing crowds of rail enthusiasts and history buffs to witness the 132-foot-long machine in motion.
Big Boy 4014 is on a first-ever coast-to-coast tour throughout 2026 to celebrate America’s 250th anniversary. The locomotive was originally delivered to Union Pacific in December 1941 to support the war effort, hauling heavy military freight over steep mountain grades. After decades of service and eventual retirement, the locomotive was restored to operating condition in 2019 for the 150th anniversary of the first transcontinental railroad’s completion.
The Big Boy locomotives were designed as the ultimate freight engines, built exclusively for Union Pacific during World War II. Of the 25 Big Boys commissioned, only eight remain in existence today, and No. 4014 is the sole one still in operation. According to the National Park Service, these 1.2 million-pound machines could do the work of three smaller engines, pulling 120-car freight trains at 40 miles per hour—a remarkable feat of engineering for their era.
The eastern leg of Big Boy 4014’s tour began on May 25, 2026, when the locomotive departed Cheyenne, Wyoming, and has been traveling eastward across the nation. The full tour includes major public display events in eight cities and more than 50 whistle-stops across 10 states, according to America250.org. The tour culminates with a Fourth of July celebration in Philadelphia, making it a patriotic tribute to the nation’s history and the vital role railroads played in building America.
Northeast Ohio residents who missed the June 8 stops will have another opportunity to see Big Boy 4014 later in the summer. The locomotive is scheduled to pass through additional Ohio communities, including Rocky River on July 13 and other areas as part of its extended eastern tour through the summer and fall of 2026.
Sources
- Union Pacific — official schedule and specifications for Big Boy No. 4014’s coast-to-coast tour
- Cleveland.com — Northeast Ohio whistle stop details and timing for Lorain and Euclid visits
- America250.org — tour scope, display cities, whistle-stops, and Philadelphia Fourth of July event
- National Park Service — historical background on Big Boy locomotives and their design capabilities
- Rocky River, Ohio Government — additional Ohio stop information
