The Union Pacific Big Boy 4014 is one of the largest and most powerful steam locomotives ever built. Part of the Big Boy class, it was constructed in the early 1940s by the American Locomotive Company (ALCO) to haul heavy freight over steep grades in the Western U.S., especially in the Wasatch Mountains. These locomotives are huge, measuring over 132 feet long and weighing around 1.2 million pounds.
Big Boy 4014 was retired from service in 1961, but in 2013, Union Pacific reacquired and restored it. Today, 4014 is fully operational and runs on special excursions, thrilling train enthusiasts with massive size and power. Its restoration was a significant feat, marking the return of one of the most iconic steam locomotives in history.
The Big Boy series, including 4014, represents the peak of steam locomotive technology and the golden age of railroading in the U.S.
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