Hornell Erie Depot Museum
Erie Railroad and City of Hornell photos
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Erie Depot Museum
Hornell Erie Railroad
Union Pacific 4014 – Big Boy
June 11, 2026 Hornell, NY
Union Pacific 4014 is the only operational Big Boy steam locomotive in the world, built in 1941 and restored to active service in 2019.
Construction and Design
Union Pacific 4014, part of the 4884-1 class “Big Boy” locomotives, was built in November 1941 by the American Locomotive Company (ALCO) in Schenectady, New York, to handle heavy freight over the Wasatch Mountains in Utah . The design was an evolution of the 4-6-6-4 Challenger, featuring a 4-8-8-4 wheel arrangement, an enlarged firebox measuring approximately 235 by 96 inches, a lengthened boiler, and four driving wheels added to increase traction while slightly reducing wheel diameter The locomotives were articulated to navigate curves and equipped with a Hancock long-bell 3-chime “steamboat” whistle .
Operational Service
No. 4014 was primarily used to haul heavy freight trains between Ogden, Utah, and Cheyenne, Wyoming, including wartime equipment during World War II. It was capable of producing 6,290 horsepower and reaching speeds up to 80 mph, making it one of the most powerful steam locomotives ever built . Over its service life, 4014 traveled 1,031,205 miles before being retired from revenue service on December 7, 1961 .
Retirement and Preservation
After retirement, 4014 was donated to the Railway & Locomotive Historical Society and displayed at the RailGiants Train Museum in Pomona, California, where it remained for over five decades. During its time on static display, it became a symbol of American steam power and railroad engineering.
Restoration and Return to Service
In 2013, Union Pacific reacquired 4014 and transported it to their Steam Shop in Cheyenne, Wyoming for a multi-year restoration, The restoration involved extensive mechanical and cosmetic work, culminating in May 2019, when 4014 moved under its own power for the first time in nearly six decades. This event coincided with the 150th anniversary of the Transcontinental Railroad’s completion. In 2021, 4014 became the first mainline steam locomotive equipped with positive train control, ensuring modern operational safety
