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What's the big deal with Big Boy? Watch the locomotive make stops in St. Louis, Kirkwood

The historic train locomotive is the only one of its kind still in operation.

ST. LOUIS — A historic train is taking a tour through the country and just finished its stop in St. Louis.

Big Boy No. 4014 started in Wyoming and is winding through Nebraska, Kansas, Oklahoma, Texas, Louisiana, Arkansas, Missouri, Illinois and Colorado.

Big Boy is the largest and most powerful operating steam locomotive in the world. There were 25 locomotives made, and eight survive.

This locomotive was in use through 1959. It was restored in 2019 and brought back into service for the 150th anniversary of the completion of the Transcontinental Railroad. 

Big Boy went through St. Louis, Kirkwood, Pacific and Washington, Missouri Monday. Next, it heads to Jefferson City, Lees Summit, Independence and Kansas City. It will go through Kansas to Denver by next weekend. It will come to a stop in Cheyenne, Wyoming on Sept. 7. See the full schedule here.

If you missed the train, you can still see one in St. Louis. The Museum of Transportation has one of the eight remaining Big Boys on display.

The locomotive weighs over one million pounds.

Credit: UPI
The Union Pacific 4014 Big Boy Steam Locomotive comes to a stop at the Amtrak station in Kirkwood, Missouri on Monday, August 30, 2021. The world's largest steam locomotive is on a five-week tour that includes public display events in five major cities, along with brief whistle-stops in more than 90 other communities.

Trains can be dangerous and cannot stop quickly. Always assume train tracks are active and stay alert for lights, signals and crossing arms. Do not trespass onto train tracks, even for pictures of a neat train.

Did you get photos of the train? Use the "Near Me" section at the top of this page to share your photos and video with 5 On Your Side. Your pictures and video could appear on our newscasts, website and social media.

   

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