‘Big Boy’ Heading Home To Cheyenne

‘Big Boy’ Heading Home To Cheyenne | Train Fanatics Videos

After a successful run to Ogden, Utah, Big Boy #4014 & UP #844 are seen heading back to Cheyenne, Wyoming.

Only 25 UP Big Boys were manufactured between 1941-1944

Big Boys were primarily used in Union Pacific’s Wyoming division, and could be seen running between Utah and Wyoming!

During World War II, since metal and fuel was in short supply, the Big Boy class locomotive was conceived to eliminate the need to double head up the Wasatch Mountains. UP originally ordered 20 class 4000 engines in 1941 and then 5 more in 1944 at $265,174 per engine. Adjusted for inflation, it is estimated that this would have totaled a whopping $107,620,056 or more in today’s dollars, each engine individually running $4,304,802!

While no one knows for certain, it is said that an ALCO employee had chalked the name onto the first 4000 class engine constructed. 

Wasatch had initially been its planned name, but Big Boy stuck around!

Union Pacific Big Boys stats:

  • Operated from 1941-59
  • Bearing full load weighed a total of 1.2 million pounds
  • Only 25 ever made
  • 4-8-8-4 configuration
  • Top speed of 80 Mph

Let us know if you have had the opportunity to view these locomotives up close. We would love to hear about your experience!

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