Pacing Big Boy #4014
Big Boys were primarily used in Union Pacific’s Wyoming division, and could be seen running between Utah and Wyoming!
While no one knows for certain, it is said that an ALCO employee had chalked the name onto the first 4000 class engine constructed.
Of the 25 Big Boys that were built, all but 8 were scrapped, unfortunately.
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!
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 Big Boy up close. We would love to hear about your experience!
