Union Pacific’s Big Boy No. 4014 steams across the east end of Cedar Rapids on Friday, Sept. 6, 2024. (photo/Cindy Hadish)

CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa — Crowds gathered along the route as Union Pacific’s “Big Boy” steam locomotive left Cedar Rapids Friday, Sept. 6, 2024, on its way to Illinois.

Big Boy No. 4014 departed on its “Heartland of America Tour” Aug. 28, from Cheyenne, Wyoming, and made it to Iowa this week. The steam locomotive stopped briefly in Belle Plaine on Thursday, Sept. 5, but had no “public” stop in Cedar Rapids, where it stayed overnight.

That left train enthusiasts scrambling to find a viewing spot as it left the west end of Cedar Rapids about 9 a.m., blowing its whistle and making its way across the city within 30 minutes.

Rail enthusiasts watch as the Union Pacific’s steam locomotive departs Cedar Rapids, under sunny skies on Friday, Sept. 6, 2024. (photo/Cindy Hadish)

The entire Heartland tour encompasses 10 states: Wyoming, Arkansas, Colorado, Illinois, Iowa, Kansas, Missouri, Nebraska, Oklahoma and Texas.

According to the Union Pacific’s schedule, No. 4014 will be on display in the following locations:

Sunday, Sept. 8: Rochelle, Illinois (Chicago metro area)
Sunday, Oct. 6: Houston, Texas
Thursday/Friday, Oct. 10-11: Fort Worth, Texas

The historic steam locomotive, built in 1941, is part of the Union Pacific’s heritage fleet. It was retired in 1961, but reacquired and restored over a number of years, returning to service in 2019.

According to the Union Pacific, Big Boy is the world’s largest operating steam locomotive. Twenty-five were built during World War II, but only eight survived, with No. 4014 the only one in operation.

Additionally, Union Pacific offered safety tips for viewing the locomotive: stay 25 feet back from the tracks when taking a picture or viewing the mammoth machine. That means never take a picture or video standing on the track or the ballast and never climb on the locomotive or equipment.

A tracking map shows where No. 4014 is currently located.

As of Friday afternoon, it had already entered Illinois.

See more, below, as the steam locomotive leaves Iowa and learn about Iowa’s Scenic Byways here.