Union Pacific Steam Engine Coming to Kansas City Monday
I love railroads and anything having to do with railroads. I'm the guy that gets excited if I see the Missouri River Runner on the tracks along 50 while traveling between Sedalia and Warrensburg. I'm the guy that isn't all that annoyed if I get stopped by a train at a crossing. I'm the guy that'll take a ride over to the Warrensburg depot to watch the Missouri River Runner roll through town. So yeah, I'm excited that a piece of railroad history is coming to Kansas City.
Union Pacific steam engine Big Boy No. 4014 is touring the United States in honor of the 150th anniversary of the transcontinental railroad.
In talking about the railroad's history the Union Pacific says, "from settling the West, to the patriotism of World Wars, to the progression of technology — and, above all, the growth of communities whose stories are tied to our own — our past reminds us of the enormous responsibility we have for our nation's future." That's one of the reasons the railroad has dedicated money, time, and effort to restore and occasionally show off heritage equipment and engines like Big Boy No. 4014.
Big Boy No. 4014 was one of the largest steam locomotives ever built, and one of the most powerful steam locomotives operated by the railroad. Big Boy No. 4014 is the world's only operating Big Boy locomotive. And you can see it at Kansas City's Union Station.
The locomotive will arrive at Kansas City's Union Station Sunday Night November 17 and will be on display from 9:00AM - 3:00PM CST on at the station on Monday November 18. It will depart Union Station to continue it's tour through Kansas and Colorado and Wyoming Tuesday November 19 at 8:00AM CST.
The Experience Union Pacific Rail Car will also be available for people to experience the history of locomotives, the history of the first transcontinental railroad, and how the Union Pacific runs it's railroad today.
If you have the time to go to Kansas City and see it this Monday, I'd reccomend it. Sadly, Amtrak's Missouri River Runner schedule doesn't permit us to take the train to see the locomotive.