Union Pacific's Big Boy Proves Steam Power Still Beats Walking, Sources Confirm
- Who
- Union Pacific Railroad
- What
- completed a cross-country tour with the world's largest steam locomotive, Big Boy No. 4014
- When
- August 2, 2026
- Where
- United States
Union Pacific's restored Big Boy No. 4014, a 4-8-8-4 articulated steam locomotive weighing 1.2 million pounds, completed a multi-state tour this summer. The locomotive, originally built in 1941, was restored to operating condition in 2019 and has since made several public excursion runs. CBS News correspondent Ian Lee documented the journey, which drew trackside crowds across the route.
Our analysts have confirmed that a coal-fired museum piece moving at 30 mph still generates more authentic awe than any high-speed rail proposal stuck in environmental review since the Bush administration.
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