Follow The Big Boy No. 4014 Train Tour Through The Heartland

If you are a fan of trains, or your kids are, you might want to look into taking a road trip while the kids are still out of school. Union Pacific just unveiled that its Big Boy train is heading out on a Heartland of America Tour. The tour is expected to last 8 weeks but unfortunately won't make it to Minnesota.

Why is this train tour a big deal? Well, Big Boy No. 4014 is the last remaining operating Big Boy of the limited number still in existence.

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Union Pacific does however map out the route, and if you head down to Iowa you could witness this large steam engine locomotive as it comes to life once again and rides the rails across parts of the midwest and southern US.

Big Boy No. 4014 will depart on the "Heartland of America Tour" on Wednesday, Aug. 28 from Cheyenne, Wyoming, and travel across nine additional states: Arkansas, Colorado, Illinois, Iowa, Kansas, Missouri, Nebraska, Oklahoma and Texas. The eight-week tour concludes in late October. - Union Pacific

Fans of the locomotive, which ventured through parts of Minnesota in 2021, should head south into Iowa if they want to check out this powerful train. According to the Union Pacific website that details the stops of Big Boy No. 4014, the train will be rolling across Iowa Sept 4th, 5th, and 6th, before it enters Illinois.

Wednesday, Sept. 4
Council Bluffs, Iowa (8:00 a.m. departure) to Boone, Iowa.
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Carroll, Iowa Old Depot 407 W. 5th St.	Arrival Depart	12:30 p.m. CT 1:00 p.m. CT
Thursday, Sept. 5
Boone, Iowa (9:00 a.m. departure) to Cedar Rapids, Iowa.
Belle Plaine, Iowa. 9th Ave. Crossing	Arrival Depart	12:15 p.m. CT 12:30 p.m. CT
Friday, Sept. 6
Cedar Rapids, Iowa (9:00 a.m. departure) to Rochelle, Ill.
Grand Mound, Iowa Smith St. Crossing	Arrival Depart	11:00 a.m. CT 11:15 a.m. CT

If you do venture South to check out Big Boy No. 4014, there are some safety things you should know.

Stay back at least 25 feet from all railroad tracks. This includes drones.
Railroad tracks, trestles, yards and right of way are private property - do not trespass.
Never assume tracks are abandoned or inactive - ALWAYS expect a train.
Be a safe and considerate driver - do not pace the train.

Hopefully, soon Minnesota can welcome back Big Boy No. 4014, but until then we will just have to travel to see this wonder.