TEXAS, USA — A historic steam locomotive is scheduled to pass through multiple cities in the Brazos Valley as part of its multi-month, nine-state "Heartland of America Tour."
Union Pacific "Big Boy" No. 4014, one of a select number of locomotives that are touted as the largest and most powerful operating steam-powered trains in the world that are still operational on the tracks and not in a museum, will be departing from Cheyenne, Wyoming on Aug. 28 and head to Sidney, Nebraska on the first leg of its tour across multiple states. Three Brazos Valley cities are scheduled to be visited by the historic locomotive in early October.
For those interested in seeing the train in Texas, the first stop in the Lone Star State will be in Dallas on Wednesday, Sept. 18. After a stop in Dallas, the locomotive will make a stop in Mexia before its leg to Hearne, which will be followed up by a stop in Navasota before it heads to the Houston area from Hempstead.
After a stop in Houston, it will head back to the Brazos Valley for a stop in Bryan before departing for Marlin and West. After the stops in Falls and McLennan Counties, it will head back to Fort Worth for its final stop in the Lone Star State.
Union Pacific says that overnight stops will be closed to the public unless they are noted as part of the train's schedule.
The stops throughout Texas the "Big Boy" will make are as follows:
- Arrive in Dallas for a private event on Wednesday, Sept. 18
- Depart at 9 a.m. from Dallas to Mexia
- Train is scheduled to arrive at 12:45 p.m. and depart at 1:15 p.m. from the East Commerce Street crossing
- Undergo maintenance from Friday, Sept. 20 to Thursday, Oct. 3
- No public access to the train will be available during this time period
- Arrive in Navasota at the East McAlpine Street crossing at 11 a.m. and depart at 11:30 a.m. for Hempstead
- Arrive in Hempstead at 12:15 p.m. and depart at 12:45 p.m. for Houston
- Arrive in Houston on Saturday, Oct. 5 for a private Union Pacific employee event
- Depart from Houston at 9 a.m. on Monday, Oct. 7 for Bryan, making stops in Spring and Navasota
- Train will arrive in Spring at 11 a.m. and depart at 11:30 a.m., arriving in Navasota at the East McAlpine Street crossing 1:30 p.m. and departing at 2 p.m.
- Arrive in Bryan for a viewing only stop on Tuesday, Oct. 8
- Depart Bryan for Fort Worth at 9 a.m., making stops in Marlin and West
- Arrival in Marlin is scheduled for 11:45 a.m. while departure is set for 12:15 p.m. to West
- Arrival in West is scheduled for 1:45 p.m. while departure is set for 2:15 p.m.
- Arrive in Fort Worth on Thursday, Oct. 10 for free public event to see the train from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.
- Depart Fort Worth at 8 a.m. on Sunday, Oct. 13 for stops in Oklahoma and on the rest of the "Heartland of America Tour"
Click here to view the full "Heartland of America Tour" schedule on the Union Pacific website.
