ALTOONA, PA — Union Pacific’s Big Boy No. 4014 arrived in Altoona on Thursday as part of a coast-to-coast America250 tour, drawing an estimated 100,000 spectators and underscoring Pennsylvania’s effort to leverage the nation’s 250th anniversary into tourism and economic growth.
Gov. Josh Shapiro joined executives from Union Pacific and Norfolk Southern at Rose Yard, where the historic steam locomotive was displayed alongside Union Pacific’s Heritage Fleet and Norfolk Southern’s America 250 Series locomotives. The appearance marked one of the tour’s marquee stops as the railroad celebrates America’s semiquincentennial and highlighted Altoona’s longstanding role in the nation’s rail industry.
Big Boy No. 4014 is one of 25 locomotives built for Union Pacific during the 1940s and one of only eight that still exist. The remaining seven are on static display at museums and public sites, including Steamtown National Historic Site in Scranton.
Union Pacific’s tour began July 1 and includes 14 stops across Pennsylvania while operating over Norfolk Southern’s rail network. Altoona was selected because of its railroad heritage, its continuing role as a major Norfolk Southern hub and the work performed by employees at the Juniata Locomotive Shop, who painted several of the locomotives featured during the event. Approximately 100,000 people attended the Altoona stop, according to the Governor’s Office.
Mark George, president and chief executive officer of Norfolk Southern, said the visit represented the first appearance of Big Boy on the East Coast in more than 80 years.
“Altoona stands at the heart of America’s railroad legacy, and it’s fitting that we’re celebrating that history here in Pennsylvania,” George said. “We’re proud to partner with Union Pacific to bring Big Boy to the East Coast for the first time in more than 80 years, giving communities the opportunity to experience a living piece of rail history.”
Union Pacific Chief Executive Officer Jim Vena said the locomotive’s nationwide tour serves as a reminder of rail’s historic role in the United States while highlighting its continuing importance to freight transportation.
“We’re proud to share Big Boy with Pennsylvanians as a reminder of rail’s role in shaping the next 250 years,” Vena said.
Pennsylvania remains one of the nation’s largest rail freight states, with approximately 5,600 miles of railway carrying nearly 170 million tons of freight annually, according to the Governor’s Office. At the conclusion of the America250 tour, Big Boy No. 4014 will have traveled about 7,000 miles, marking the first time one of the locomotives has crossed the Mississippi River since the class entered service.
State officials said the railroad tour is part of a broader strategy to attract visitors during the nation’s 250th anniversary. The administration said Pennsylvania’s tourism industry has grown by $7 billion and added 30,000 jobs during the past three years. In 2024, the Commonwealth welcomed more than 201 million visitors, who generated a record $84 billion in economic activity and supported more than 500,000 jobs. The administration also said it has secured $67.5 million to prepare for America250-related events and tourism initiatives.
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