06/03/2026
Ok, so it's not a car...but it still has wheels, an engine and is very cool and will be rolling through Erie June 9th!!
"The Big Boy locomotive rolls through Erie next week.
The world’s largest operating steam locomotive will roll through Erie in June.
As part of the America250 celebration, the Big Boy No. 4014, will journey to the East Coast as part of a historic coast-to-coast tour.
The tour includes 50 stops in areas including Pennsylvania, Ohio and New York.
The Big Boy steam engine is expected to pass through Erie on the morning of June 9 while making a stop in North East.
According to the Union Pacific's website, the Big Boy is 133 feet long and weighs 1.2 million pounds. There were 25 Big Boys commissioned and delivered in 1941. These locomotives were created to haul heavy equipment in support of the war effort and often operated between Ogden, Utah and Cheyenne, Wyoming.
Measuring 133 feet by 16 feet and 4 inches, the frames of the Big Boy are hinged to allow them to negotiate curves with a 4-8-8-4 wheel alignment, meaning four wheels leading the pilot wheels to guide the engine, eight wheels on the first engine, eight wheels on the second engine and four wheels trailing to support the rear.
The Big Boy 4014 was retired in 1961 after logging more than 1 million miles. After years of preservation and restoration, the engine returned to service in 2019 to celebrate the 150th anniversary of the Transcontinental Railroad's Completion.
As of 2026, several Big Boys remain on display across the country.
Big Boy No. 4014 to stop in North East
During the East Coast tour, the Big Boy will make a stop in North East at the Lake Shore Railway Museum at 143 S. Lake St. on June 9, according to the Union Pacific website.
The steam locomotive is scheduled to depart Conneaut, Ohio, at 9 a.m. and to arrive in North East at 11:30 a.m. and depart 10 minutes later at 11:40 a.m. to head to Ripley, New York, where it is scheduled to stop at the State Street Crossing at noon. The train will depart at 12:30 p.m. for Buffalo, New York, before resuming the tour schedule on June 10.
Brewerie at Union Station Big Boy watch party
While the Big Boy is expected to travel past Union Station at 123 W. 14th St., the Brewerie will host a watch party June 9 at 9 a.m.
On the upper deck, next to the tracks, the Brewerie will have a front-row view of the train passing through.
Safety tips when seeing the Big Boy No. 4014
When viewing the Big Boy No. 4014, Union Pacific advises keeping a distance of at least 25 feet from all railroad tracks.
Railroad tracks, trestles, yards and rights-of-way are private property and trespassing is prohibited.
If driving over the tracks when the Big Boy No. 4014 is approaching, Union Pacific asks drivers not to pace the train."
Contact Nicholas Sorensen at [email protected].
