The world’s largest operating steam locomotive, Union Pacific’s Big Boy No. 4014, departed Sacramento on a historic coast-to-coast tour Friday in celebration of America’s 250th anniversary. The locomotive left from Sacramento’s downtown railyards, a site known as Milepost Zero. This location holds historical significance as the starting point of construction for the first transcontinental railroad in 1863. “It’s such an honor and privilege to be a part of this,” said Ed Dickens, the steam locomotive’s engineer. “This will be the first time this locomotive has traveled east of the Mississippi.”Big Boy will travel from Sacramento through New York on its way to Philadelphia by July 4 as a way to honor the role railroads played in building and connecting the United States. “It doesn’t make us any money, but it’s such a great thing to connect to community,” said Jim Vena, Union Pacific’s Chief Executive Officer.Originally, 25 Big Boys were commissioned in 1941 to help haul heavy equipment in support of the war effort.Weighing 1.2 million pounds and 133 feet long, there are only eight such locomotives still in existence. The Big Boy No. 4014 is the only one still operating. The others are staged in parks and museums.Public access to the train is available in Roseville from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. Friday and 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Saturday.Big Boy No. 4014 is scheduled to depart Roseville at 9:30 a.m. Sunday.See more coverage of top California stories here | Download our app | Subscribe to our morning newsletter | Find us on YouTube here and subscribe to our channel

SACRAMENTO, Calif. —

The world’s largest operating steam locomotive, Union Pacific’s Big Boy No. 4014, departed Sacramento on a historic coast-to-coast tour Friday in celebration of America’s 250th anniversary.

The locomotive left from Sacramento’s downtown railyards, a site known as Milepost Zero. This location holds historical significance as the starting point of construction for the first transcontinental railroad in 1863.

“It’s such an honor and privilege to be a part of this,” said Ed Dickens, the steam locomotive’s engineer. “This will be the first time this locomotive has traveled east of the Mississippi.”

Big Boy will travel from Sacramento through New York on its way to Philadelphia by July 4 as a way to honor the role railroads played in building and connecting the United States.

“It doesn’t make us any money, but it’s such a great thing to connect to community,” said Jim Vena, Union Pacific’s Chief Executive Officer.

Originally, 25 Big Boys were commissioned in 1941 to help haul heavy equipment in support of the war effort.

Weighing 1.2 million pounds and 133 feet long, there are only eight such locomotives still in existence. The Big Boy No. 4014 is the only one still operating. The others are staged in parks and museums.

Public access to the train is available in Roseville from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. Friday and 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Saturday.

Big Boy No. 4014 is scheduled to depart Roseville at 9:30 a.m. Sunday.

See more coverage of top California stories here | Download our app | Subscribe to our morning newsletter | Find us on YouTube here and subscribe to our channel