A crew member looks out from the cab of Union Pacific Railroad’s Big Boy No. 4014 as another worker stands atop the hulking steam locomotive along Atlantic Street in Roseville’s historic district on Friday, April 10, 2026. After its Roseville stop, the train is scheduled to continue to Colfax and Truckee before heading east into Nevada.
Nicole Buss
nicole.buss@sacbee.com
Union Pacific’s Big Boy No. 4014’s coast-to-coast tour celebrating America’s 250th anniversary hit a snag this weekend.
A storm rolling through Sacramento and the Sierra Nevada mountains picked up in intensity Saturday, causing the train to change course, according to Union Pacific. Thunderstorms are expected near Sacramento while up to 4 feet of snow could fall in the mountains’ highest peaks.
Starting Sunday, Big Boy will change course for three days and not navigate the Donner Pass.
“Big Boy will leave California on the same route it entered the state over the Feather River Canyon,” Union Pacific’s website states.
California stops in Colfax and Truckee are canceled, according to the website, alongside Lovelock, Nevada.
Big Boy’s public display from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday at 375 Atlantic St. in Roseville is still on Union Pacific’s calendar. Although not open to the public, the train is scheduled to depart at 9:30 a.m. Sunday. The next stop on the calendar is Portola.
Roseville fans greeted Big Boy on Friday as it arrived in suburban city, according to previous Sacramento Bee reporting. Despite rainy weather, visitors of all ages were present, including Roseville Vice Mayor Karen Alvord.
“In a fast-moving world, the Big Boy’s arrival slows us down to appreciate the craftsmanship, history and spirit that helped build communities like Roseville,” she said.
The train is scheduled arrive in Winnemucca, Nevada, on Wednesday, according to Union Pacific.
Big Boy started the western leg of its tour on March 29 in Cheyenne, according to Union Pacific’s schedule. The western leg is scheduled to stop in Wyoming on April 24, as Big Boy is slated start its eastern portion on May 25.
Twenty-five Big Boy locomotives were built during World War II to transport freight over steep grades in Utah.
This story was originally published April 11, 2026 at 1:03 PM.
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Corey Schmidt is a watchdog reporter for the Sacramento Bee, focusing on Folsom, El Dorado Hills and Sacramento County’s eastern suburbs. Previously, he was the government watchdog reporter for the St. Cloud Times in Minnesota. Schmidt received his bachelor’s degree from DePaul University in Chicago and his master’s degree from Yale University.