Union Pacific Celebrates America’s 250th Anniversary with New Locomotives No. 4547 and No. 1776

Union Pacific Railroad unveiled plans to celebrate the United States, its amazing history and the people behind its unparalleled success story with two new locomotives and the first Big Boy steam tour to the East Coast in honor of America’s 250th anniversary.

Union Pacific traces its founding to 1862, under the presidency of Abraham Lincoln.

Big Boy, the world’s largest operating steam locomotive, will journey to Philadelphia for the Fourth of July, with stops planned in Illinois, Indiana, Ohio, New York and Pennsylvania.

The nation’s origin will be celebrated with a beautiful No. 1776 – America250 locomotive featuring an American flag waving against the backdrop of a traditional, armor-yellow Union Pacific locomotive and the America250 logo. Lincoln is commemorated with the No. 1616 locomotive in a paint scheme characteristic of his era.

Union Pacific’s third and newest commemorative locomotive, No. 4547, was built in partnership with Wabtec. It celebrates President Donald J. Trump and features large, flowing American flags on each side of the locomotive, one with 13 stars for the original colonies and the other depicting today’s beloved red, white and blue flag.

This is the third in a series of presidential locomotives, which also includes the No. 4141, the locomotive that honors the late President George H.W. Bush, and that allowed Union Pacific employees to transport the late president to his final resting place in College Station, Texas, where the locomotive is now on display at the George Bush Presidential Library and Museum.

The Big Boy will leave Cheyenne, Wyoming, on March 29 for the first leg of its historic tour, returning April 24, after making stops in California, Nevada, Utah and Wyoming.

The Eastern leg begins May 25 and will include display days in Omaha, Nebraska; Chicago, Illinois; Buffalo, New York; and Scranton, Pennsylvania, before Big Boy’s arrival in Philadelphia for Independence Day. Additional display days are anticipated in Altoona, Pennsylvania, and St. Louis and Kansas City, Missouri, before the tour concludes July 29.

A detailed schedule for the East Coast leg, including whistlestop locations, will be released at a later date. Anyone interested in learning more is invited to join Union Pacific’s Steam Club at upsteam.com.