"Big Boy!"

Submitted to Nostalgia

by Jason Stern

Uploaded 14 Dec 2008

© Jason Stern

In 1941, Union Pacific received the first out of an eventual 25 locomotives in the 4000 class dubbed "big boys," the last five of which were delivered in 1944. At the time, these were the longest and among the heaviest, most powerful steam locomotives in the world.

Big Boy 4018 (built in 1941) was in service and assigned to Wyoming's Cheyenne-Green River territory in September of 1957, having received its final repairs at the Cheyenne shops in April of 1957. By October of 1957 engine 4018 was stored serviceable at Green River.

Union Pacific 4018 was officially retired in 1962. He remains one of a handful of examples of the largest steam locomotive ever built.

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