Union Pacific Big Boy eastern trip includes July 4 in Philadelphia

Union Pacific Big Boy eastern trip will bring the steam locomotive to Philadelphia. It will be there for the Fourth of July. Also, the visit will mark the 250th anniversary of American independence. According to a March 20 Union Pacific press release, the railroad announced the plan. In addition, it sent the news to Steam Club members.

Union Pacific said the first run into the Eastern U.S. will begin on May 25. It will end on July 29. Meanwhile, planned display stops on the Big Boy 2026 tour schedule include:

• Omaha, Neb.
• Chicago
• Buffalo, N.Y.
• Scranton, Pa.
• Altoona, Pa.
• St. Louis
• Kansas City, Mo.

Separately, the railroad said the full schedule will be released later.

Union Pacific Big Boy eastern trip route and stops

At the same time, as Trains reported, Big Boy will travel on Norfolk Southern. It will go from Chicago to Buffalo over the former Nickel Plate route. Meanwhile, it will continue on the Southern Tier route to Binghamton, N.Y. From there, it will reach Scranton. It will use the former Delaware & Hudson/Delaware, Lackawanna & Western main line.

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Still, the return route will leave Philadelphia. It will follow the former Pennsylvania Railroad main line to Cleveland. It will then continue to Chicago by way of the former NKP. That outline adds more detail to the Big Boy Philadelphia July 4 display. It also adds detail to the broader eastern tour described by Union Pacific.

Union Pacific commemorative diesels

Separately, the railroad presented its America 250 locomotive. It also disclosed plans for a locomotive honoring President Donald Trump. For example, the Union Pacific America 250 locomotive is No. 1776. It will carry the railroad’s traditional Armour Yellow paint. It will also carry the America 250 logo. In addition, it will feature the large American flag decal. That decal was once a longstanding feature on UP locomotives.

Meanwhile, the Donald Trump locomotive No. 4547 will have a mostly white body. It will also carry a large flag graphic and “Donald J. Trump” in gold lettering. A 13-star flag will appear on the conductor’s side. At the same time, a 50-star flag will be placed on the engineer’s side. Union Pacific said this will be its third presidential diesel. The earlier units honored Abraham Lincoln and George H.W. Bush.

“Union Pacific is honored to take part in the 250th anniversary of this great nation,” Union Pacific CEO Jim Vena said in the letter. “Each of these commemorative locomotives symbolizes important moments in the history of Union Pacific and the U.S. Our shared history shows the vital role railroads have played and will continue to play for generations to come.”

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