Big Boy Across the Sierra Nevadas

Union Pacific Big Boy 4014 returned to the high iron in 2024 making the first of two tours across the UP system. Leaving Cheyanne Wyoming on June 30th on the train's westbound tour we pick up the action as the locomotive and train journey across the UP's two California main lines through the Sierra Nevada Mountain range. (Skip to 18:38 if you'd like to see Donner Pass). On Thursday July 11th Big Boy traveled west down the rugged and famous Feather River Canyon on the former Wester Pacific main line from Portola, CA to Roseville, CA pulling a short freight train. Then after a two day layover on display in Roseville, Big Boy began the journey back east on Sunday July 14th leading a special excursion train on the former Southern Pacific mainline over Donner Pass. However trouble arose on Sunday after the Big Boy struck a fallen tree just outside of Auburn California causing some damage to the front of the locomotive. After a three hour delay to remove the tree and make repairs to the 4014 the excursion was able to continue over Donner with Big Boy putting on an excellent show on both days.