Big Boy No. 4014, the world’s largest operating steam locomotive, traveled through Villa Park on Thursday morning, June 4. No. 4014 is making a cross-country tour in 2026 to celebrate America’s 250th birthday, and will be in Philadelphia on July 4. After spending the night of June 3 in West Chicago, the massive locomotive, which is 133 feet long, more than 16 feet in height, and weighs about 1.2 million pounds, headed east on June 4. People lined the Union Pacific Railroad tracks in several DuPage County communities, including Lombard, Villa Park, and Elmhurst, to see No. 4014, which was built in 1941 and retired in 1961. Union Pacific reacquired the locomotive in 2013. After a multi-year restoration, No. 4014 returned to service in 2019 to celebrate the 150th anniversary of the Transcontinental Railroad’s completion. The seven other remaining Big Boys are on public display at various sites around the country. No. 4014 was scheduled to pass through Villa Park at around 8:30 a.m. on June 4, but was running late. It eventually arrived in the village and is pictured while crossing Addison Road at about 10:20 a.m.
