Union Pacific Big Boy 4014 To Visit Western Pacific Railroad Museum For Special Fundraising Dinner

Published: March 4, 2026

Rail enthusiasts in Northern California will have a rare opportunity this spring as Union Pacific 4014 — the world’s largest operating steam locomotive — is scheduled to visit the Western Pacific Railroad Museum on April 8, 2026. The appearance will coincide with a special fundraising event organized by the museum’s parent organization, the Feather River Rail Society.

The stop is part of Union Pacific’s ongoing heritage steam program and the locomotive’s broader 2026 tour commemorating the upcoming 250th anniversary of the United States. To learn more about this event please click here.

Rare Opportunity To See Big Boy In Portola

throughout the day, providing visitors the chance to see the famous articulated steam engine up close. The public viewing event is scheduled from 9:00 a.m. to 5:30 p.m., with admission required for entry to the museum grounds.

Advance museum admission is priced at $20 for adults, with $10 admission for youth ages 5–18, seniors 65 and older, and active military members, while children under four are admitted free.

The event is expected to draw large crowds, as appearances by Big Boy locomotives remain uncommon, particularly in Northern California. The display will allow guests to photograph and observe the massive steam locomotive as it pauses during its western tour itinerary.

Fundraising Dinner To Support Museum

The highlight of the day’s activities will be a special fundraising dinner held that evening at the Nakoma Resort near Portola. The dinner will begin with doors opening at 6:30 p.m., followed by a buffet meal at 7:00 p.m.

Tickets for the event are priced at $100 per person, with seating limited to approximately 160 guests. Proceeds from the dinner will directly support the Western Pacific Railroad Museum and its preservation programs.

The evening will feature a presentation by Ed Dickens, Union Pacific’s Senior Manager of Heritage Operations and the head of the railroad’s steam program, who oversees the operation of Big Boy 4014. Members of the locomotive’s crew are also expected to attend, offering attendees unique insights into the operation and preservation of the historic locomotive.

Celebrating A Legendary Steam Locomotive

Built by the American Locomotive Company in November 1941, Big Boy No. 4014 is one of 25 massive 4-8-8-4 locomotives constructed for Union Pacific to handle heavy freight over the steep grades of the Wasatch Range.

After decades on display at the RailGiants Train Museum in Pomona, California, the locomotive was reacquired by Union Pacific in 2013 and underwent an extensive restoration at the railroad’s Cheyenne, Wyoming steam shop. It returned to active service in 2019, once again becoming the largest operational steam locomotive in the world.

Since its restoration, Big Boy 4014 has traveled thousands of miles across the Union Pacific system on public excursions and special tours, serving as a moving tribute to the role railroads have played in shaping the nation’s history.

A Fitting Location For The Visit

The Portola event carries special significance for rail enthusiasts because the Western Pacific Railroad Museum occupies a former locomotive facility of the historic Western Pacific Railway. The museum preserves equipment, documents, and artifacts related to the railroad and the broader heritage of railroading in the Feather River Canyon region.

Operated by the Feather River Rail Society since the mid-1980s, the museum maintains one of the most comprehensive collections of Western Pacific equipment and offers interactive programs such as its well-known “Run-A-Locomotive” experience.

Part Of 4014’s 2026 Western Tour

The Portola stop forms part of Big Boy 4014’s 2026 western leg tour, which includes numerous whistle-stops across Nevada, California, Utah, and Wyoming before returning to Union Pacific’s steam base in Cheyenne.

Following its Portola visit, the locomotive will continue to Roseville, California, where it will be on public display April 10–11 before continuing its tour through the western United States.

For the Western Pacific Railroad Museum, the April 8 visit represents both a historic moment and an important fundraising opportunity. With limited seating and strong interest from railfans, the event is expected to be one of the museum’s most significant special programs in recent years.