Union Pacific’s restored steam locomotive Big Boy No. 4014 is scheduled to pass through Topeka next Thursday, July 23, with a planned arrival at the Great Overland Station at about 12:15 p.m. CDT.
What Topeka residents should know
The Great Overland Station, at 701 N. Kansas Ave., will host an early watch-party beginning at 10 a.m. Food and beverage trucks are expected to be on site, and the station is charging $3 for adults and $1 for children 12 and under for museum admission that day.
- Arrival in Topeka: ~12:15 p.m.; departure: ~12:45 p.m.
- Watch-party opens: 10 a.m. at Great Overland Station
- Food trucks and concessions will be available on site
"Big Boy No. 4014 is the world’s largest operating steam locomotive."
The Big Boy program will travel from Union Station in Kansas City earlier that morning and continue on to Salina later the same day. According to Union Pacific, No. 4014 is the only one of the eight surviving Big Boys that is still operational.
Schedule details
Union Pacific’s published timetable lists the locomotive’s local stops and times:
| City | Location | Time (CDT) |
|---|---|---|
| Kansas City, MO | Union Station, 30 W. Pershing Road | Depart 9:00 a.m. |
| Topeka, KS | Great Overland Station, 701 N. Kansas Ave. | Arrive 12:15 p.m. — Depart 12:45 p.m. |
| Salina, KS | Old Depot, 400 N. 13th St. | Arrive 6:00 p.m. |
Visitors planning to view the Big Boy in Topeka should anticipate increased activity near the station during the midday window. The watch-party and food vendors create a short, family-friendly event opportunity, while the locomotive’s brief stopover means the train will not be in town for an extended period.
The Great Overland Station is coordinating the local watch-party; details on parking and exact on-site arrangements are available from the museum’s communications channels. Union Pacific has identified No. 4014 as a unique operating example among the surviving Big Boy locomotives.
This visit is part of a public excursion routing that brings historic steam operations through a handful of Midwest communities over the course of a single day. Residents who plan to attend are advised to arrive early to secure a viewing spot and to allow time for paid museum entry if they wish to tour exhibits.
