In 2019 something happened that the world hadn't seen in almost 60 years.
A Union Pacific series 4000 locomotive became operational and hit the open rails. Specifically, the 4014 Big Boy.
The Big Boy is the world's largest steam powered locomotive.
The 4014 completed its final revenue run on 7/21/1959 and was officially retired on 12/7/1961 and donated to the Rail Giants museum in Southern California.
In 2013 Union Pacific decided to restore a Big Boy and the 4014 was donated back to Union Pacific.
The 4014 was towed to Cheyenne WY in January of 2014.
Restoration began in August of 2016 and was completed in May of 2019.
The goal was to have the 4014 operational in time to celebrate the 150th anniversary of the Golden Spike which was on May 10, 2019.
On May 2nd, the 4014 ran under its own power on a test run to Nunn Colorado.
This was the first time any 4000 series Big Boy had run since 1962.
Two days later, on May 4th, 2019, the 4014 was christened at the Cheyenne Depot Museum.
On the same day, the 4014 started its history making excursion to Ogden for the celebration of the 150th anniversary of the Golden Spike in Ogden Utah.
This excursion was known as the "Great Race to Ogden" and the UP 844 also came along.
After a successful completion of The Great Race to Ogden the 4014 went on two more excursions.
The 2nd excursion was known as The Great Race Across the Midwest which took the Big Boy to Nebraska, Colorado, Iowa, Illinois, Wisconsin, and Minnesota.
The 3rd excursion was known as The Great Race Across the Southwest and took the Big Boy to Utah, Nevada, California, Arizona, New Mexico, Texas, Arkansas, Oklahoma, Missouri, Kansas, Colorado, and home to Wyoming.
Mile High Drone Services decided to make a concerted effort to document this amazing feat not only from ground but from the air as well.
While not able to document the Big Boy in all locations, we were able to document its travel in all 3 excursions and got footage in the following states: Wyoming, Utah, Nevada, California, Missouri, Kansas, Nebraska, and Colorado.
We got to witness the Big Boy in all kinds of weather including high winds, rain, fog, excruciating heat of Nevada and California deserts and blinding snow storms in Kansas, Colorado, and Wyoming along with below 0 wind chill temperatures.
We hope you enjoy seeing just a few of the photos and videos we shot by going to https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8z7YTHrG_zo
For a detailed map of where we went go to MileHighDroneServices.com/steam
You can also see all the raw video that was shot at each location.
You may purchase professionally produced DVDs showing the Big Boy in all its glory.
The following DVDs have some of our footage in them.
Big Boy Greetigs from Kansas City
Southwest Big Boy 4014 Through Nevada, Califronia, New Mexicao, Arizona
Much of our footage is available for you to use at a very low to no cost basis.
If you want to use any footage please reach out to us via the "Contact Us" link above.
Click here to see what footage we have.