photo by: Shawn Valverde

Spectators watch the “Big Boy” steam locomotive pass through the Union Pacific Depot in North Lawrence on Thursday, July 23, 2026.

The crowd welcoming “Big Boy” might not have been as large as in years past due to the rain Thursday, but those who made it to the Union Pacific Depot in North Lawrence were still full of enthusiasm for the historic steam locomotive.

Big Boy, also known as Union Pacific’s No. 4014, is the world’s largest operating steam locomotive. It traveled through Lawrence Thursday — on its way back home to Cheyenne, Wyoming — as part of its coast-to-coast tour to celebrate America’s 250th birthday. The train made stops in Kansas City, Missouri, and Topeka, but for Lawrence it just slowed down as it rolled through town.

photo by: Shawn Valverde

Spectators watch the “Big Boy” steam locomotive pass by the Union Pacific Depot in North Lawrence on Thursday, July 23, 2026.

photo by: Shawn Valverde

The “Big Boy” steam locomotive passes by the Union Pacific Depot in North Lawrence on Thursday, July 23, 2026.

Earlier this year, Big Boy visited California with a stop at the Central Pacific’s Milepost Zero in Sacramento, where eastward construction of the transcontinental railroad began.

Big Boy was built in 1941. The locomotive rolled through Lawrence in 2024, 2021 and 2019, after the Union Pacific reacquired the engine following its 1961 retirement and restored it as part of a celebration of the 150th anniversary of America’s transcontinental railroad.

Lawrence train enthusiasts have consistently turned out in large numbers to see Big Boy, take photos and throw an appreciative wave to its engineers.

At 132 feet long and 1.2 million pounds, the engine is a massive machine. It carries 25,000 gallons of water to make its steam, and back in the day carried 56,000 pounds of coal to create its fire. Today, it uses oil instead of coal, according to Union Pacific.

photo by: Shawn Valverde

Karen Wray holds a flattened coin at the Union Pacific Depot in North Lawrence, where the “Big Boy” steam locomotive passed through on Thursday, July 23, 2026.

photo by: Shawn Valverde

A conductor gives a thumbs up as the “Big Boy” steam locomotive passes through North Lawrence on Thursday, July 23, 2026.

photo by: Shawn Valverde

Crowds wave to the “Big Boy” steam locomotive as it passes through North Lawrence on Thursday, July 23, 2026.

photo by: Shawn Valverde

A Union Pacific Railroad special agent watches the “Big Boy” locomotive spectacle in North Lawrence on Thursday, July 23, 2026.

photo by: Shawn Valverde

The “Big Boy” steam locomotive passes by the Union Pacific Depot in North Lawrence on Thursday, July 23, 2026.