Steam locomotive to make whistle stop in Oroville

OROVILLE — A legend from the past will be rolling into town Thursday when the Union Pacific Big Boy No. 4014 steam locomotive makes a whistle stop at the old Oroville Depot.

The world’s largest operating steam locomotive will arrive at 2:15 p.m. at the old depot, 2191 High St., and depart at 2:45 p.m. for Roseville.

The Oroville stop is one of just 19 whistle stops the train that was “built to conquer mountains” is making this summer during its 2024 Westward Bound Tour from Wyoming to California.

“Oroville has a huge train history,” said Mayor Dave Pittman. “It will be nice to see a big part of that history return to Oroville even for a brief moment.”

At 1:45 p.m., prior to the train’s arrival, Danny Ballard, local  historian, will present a brief history on the old depot and the Big Boy No. 4014 in the parking lot on the east side of the depot. Lori Pierce, owner of Kusel’s Big Store, and her staff will be giving keychain train whistles to the first 70 people who arrive to welcome the train.

“We also have little American flags we’re passing out for people to wave the train through town,” said Pierce. “We love a train and it’s a great little whistle stop to take advantage of for people to come together to show our pride for our beautiful historic downtown.”

Twenty-five Big Boy locomotives were built for Union Pacific to haul freight over the steep grade of the Wasatch Mountain Range in Utah during World War II. The locomotives were 132 feet long and weighed 1.2 million pounds. Eight were preserved after the locomotives were retired six decades ago, but only Big Boy No. 4014 is still in operation.

Big Boy No. 4014 was delivered to Union Pacific in December 1941. The locomotive was retired in December 1961, having traveled 1,031,205 miles in its 20 years in service, according to Union Pacific’s website. Union Pacific then donated the locomotive to the RailGiants Museum in Pomona, California. It remained at the museum for more than half a century until Union Pacific reacquired it in 2013. The company relocated No. 4014 back to Cheyenne to begin a multi-year restoration process. It returned to service in May 2019 to celebrate the 150th anniversary of the transcontinental Railroad’s completion.

During its stop Thursday in Oroville, the crew will disembark to “stretch their legs and service the locomotive,” said Mike Jaixen, Union Pacific senior manager of communications.

“They’ll be lubricating all the wheel bearings with big hoses and grease guns to make sure the entire locomotive is in tip-top shape,” said Jaixen. “The whistle stop will also give people the opportunity to interact with crew. There won’t be much time but they will try to interact with as many people as possible.”

Jaixen also said the public should remain at least 25 feet back from the tracks for their own safety.

Once the Big Boy No. 4014 leaves Oroville it will go to Roseville where it will be on display for two days, Friday, July 12 from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. and Saturday, July 13 from 9 a.m.to 4 p.m. at the Vernon Street Town Square, 311 Vernon St., Roseville.

On July 13 special free festivities for all ages will be held at the Vernon Street Town Square to celebrate the locomotive’s historic visit, according to Roseville’s website. There will be live music, food trucks, old west performances from the Black Flag Gang, Vernon Street Town Square Spray Ground, and a farmers market with a kids’ zone. Additionally, the Carnegie Museum at 557 Lincoln Street, Roseville will also be open July 13 with an exhibit featuring the history of the Big Boy and a kids’ railroad activity.

To track the locomotive’s schedule to make sure it’s running on time for its Oroville stop visit https://www.up.com/heritage/steam/schedule/index.htm. For more information on the Roseville events visit https://www.roseville.ca.us/cms/one.aspx?pageId=20337580.