‘Big Boy No. 4014′ travels from Hearne to Navasota on Friday

BRYAN, Texas (KBTX) – Union Pacific’s iconic Big Boy No. 4014 is set to continue its trek across Texas on Friday when it departs Hearne and travels to Houston with a stop in Navasota.

The train rolled into Hearne last month and has been there for maintenance.

On Friday, October 4, the train is set to depart Hearne at 9 a.m. and is scheduled to arrive in Navasota around 11 a.m. at the McAlpine Street crossing between Washington Avenue and Holland Street.

It will remain in Navasota for viewing until it departs at 11:30 a.m. for one more stop in Hempstead before continuing to Houston.

The city of Navasota says there are a variety of public parking spaces in the Downtown area for anyone wanting to catch a glimpse of it but you should plan and allow for extra travel time.

Note: All scheduled times and locations are subject to change. The Big Boy can run ahead or behind schedule, based on conditions.

You can track the train in real time on this page.

The train will return to Navasota on Monday, October 7 with one more stop at the same location from 1:30 p.m. to 2:00 p.m. It will then travel to Bryan where it will be available for all-day viewing on Tuesday, October 8 at the intersection of Wellborn Road and F&B Road.

See the full schedule and to read additional information about the stops you can click here.

The public can also follow along with Big Boy’s adventure on its X account, @UP_Steam.

Fans can share their safely taken photos on Facebook, Instagram, or X, using the hashtags #BigBoyHeartland and #UP4014.

All attendees must remain 25 feet back from the tracks when taking a picture or viewing the locomotive, in accordance with Union Pacific’s safety protocols. Never take a picture or video standing on the track or the ballast and never climb on the locomotive or equipment.

Big Boy No. 4014 is one of 25 built in the 1940s to conquer the steep grades of Utah’s Wasatch Mountain Range during World War II.

Only eight of the 25 survive and Big Boy is the only one still in operation.

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