Historical Equipment and Information

I'd like to plan a train trip. Where can I find information?

  • For historical locomotive excursions periodically hosted by Union Pacific, see our Heritage Steam section.
  • Visit Amtrak for information on regularly scheduled passenger service.

My relative used to work for Union Pacific. How can I get information on them?

We do not have historical records on employees to share. We suggest you try some of the railroad historical societies, or the Railroad Retirement Board. They have general information about employee records (after 1935), and their Help line can assist with questions about family histories and genealogy. The toll-free phone number is 877-772-5772, or browse the Railroad Retirement Board website.

Where is it possible to see a Big Boy locomotive?

There are eight Big Boy locomotives still in existence around the United States. They can be found in the following cities:

  • St. Louis, Missouri
  • Dallas, Texas
  • Omaha, Nebraska
  • Denver, Colorado
  • Scranton, Pennsylvania
  • Green Bay, Wisconsin and
  • Cheyenne, Wyoming – home to our last two operating steam locomotives, Big Boy No. 4014 and Living Legend No. 844. However, they are not on display.

Depending on the time of year, Cheyenne would be the best site to visit, if you like trains. The roundhouse there has been restored, and as the busiest railroad in the U.S., we always have some modern equipment rolling past the roundhouse. However, the steam shop is a working mechanical shop located in an active freight rail yard – therefore the steam shop is not open to the public. Tours of the roundhouse are periodically offered by the Cheyenne Depot Museum as fundraising events.

If your primary interest is in historical equipment, you might want to check out the information in our Heritage section. It features complete lists of both steam locomotives and diesel locomotives which have been donated, including the cities and states where they can be found. 

I don't see any historical information from the CNW, MOPAC, WP or Katy; why not?

You can find some historical information about the mergers with these railroads in the Union Pacific Railroad Timeline in the History and Photos section of the site.

I'm writing a paper. Can you send me everything you have on your current business, history and equipment?

You will find this information in our About Us section.