{"id":31119,"date":"2026-07-06T19:00:00","date_gmt":"2026-07-06T17:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/stocks-future.com\/?guid=1ac1c7a28db28743a6bfc1e47623547c"},"modified":"2026-07-06T19:00:00","modified_gmt":"2026-07-06T17:00:00","slug":"union-pacific-and-norfolk-southern-celebrate-americas-250th-anniversary-with-worlds-largest-steam-locomotive-in-philadelphia","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/stocks-future.com\/?p=31119","title":{"rendered":"Union Pacific and Norfolk Southern Celebrate America\u2019s 250th Anniversary with World\u2019s Largest Steam Locomotive in Philadelphia"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>PHILADELPHIA--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Union Pacific\u2019s legendary <a  href=\"https:\/\/cts.businesswire.com\/ct\/CT?id=smartlink&amp;url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.up.com%2Fabout-us%2Fhistory%2Fsteam%2Fbig-boy-4014&amp;esheet=54565270&amp;newsitemid=20260705751047&amp;lan=en-US&amp;anchor=Big+Boy+No.+4014&amp;index=1&amp;md5=5ae976e21c6577d07e988632dd0705c8\" rel=\"nofollow\" shape=\"rect\">Big Boy No. 4014<\/a> took center stage in Philadelphia on the Fourth of July as tens of thousands gathered for the America250 Block Party, commemorating the nation\u2019s 250th anniversary.<\/p><br\/><a href=\"https:\/\/mms.businesswire.com\/media\/20260705751047\/en\/2845322\/5\/9E3A7513-2.jpg\"><img src=\"https:\/\/mms.businesswire.com\/media\/20260705751047\/en\/2845322\/22\/9E3A7513-2.jpg\" \/><\/a><br\/><a href=\"https:\/\/mms.businesswire.com\/media\/20260705751047\/en\/2845322\/5\/9E3A7513-2.jpg\"><img src=\"https:\/\/mms.businesswire.com\/media\/20260705751047\/en\/2845322\/21\/9E3A7513-2.jpg\" \/><\/a><br\/><a href=\"https:\/\/mms.businesswire.com\/media\/20260705751047\/en\/2845076\/4\/img_e_brand_up_color_stackpng_%281%29.jpg\"><img src=\"https:\/\/mms.businesswire.com\/media\/20260705751047\/en\/2845076\/22\/img_e_brand_up_color_stackpng_%281%29.jpg\" \/><\/a><br\/><a href=\"https:\/\/mms.businesswire.com\/media\/20260705751047\/en\/2845076\/4\/img_e_brand_up_color_stackpng_%281%29.jpg\"><img src=\"https:\/\/mms.businesswire.com\/media\/20260705751047\/en\/2845076\/21\/img_e_brand_up_color_stackpng_%281%29.jpg\" \/><\/a><p>\nThe milestone visit is part of the historic Union Pacific Big Boy No. 4014 coast-to-coast tour, which includes Big Boy's first journey onto eastern rails since 1941 in partnership with Norfolk Southern to celebrate the nation\u2019s 250th anniversary. The railroads are connecting communities and highlighting the continued importance of freight rail to the U.S. economy. Big Boy No. 4014 served as the backdrop for a ceremony featuring Union Pacific Railroad CEO Jim Vena, Norfolk Southern President and CEO Mark George, and Chellie Cameron, president and CEO of the Chamber of Commerce for Greater Philadelphia.<\/p><p>\n\u201cCelebrating our nation\u2019s 250th anniversary in Philadelphia is truly spectacular and there\u2019s no better way to honor this milestone than with the world\u2019s largest operating steam locomotive \u2013 a reflection of rail\u2019s role in building America,\u201d Vena said. \u201cBig Boy\u2019s first-ever coast-to-coast journey reflects our proud history building communities and our commitment to the future as we continue delivering safe, reliable service that keeps the U.S. supply chain moving.\u201d<\/p><p>\n\u201cSeeing thousands of people gather around Big Boy and Norfolk Southern\u2019s America's 250 locomotive series, including <i>The Bell<\/i>, is a powerful reminder of the role railroads and railroaders have played, and will continue to play, in shaping our country,\u201d George said. \u201cWe\u2019re proud to help celebrate America\u2019s 250th anniversary by honoring our shared heritage and the people, innovation and infrastructure that continue to connect communities, power the economy and create opportunities for generations to come.\u201d<\/p><p>\nThe event included a ceremonial driving of a Silver Spike, which traveled with Big Boy from Sacramento, California, as it paid homage to the Golden Spike that first connected the nation at Promontory Summit, Utah, in 1869. The spike commemorates the first-ever coast-to-coast Big Boy tour and will be part of the Union Pacific Railroad Museum\u2019s traveling Experience Car. An actor portraying Charles Carroll \u2013 the last surviving signer of the Declaration of Independence who laid the ceremonial cornerstone for the first commercial railroad in the U.S. on July 4, 1828 \u2013 also helped highlight rail\u2019s earliest ties to the nation\u2019s founding.<\/p><p>\nThe coast-to-coast tour brings together a unique collection of rail equipment. Norfolk Southern\u2019s historic Marco Polo rail car is a nearly century-old passenger car once used by President Franklin D. Roosevelt. The specialty locomotive \u201cThe Bell\u201d honors the Liberty Bell and Norfolk Southern predecessor Pennsylvania Railroad\u2019s role in transporting it across the country. Two of Union Pacific\u2019s commemorative locomotives \u2013 No. 1616 Abraham Lincoln locomotive and No. 1776-America250 \u2013 are also part of the historic tour.<\/p><p>\nThe tour ends July 29 in Cheyenne, Wyoming, after Big Boy travels about 7,000 miles across 14 states. The public can follow the journey through a live tracking map at <a  href=\"https:\/\/cts.businesswire.com\/ct\/CT?id=smartlink&amp;url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.up.com%2Fabout-us%2Fhistory%2Fsteam%2Ftrack&amp;esheet=54565270&amp;newsitemid=20260705751047&amp;lan=en-US&amp;anchor=UPsteam.com&amp;index=2&amp;md5=6dfaf6ef927a6f0cdabfa4af51c71056\" rel=\"nofollow\" shape=\"rect\">UPsteam.com<\/a>. For everyone\u2019s safety, please stay at least 25 feet back from all railroad tracks.<\/p><p>\n<b>ABOUT UNION PACIFIC<\/b><\/p><p>\nUnion Pacific (NYSE: UNP) delivers the goods families and businesses use every day with safe, reliable and efficient service. Operating in 23 western states, the company connects its customers and communities to the global economy. Trains are the most environmentally responsible way to move freight, helping Union Pacific protect future generations. More information about Union Pacific is available at <a  href=\"https:\/\/cts.businesswire.com\/ct\/CT?id=smartlink&amp;url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.up.com&amp;esheet=54565270&amp;newsitemid=20260705751047&amp;lan=en-US&amp;anchor=www.up.com&amp;index=3&amp;md5=fc498f2b59ab5776078b400f57878d13\" rel=\"nofollow\" shape=\"rect\">www.up.com<\/a>.<\/p><p>\n<a  href=\"https:\/\/cts.businesswire.com\/ct\/CT?id=smartlink&amp;url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.facebook.com%2Funionpacific&amp;esheet=54565270&amp;newsitemid=20260705751047&amp;lan=en-US&amp;anchor=www.facebook.com%2Funionpacific&amp;index=4&amp;md5=ade75d333f7bda72a5fa03c385b2aa4f\" rel=\"nofollow\" shape=\"rect\">www.facebook.com\/unionpacific<\/a><br\/><a  href=\"https:\/\/cts.businesswire.com\/ct\/CT?id=smartlink&amp;url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.twitter.com%2Funionpacific&amp;esheet=54565270&amp;newsitemid=20260705751047&amp;lan=en-US&amp;anchor=www.twitter.com%2Funionpacific&amp;index=5&amp;md5=284557253fb06ca8da4ddcd9d26ab06d\" rel=\"nofollow\" shape=\"rect\">www.twitter.com\/unionpacific<\/a><\/p><p>\n<b>ABOUT NORFOLK SOUTHERN<\/b><\/p><p>\nSince 1827, Norfolk Southern Corporation (NYSE: NSC) and its predecessor companies have safely moved the goods and materials that drive the U.S. economy. Today, it operates a 22-state freight transportation network. Committed to furthering sustainability, Norfolk Southern helps its customers avoid approximately 15 million tons of yearly carbon emissions by shipping via rail. Its dedicated team members deliver approximately 7 million carloads annually, from agriculture to consumer goods. Norfolk Southern also has the most extensive intermodal network in the eastern U.S. It serves a majority of the country's population and manufacturing base, with connections to every major container port on the Atlantic coast as well as major ports across the Gulf Coast and Great Lakes. Learn more by visiting <a  href=\"https:\/\/cts.businesswire.com\/ct\/CT?id=smartlink&amp;url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.norfolksouthern.com%2F&amp;esheet=54565270&amp;newsitemid=20260705751047&amp;lan=en-US&amp;anchor=www.NorfolkSouthern.com&amp;index=6&amp;md5=504341cff55f5df509516093653a02e2\" rel=\"nofollow\" shape=\"rect\">www.NorfolkSouthern.com<\/a>.<\/p><br\/> <b>Contacts<\/b> <br\/><p>\n<b>Media contacts:<\/b> Union Pacific, <a  href=\"mailto:media@up.com\" rel=\"nofollow\" shape=\"rect\">media@up.com<\/a>; Norfolk Southern, <a  href=\"mailto:media.relations@nscorp.com\" rel=\"nofollow\" shape=\"rect\">media.relations@nscorp.com<\/a><\/p>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>PHILADELPHIA&#8211;(BUSINESS WIRE)&#8211;Union Pacific\u2019s legendary Big Boy No. 4014 took center stage in Philadelphia on the Fourth of July as tens of thousands gathered for the America250 Block Party, commemorating the nation\u2019s 250th anniversary.<br \/>\nThe milestone &#8230;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-31119","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-infos-businesswire"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/stocks-future.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/31119","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/stocks-future.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/stocks-future.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/stocks-future.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/stocks-future.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=31119"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/stocks-future.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/31119\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":31122,"href":"https:\/\/stocks-future.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/31119\/revisions\/31122"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/stocks-future.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=31119"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/stocks-future.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=31119"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/stocks-future.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=31119"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}