2026 Union Pacific Big Boy Tour

[Brad]

2026 Union Pacific Big Boy Tour

Monday, May 25
Cheyenne, WY
Depart: 9:00 a.m. MDT

Kimball, NE
Arrive: 1:00 p.m. MDT
Depart: 1:30 p.m. MDT

Sidney, NE

Tuesday, May 26
Sidney, NE
9:00 a.m. MDT

Ogallala, NE
Arrive: 12:00 noon. MDT
Depart 12:30 p.m. MDT

North Platte, NE

Wednesday, May 27
North Platte, NE
Private Union Pacific Employee Event

Thursday, May 28
North Platte, NE
Depart: 9:00 a.m. CDT

Gothenburg, NE
Arrive: 10:30 a.m. CDT
Depart 11:00 a.m. CDT

Overton, NE
Arrive: 12:00 Noon CDT
Depart 12:30 p.m. CDT

Kearney, NE
Arrive: 1:15 p.m. CDT
Depart 1:30 p.m. CDT

Grand Island, NE
Arrive: 3:15 p.m. CDT

Friday, May 29
Grand Island, NE
Depart: 9:00 a.m. CDT

Columbus, NE
Arrive: 11:15 a.m. CDT
Depart: 11:45 a.m. CDT

Omaha, NE
Private Union Pacific employee event

Saturday, May 30
Omaha, NE
9th St. and Leavenworth St.
On Display: 10 a.m. - 4 p.m. CDT
NO PUBLIC ACCESS outside these hours

Sunday, May 31
Omaha, NE
Depart: 9:00 a.m. CDT

Denison, IA
Arrive: 11:30 a.m. CDT
Depart: 12:00 noon CDT

Carroll, IA
Arrive: 1:00 p.m. CDT
Depart: 1:15 p.m. CDT

Boone, IA

Monday, June 1
Boone, IA
Depart: 9:00 a.m. CDT

Tama, IA
Arrive: 11:15 a.m. CDT
Depart: 11:45 a.m. CDT

Belle Plaine, IA
Arrive: 12:15 p.m. CDT
Depart: 12:30 p.m. CDT

Cedar Rapids, IA

FULL SCHEDULE:
https://www.up.com/about-us/history/steam/schedule

[S.O.Boy]

[almighty_tuna]

Columbus, NE
Arrive: 11:15 a.m. CDT
Depart: 11:45 a.m. CDT

Omaha, NE
Private Union Pacific employee event

I have my suspicions, but do you know what line it will take to come into Omaha and head downtown?

[locoluke]

It will come into Omaha via Fremont, Valley, and Elkhorn, and it will be on display outside of the Durham.

[Stan]

Tracking for Big Boy coming through on Friday. I could think of plenty of good vantage points to see it. Would be cool to get a shot from the Old Lincoln Highway of it.

https://www.up.com/about-us/history/steam/track

[locoluke]

Would be cool to get a shot from the Old Lincoln Highway of it.

Most of the ROW between the highway and the tracks is too overgrown to get a clear shot of it. The power lines between the highway and the tracks don’t help either.

[Brad]

The Union Pacific steam tracker has been running quite a bit behind today. When it actually updates, the timestamp is correct but it’s up to 10 minutes behind so factor that in.

That said the big boy departed Fremont about 2 PM and is heading towards Omaha now

[zippy]

There's quite the crowd on the Pacific street bridge near Bob Boozer.

[almighty_tuna]

I was in that crowd!

[Stan]

Would be cool to get a shot from the Old Lincoln Highway of it.

Most of the ROW between the highway and the tracks is too overgrown to get a clear shot of it. The power lines between the highway and the tracks don’t help either.

I did end up stopping here earlier in the day before realizing it was taking a lunch break in Fremont. Had some really decent vantage points, but also ended up watching it go by at Pacific later on.

[Brad]

I was in that crowd!

Nice! Here's one of mine from downtown:

20260529881A6908.jpg

[almighty_tuna]

Great shot, Brad!

[Brad]

Great shot, Brad!

Thanks!

[Brad]

Photos from Friday's Eastern Nebraska Chase.

1. Chapman, Nebraska in the pouring down rain

20260529881A6766.jpg

2. East of Central City, Nebraska

20260529881A6787.jpg

3. Almost good timing in Duncan, Nebraska

20260529881A6809.jpg

4. Schuyler, Nebraska

20260529881A6825.jpg

5. Between Waterloo and Elkhorn, Nebraska

20260529881A6853.jpg

6. Between Waterloo and Elkhorn, Nebraska

20260529881A6874.jpg

7. Downtown Omaha

20260529881A6908.jpg

.

[remline]

What a fun project! Great pictures.

[iamjacobm]

Great stuff!

Noticed that video you shot got a pretty big response on twitter.

[Brad]

Great stuff!

Noticed that video you shot got a pretty big response on twitter.

Thanks. That video went Crazy! 320K impressions and 176K Unique views!

[Garrett]

5 & 6 almost make it look like a model set!

[Brad]

5 & 6 almost make it look like a model set!

5 and 6 were taken from 1/2 to 3/4 of a mile away with my 800mm lens.