'Big Boy' Tour In Montco: Excitement Grows Over World's Largest Steam Engine

POTTSTOWN, PA — Celebrations and gatherings are being planned for arrival of Union Pacific's Big Boy No. 4014, the world's largest and most powerful steam engine, in Montgomery County.

The cross country tour will arrive in the Philadelphia area in time for the America 250 celebrations.

The engine is set to roll into 51 South Hanover Street in Pottstown on July 2 at 3:30 p.m. It will leave at 3:45 p.m. in what is called a "whistle stop." Thousands of spectators are expected.

Pottstown officials say that Borough Parking Lot 1 is the best viewing area.

Hanover Street will be closed from Industrial Boulevard to High Street from noon to 5 p.m., with food vendors and revelers expected to gather in the area.

It will spend July 3 at Abrams Yard in King of Prussia, and though Union Pacific says there will be no public access there, there will be plenty of viewing opportunities along the way.

"You should be able to get a great view of the train on the Schuylkill River West Trail and Sullivan’s Bridge in Valley Forge Park, as well as in Bridgeport," Upper Merion Supervisor Greg Weks said.

The Big Boy will be on display at Intrepid Ave. and League Island Blvd in Philadelphia on July 4 and 5, before making its way back to King of Prussia on July 7 and then heading west on July 8.

In addition to a few public displays, Big Boy is making 50 whistle stops in 10 states on its cross country voyage.

The train arrived at the Steamtown National Historic Site in Scranton on Monday. It will remain there for two weeks before departing for Jim Thorpe on July 1.

From there, it will arrive in Reading on July 2 and then Pottstown on July 3.

The 133-foot-long train was built in 1941 to haul freight over the mountains during World War II. Considered a marvel of engineering, it was refurbished in 2019.