On Tuesday, April 28, Union Pacific Steam Club announced that the Union Pacific Big Boy No. 4014, the largest operating steam engine in the world, will come through Bellwood, PA, enroute to Altoona for its show dates from July 8 to July 11, 2026.
According to the official schedule, the locomotive and its fleet will roll in to Altoona on Wednesday, July 8, 2026, around 5:15pm. Therefore, the people of Bellwood will be able to catch the engine as it runs through town about an hour or so prior to its scheduled arrival in Altoona.
The Big Boy will be coming from the east as it has other scheduled stops throughout the state, such as being in Philadelphia, PA on July 4.
Bellwood has such vantage points include the traffic bridges over the main line at Lower Riggles Gap Rd and on PA-Route 865 that connects both sides of town, and of course, the pedestrian bridge from Main Street to the Community Park.
The Big Boy will then remain in Altoona near the Railroaders Memorial Museum on display over July 9 and 10, before its departure the morning of July 11, when it will round the Horseshoe Curve- the area’s premiere national historic landmark for railroading.
Norfolk Southern, the manager of the rail lines since 1999, is eager for this steam engine to arrive at an area with such rich railroading history. The steam engine is owned and operated by Union Pacific, which is the railroad company that is expected to overtake NS railroads within the next year.
Railroading safety measures are also encouraged, such as remaining at least 25 feet away from active railroad tracks, staying off private railroad property, and practicing safe parking.
The people of Bellwood will be in for a treat when they see the deep smoke and hear the deep whistle of the mighty “Big Boy” No. 4014 when it rolls through town this summer.
