A 2026 tour schedule update.
No east coast itinerary posted yet, but they’re impyling that passengers will be taken on some eastern legs.
Jon,
I’m more inclined to think IF it does come our way it will go over the Lurgan Branch just like 611 did. If that is the case even better as the Lurgan Branch is probably about 1/2hr from you. I don’t think they are gonna chance that unit over the Allegheny’s.
Here’s a video explaining how the BB 2026 cost-to-coast tour is an enormous public relations effort for the TBD UP+NS merger.
Well they have denied the merger… so far, so who knows ?
From the video, it seems like the review of all the documents, and the approval process, could take a year (if successful), with the Big Boy serving as a PR star.
I know Nothinnng !!!
1 Like
Cliff while we wait for your latest BIG BOY update, I found a build your own souvenir site for the LEGO enthusiasts that silently dwell amongst us.
And for those with 3D printers who won’t be undone… a reminder to buy more filament….
1 Like
Excellent research, Bill! I sure love that last one, holy cow.
Speaking of news, UP/NS recently published this list of responses to the critics of the deal.
Here’s an overview page on the deal.
From the 4014 web page, it seems the cost-to-coast tour this year is still on.
The western portion of the '26 tour has just been published:
When are you posting a sign-up sheet for the road trip? Happy to ride shotgun.
Oh boy here we go…gather round the campfire…Cliff is waiving his weiner around again.
They have yet to announce the eastern route. They have applied for a waiver to run in cab signal territory without them. They do have PTC on 4014.
If they get the waiver that points to a run on the old PRR Pittsburgh line through Horseshoe Curve and Mt. Union 10 miles from me.
The timing looks bad for me though. We are headed West in early July for at least a month. I’ll probably miss it again 
They’ve nailed down the details for the western leg of the tour a bit more.
The Portola stop is where the WPRR museum is, a great visit with or without the BB, but fantastic with both. Sure wish I could go out there, but maybe one of us will be able to and report back.
I just saw some pics locally where NS was out checking clearances.
1 Like
Some further rumors…
There’s a couple vids of the NKP 756 on horseshoe curve from 2013.
Copied this from the Big Boy web site, this will bring it close to us, Scranton PA is only a hour and half from home. Buffalo to Scranton it might come though Binghamton, that’s 45 minutes from home.
After a multi-day locomotive maintenance period, the Coast-to-Coast Steam Tour will resume with the eastern leg on May 25. A detailed schedule for the eastern leg will be released at a later date.
Display days will occur in:
Omaha, Nebraska
Chicago, Illinois
Buffalo, New York
Scranton, Pennsylvania
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Additional display days are anticipated in:
Altoona, Pennsylvania
St. Louis, Missouri
Kansas City, MissouriOn it’s return trip from Philly after the 4th it will probably pass withing 20 minutes of me. Unfortunately we are planning a trip West leaving early July and won’t be here 
I’m hoping I might be able to catch it near Scranton if it’s not too late in June.
This is how it always goes for me. I was in Denver when it came down from Cheyenne on a test run. I didn’t hear about it until after it left
If it it misses or does not stop in Binghamton we will be in Scranton to see it.
The Scrantonians (ites?) will have the distinction of having two Big Boys in town at the same time, with 4012 at Steamtown.