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Union Pacific No. 4012

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Union Pacific No. 4012 is one of the legendary four-cylinder articulated 4-8-8-4 Big Boy-type steam locomotive owned by the Union Pacific Railroad. Manufactured by the American Locomotive Company (ALCO) in Schenectady, New York, in November 1941, No. 4012 was designed specifically for fast, heavy freight service across the Wasatch Mountains and other challenging grades of the UP system.

After nearly two decades of service, No. 4012 made its final run in 1959 and was officially retired in 1962. In 1964, the locomotive was acquired by seafood magnate and steam enthusiast F. Nelson Blount for inclusion in his Steamtown, U.S.A. collection in Bellows Falls, Vermont. Although Union Pacific had offered Blount both No. 4012 and a 4-6-6-4 Challenger locomotive, limited space at Steamtown allowed for only the Big Boy to be accepted. The fate of the Challenger remains unclear—it was either scrapped or preserved elsewhere.

For the next 20 years, No. 4012 remained on display in Vermont until the entire Steamtown collection was relocated in the 1980s to the former Delaware, Lackawanna & Western Railroad yards in Scranton, Pennsylvania. Because of its enormous size, No. 4012 could not be housed inside the roundhouse and was instead placed on outdoor display near the visitor parking lot at what would become the Steamtown National Historic Site.

Over time, exposure to the elements caused the locomotive to rust and fade, prompting the need for cosmetic restoration. Despite its age, No. 4012 remained in relatively good condition, and some rail preservationists even speculated that it could be restored to full operational service. However, concerns about its massive size and the limitations of the surrounding infrastructure have made a full restoration unlikely. As a result, No. 4012 continues to serve as a static exhibit.

On October 2, 2019, No. 4012 was temporarily removed from public view for a major cosmetic overhaul, which included asbestos abatement and a complete repaint. The restoration was completed on May 5, 2021, and the locomotive was reintroduced to the public in time for National Train Day celebrations.

Today, Union Pacific Big Boy No. 4012 remains proudly on display at Steamtown National Historic Site in Scranton, a monument to the might of American steam railroading.

Trivia[]

  • No. 4012 was built in the same month and year—November 1941—as Union Pacific No. 4014, the Big Boy that was later restored to operational condition.
  • Unlike No. 4014, which was converted to burn oil, No. 4012 retains its original coal-burning configuration.
  • No. 4012 is one of three Big Boys to receive cosmetic restoration, the others are No. 4004 in 2018 and No. 4023 in 1974.
  • Though cosmetically restored, No. 4012 still bears the imposing presence and design cues of its sibling, No. 4014, albeit as a static display.

Gallery[]

Specs[]

List of Union Pacific Big Boy Locomotives
Real-Life Members: 4000 • 4001 • 4002 • 4003 • 4004 • 4005 • 4006 • 4007 • 4008 • 4009 • 4010 • 4011 • 4012 • 4013 • 4014 • 4015 • 4016 • 4017 • 4018 • 4019 • 4020 • 4021 • 4022 • 4023 • 4024
Fallen: 4000 • 4001 • 4002 • 4003 • 4007 • 4008 • 4009 • 4010 • 4011 • 4013 • 4013 • 4015 • 4016 • 4019 • 4020 • 4021 • 4022 • 4024
Preserved: 4004 • 4005 • 4006 • 4012 • 4014 • 4017 • 4018 • 4023
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