Locomotive Wiki
Locomotive Wiki
Locomotive Wiki
8,262
pages
in: Steam locomotives, Tender locomotives, ALCO locomotives,
and 17 more

Union Pacific No. 4018

Edit


Union Pacific 4018 is a four-cylinder articulated 4-8-8-4 Big Boy-type steam locomotive owned by the Union Pacific Railroad. It was built in 1941 by Alco for the Union Pacific along with the other Big Boy locomotives. It was designed mainly for fast freight service.

In April 1957, 4018 was shopped in Cheyenne, Wyoming, and returned to service later that September. However, by October of that same year, it was placed into storage in Green River, Wyoming, and would not run again. It was officially retired from service in July 1962, having logged 1,037,123 miles.

In 1964, No. 4018 was delivered to the Age of Steam Museum in Dallas, Texas, and placed on static display. During the move to the museum, the locomotive reportedly experienced piston seizure. To complete the relocation, Union Pacific crews used cutting torches to sever the piston rods, an action that would visibly mark 4018 for decades to come.

Throughout the 1990s, 4018 was widely regarded as being in relatively poor external condition among the surviving Big Boys. The effects of weathering were visible, including missing boiler jacketing, degraded piping, and moss growth through exposed sections, suggesting prolonged moisture exposure. However, internally, the fire tubes, firebox, and most of the cab appliances remained in good condition.

In April 1998, plans were announced to restore 4018 to operating condition for a proposed movie titled Big Boy. However, by November 2000, museum staff indicated they had not heard from the project's backers in nearly a year. The estimated restoration cost ranged from $700,000 to $1 million. Ultimately, the financing fell through, and the project was abandoned. 4018 remained on static display at the museum.

In 2007, the locomotive was repainted in its original Union Pacific livery. The following year, the museum itself relocated to Frisco, Texas, where 4018 continues to be preserved.

Today, 4018 has been cosmetically restored and appears significantly improved, though it remains a static display. It stands as a reminder of the monumental scale and engineering behind Union Pacific's most iconic steam locomotives.

Trivia[]

  • An audio recording of 4018 exists, from the album Sounds of Steam Locomotives, No. 1: Stack Music Sampler; or Steam, Steel and Action and titled "4-8-8-4 No. 4018, "Big Boy" Union Pacific." It can be heard here.
  • When the original Big Boy locomotive, #4000 was retired, its original tender, 25-C-101, was given to 4018 and is still with it to this day.
    4018's tender plate, which reads "25-C-101"

    4018's tender plate, originally belonging to 4000.

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
Community content is available under CC-BY-SA unless otherwise noted.