World's Most Powerful Steam Train Coming To Pottstown

POTTSTOWN, PA — Union Pacific's Big Boy No. 4014, the world's largest and most powerful steam locomotive, will stop in Pottstown this summer on its first ever trip to the eastern seaboard.

The historic trip will have the train arrive in southeastern Pennsylvania in time for America 250 celebrations surrounding the Fourth of July.

It's set to roll into 51 South Hanover Street in Pottstown on July 3 at 3:30 p.m. It will leave at 3:45 p.m. in what is called a "whistle stop."

It will spend July 3 in King of Prussia, though Union Pacific says there will be no public access there.

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.