07/17/2026
July 23rd is when Big Boy comes to town. Make it an event. Go get donuts at Donut Palace, grab a coffee at Paramour and come sit in the wonderful Railroad Park and enjoy a throw back to different times! Remember to stay back from the steam locamotive!
On Thursday, July 23, Big Boy No. 4014 — the world’s largest operating steam locomotive — is expected to pass through Wamego sometime between 1 and 2 p.m. CDT.
Wamego Historical Society & Museum will open at 10 a.m. that day in anticipation of Big Boy’s arrival.
The locomotive does not have a scheduled public "whistle stop" in Wamego. Instead, it will be passing through on its journey between official stops in Topeka and Salina.
The official itinerary for the day:
Depart Kansas City: 9 a.m.
Arrive in Topeka (Great Overland Station): 12:15 p.m.
Depart Topeka: 12:45 p.m.
Arrive in Salina (Old Depot): 6 p.m.
Because it will only be rolling through town without stopping, the exact time it passes through Wamego depends on its travel speed.
To check for real-time adjustments or track its live location, you can monitor updates by Googling “Union Pacific Big Boy Schedule.”
