![]() Each locomotive could carry 56,000 pounds of coal to fuel the steam engine along with 25,000 gallons of water.Its overall length (consisting of the engine and the tender) is 132 feet, 9 7/8 inches.The sheer size and scale of the Big Boys and their powerful attributes are impressive, even by today’s modern standards: Only 25 of these locomotives were manufactured by the American Locomotive Company (ALCO) and Union Pacific began taking deliveries of them in 1941 against the backdrop of World War II. Union Pacific’s 4000 series locomotives, affectionately known as the “Big Boys”, are widely considered to be the largest steam locomotives ever built. For these and many other reasons, steam locomotives were synonymous with rail transportation. The development of the steam engine contributed to rapid economic growth by allowing large loads of freight to be transported over great distances and across inhospitable terrain. Throughout the early to mid-1900s, steam locomotives dominated rail networks throughout the US and in many parts of the world. Geoffrey Fandl photo The Largest Steam Locomotive Ever Built – The “Big Boy” Here is a closer look at history’s largest locomotives, starting with the one aptly named the “Big Boy”. Steam and diesel locomotives have played such vital roles in the growth and development of the railroad industry and are so embedded in the overall history of rail transportation that they are each worthy of individual attention in their own right. Even compared to today’s electric locomotives, steamers and diesels more than hold their own. This is why some of the largest locomotives ever built are of the steam and diesel varieties, as both engine types dominated the locomotive landscape before electric versions came along. Simply put, the larger the locomotive, the more horsepower and tractive force (i.e., the amount of pull) it could be expected to produce. ![]() While today’s locomotives feature advanced technologies that make them far more powerful and efficient than the world has ever seen, there was a time not too long ago when their performance was directly tied to their size. What Is the Largest Locomotive Ever Built? Not long ago, only the largest locomotives could be trusted with the toughest jobs, and even by modern standards, steam and diesel engines have not only stood the test of time, but they have retained their title as the largest locomotives ever built, even to this day. Locomotives have been around for hundreds of years, and even today, they play an indispensable role in commerce and transportation. Union Pacific also claims the largest diesel locomotive ever built, known as the Centennial, and named for the railroad’s 100-year celebration in 1969. ![]() The largest steam locomotive ever built is Union Pacific’s 4000 series (aka the “Big Boys”), one of which, the 4014, is still operational today. ![]() While modern locomotives rely more on electrical power as their main energy source, they would not be around were it not for their steam and diesel predecessors and some of these classic engines rank among the largest locomotives ever built. The mighty locomotive has played a key role in global economic growth during the past several centuries. ![]()
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