The Union Pacific Big Boy Locomotive will be in Ellsworth from 9:30 to 10:15 a.m. Thursday, Nov. 21, at the Lincoln Avenue crossing.

The locomotive — the largest ever used by Union Pacific — will spend Wednesday night in Salina.

Union Pacific’s historic Big Boy steam locomotive No. 4014 is touring the Union Pacific system throughout 2019 to commemorate the transcontinental railroad’s 150th anniversary.

The Big Boy’s return to the rails is the product of more than two years of meticulous restoration work by the Union Pacific Steam Team. No. 4014 is the world’s only operating Big Boy locomotive.

The historic engine started its tour of the Union Pacific system Friday, Sept. 27, in Cheyenne, Wyo. It traveled south through Utah and Nevada, reaching Los Angeles on Wednesday, Oct. 9.

From there, the engine made a southern loop through Arizona, New Mexico and Texas before heading north through Arkansas, Oklahoma and Kansas.

If things go according to the published schedule on the Union Pacific website, the engine will arrive at the Great Overland Station in Topeka at 1 p.m. Tuesday, Nov. 19.

It will depart Nov. 20, arriving at Manhattan (at the S. Manhattan Ave. crossing) at 9:30 a.m., at Junction City (at 8th Street crossing) at 11 a.m., and at the Visitor’s Information Center at 201 NW 2nd St. in Abilene at 12:15 p.m.