Union Pacific’s Big Boy No. 4014 is headed out on a four-week, five-state excursion starting Sunday, all 1.1 million mighty pounds of him, while the Cody Stampede is all set for rodeo action also starting Sunday.
Cody Stampede
The Cody Stampede rodeo has been part of the festivities leading up to the Fourth of July in Cody since the turn of the 20th century and 2024 will be no exception to that rule.
Rodeo history in Cody has deep roots, starting with Buffalo Bill Cody and his Wild West Show. Cody has long billed itself as the “Rodeo Capital of the World.”
Visit online for complete details about the 2024 Cody Stampede.
Big Boy
The Big Boy locomotive’s tour will be a special one, particularly now that the steam engine has been outfitted with new technology. A positive train control system has been added to Big Boy, which will make it easier to plan and execute trips for the popular World War II-era locomotive, Heritage Operations Manager Ed Dickens said.
“We are still going to travel with a diesel locomotive most of the time — saving wear and tear on Big Boy’s brakes and extending fuel and water when needed,” he said. “But this is going to give our steam team greater flexibility to park the locomotive, switch the train, or operate Big Boy solely as needed.”
Big Boy’s four-week tour will include many whistle-stops along the way, which are chances for the public to come out and see the locomotive and learn more about its history.
Big Boy will leave its home base in Cheyenne on Sunday morning, with several whistle stops planned as it travels across Wyoming, landing in Laramie for the first at 10:45 a.m. for a 30-minute stop at the historic Railroad Depot, East Kearney and South First Street.
The longest of the public viewing times will be in Evanston at 1500 Main St. near the Evanston Roundhouse on July 3. That viewing period lasts from 3-6 p.m.
Other public whistle stops include:
• Wamsutter, 10:30-11 a.m. July 1, at Broadway and Boyd Street, near the water tower.
• Green River 10-10:30 a.m. July 3 at 300 E. Railroad Ave. in Green River.
• Big Boy Departs Evanston on July 4, headed into Utah, Nevada, California and Idaho.
• It will re-enter Wyoming on July 23, landing in Kemmerer from 11:45 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. at the Union Pacific Yard Office at 720 Lignite St.
Other Wyoming stops after that include:
• Point of Rocks from 9:45-1015 a.m. at Black Buttes Road Crossing.
• Medicine Bow from 11-11:30 a.m. at Highway 30 at Medicine Bow McFadden Road.
• Cheyenne from 4-5 p.m. at Cheyenne Depot, 12112 W. 15th St.
The Heartland of America tour across Wyoming, Arkansas, Colorado, Illinois, Iowa, Kansas, Missouri, Nebraska, Oklahoma and Texas is set for Aug. 29 through October.
What Else?
While this isn’t an exhaustive list of everything happening in Wyoming, here are some other fun things going on around the Cowboy State this weekend:
• The 66th Flaming Gorge Days in Green River continues Saturday with a Back to the Future parade theme (10 a.m.), car show (11 a.m.) and concerts from 6-10:30 p.m. on Expedition Island.
• Grand Teton Music Festival in Jackson runs through August. On Saturday, there’s a free event from noon to 12:45 p.m. at Greenspace on the Block, then from 6-8 p.m. the festival orchestra performs Beethoven and Brahms (tickets $40-$85).
• In Sheridan, a performance by singer/songwriters Cory McDaniel, Nick Cantine and Sue Morrison at 7 p.m. at Luminous Brewhouse.
To submit an event for consideration, email Renee@CowboyStateDaily.com.
Renée Jean can be reached at renee@cowboystatedaily.com.
