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Sioux City, Omaha, and #4023

A black and silver steam locomotive facing left to right, on a bluff above a sign that says "Welcome to Omaha". Further left is a yellow diesel electric locomotive facing the camera
#4023 atop the bluff overlooking the Missouri River between Council Bluffs, IA and Omaha, NE

Leaving Green Bay, I headed across Iowa to Sioux City. I wasn't going to say much in this post but since there wasn't a full museum there, you get extra filler more brilliant content!

I headed to Sioux City because I'd read about a train show happening in the town that weekend, and because of the College World Series, the hotels in Omaha were horribly expensive.

Sioux City ended up being a treat. The Sioux City Railroad Museum is small, but they have some neat equipment, a large "Grand Scale" (15" gauge) that's rideable, along with a short run of standard gauge equipment. This is despite a flood in 2024 that devastated the site.

The site was once a large steam shop and facility for Milwaukee Road, and was still in operation into the 1980s when the railroad went bankrupt. Like many of the museums I visited, a portion of the original roundhouse still stands. At one time I believe they had more than 30 stalls. (Sadly, I lost my note.) Unlike other places, the original turntable still operates. Andy, one of the museum staff, took me for a little ride on it.

A round pit containing a metal and wood platform that can turn. There's a blue control house at the center of a gray structure with a metal frame
Former Milwaukee Road Turntable

Andy also told me about GN #1355 originally a 4-6-0 Ten-Wheeler, it was converted to a 4-6-4 Pacific in the 1920s. Great Northern had many Pacific locomotives, not only is this the last conversion. Not only is it the last Pacific conversion, it's the last of any GN Pacific locomotives. The museum is in the process of restoring it to operation.

A steam locomotive cab with the #1355 printed on the side. The boiler piece in the background is exposed. Beyond the locomotive the sun is streaming through a window near the ceiling. A canvas screen in the foreground obscures the locomotive's wheels
1355 partially obscured by canvas

The museum also hosts a Holocaust exhibit. There were a significant number of Jewish families that migrated to western Iowa during, and after, World War II. Always a good reminder of the dangers of fascism, especially today.

A montage of photos of Holocaust survivors and families. At the center there are two quotes. "Don't be a bystander, speak up. Never give up hope." by Phillip Gans. and "I am the voice of one and a half million silent girls and boys." by Inge Auerbacher

I capped off my time in Sioux City by visiting Marto Brewing. A lovely craft brewery downtown. Brick oven pizza and craft beer? Yes, please.

Black and white sticker on a granite countertop that says "Marto Brewing Co. Sioux City, IA"

The next morning I drove on to Omaha, where #4023 sits on the bluff, welcoming travelers to the city. The locomotive along with DD40X #6900 sit in Kenefick Park, part of the Lauritzen Gardens. #4023 itself is the last remaining of the second order of Big Boys built in 1944 to continue supporting the war effort. It's also the only locomotive to be moved by truck to its current location. That must have been a crazy feat of engineering.

A steam locomotive with a black frame and silver boiler. The shield on the front says Union Pacific 4023 below a headlight. In the background an American Flag flies above a yellow flag wih the red-white-blue logo of Union Pacific
THE BIG BOY Locomotive 4023, built in November of 1944, was one of 25 famous "Big Boy" type articulated locomotives. They were designed in Omaha by Union Pacific's mechanical officer Otto Jabelmann and his engineering team to support the nation's entry into World War II. Built for speed, the coal-burning, stoker-fired Big Boys guaranteed Union Pacific's status as the nation's fastest railroad. They primarily hauled heavy eastbound freight trains between Ogden, Utah, and Green River, Wyoming, over a 1.14 percent grade. Referred to as the 4-8-8-4 for the locomotives wheel configuration, the Big Boy was lauded in the industry and press as the most powerful, heaviest and longest steam locomotive ever built. Despite a running weight of 1.25 million pounds, the Big Boy had pulling power equal to 7,000 horsepower at its 70 miles per hour design speed. American Locomotive Company in Schenectady, New York, built the first 20 Big Boys in 1941. Locomotive 4023 was one of five additional Big Boys built in 1944 under government authority, in preparation for increased rail traffic due to the shift from European to Pacific war operations. After the war, diesel locomotives eventually surpassed the Big Boys. In their final days, they ran between Cheyenne and Laramie over Wyoming's famous Sherman Hill. The last run of 4023 was July 20, 1959. Eleven days later, it was put in storage in Cheyenne. Locomotive 4023 was officially retired in July 1962, after logging 829,295 miles. It has been displayed in Omaha since 1975.
4023 History Plaque

The plaque reads:

Locomotive 4023, built in November of 1944, was one of 25 famous "Big Boy" type articulated locomotives. They were designed in Omaha by Union Pacific's mechanical officer Otto Jabelmann and his engineering team to support the nation's entry into World War II.
Built for speed, the coal-burning, stoker-fired Big Boys guaranteed Union Pacific's status as the nation's fastest railroad. They primarily hauled heavy eastbound freight trains between Ogden, Utah, and Green River, Wyoming, over a 1.14 percent grade. Referred to as the 4-8-8-4 for the locomotives wheel configuration, the Big Boy was lauded in the industry and press as the most powerful, heaviest and longest steam locomotive ever built. Despite a running weight of 1.25 million pounds, the Big Boy had pulling power equal to 7,000 horsepower at its 70 miles per hour design speed.
American Locomotive Company in Schenectady, New York, built the first 20 Big Boys in 1941. Locomotive 4023 was one of five additional Big Boys built in 1944 under government authority, in preparation for increased rail traffic due to the shift from European to Pacific war operations. After the war, diesel locomotives eventually surpassed the Big Boys. In their final days, they ran between Cheyenne and Laramie over Wyoming's famous Sherman Hill.
The last run of 4023 was July 20, 1959. Eleven days later, it was put in storage in Cheyenne. Locomotive 4023 was officially retired in July 1962, after logging 829,295 miles. It has been displayed in Omaha since 1975.

Shorter today. There are three locomotives left, a great fishing trip, and some other cool train related content to come.

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Jamie Larson
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