Union Pacific Steam Shop in Cheyenne, Wyoming
Historic rail siteOpen to the public only on occasional tour and event days
The Union Pacific Steam Shop in Cheyenne is the working home of the railroad's Heritage Fleet, including Big Boy 4014, and on the rare days it opens for public tours it offers about the closest look anyone can get at the largest class of steam locomotive.
- Home of Big Boy 4014
- Working Union Pacific facility
- Public tours only occasionally
- Opened during Depot Days 2026
Union Pacific Steam Shop at a glance
- Hours
- No regular hours; open only on announced tour days
- Admission
- Varies by tour; tickets have been sold online through Visit Cheyenne
- Seasonal events
- Steam Shop Tours, Depot Days
- Best for
- Serious steam fans and Big Boy admirers
Hours and prices as the museum posts them, checked October 19, 2026. Confirm before you go.
Look inside the book
Taking the kids to Union Pacific Steam Shop? Bring Rally along.
In Rally Takes the Train, a corgi's little legs can't manage the big train stairs, so Dad gives him a boost. It takes about five minutes to read, a good fit for the drive to Cheyenne.
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The railroad's own steam shop, just across the tracks
Most railroad museums look after engines that will never run again. The Steam Shop in Cheyenne is different: it belongs to Union Pacific, which still uses the facility and the nearby rail spur, and it is where the railroad keeps the steam locomotives of its Heritage Fleet. The best known is Big Boy 4014, a member of the world's largest class of steam locomotive.
Because it is a working railroad property, the shop opens to the public only from time to time. In recent years some planned tours were called off under the railroad's pandemic restrictions, and local news described the shop and spur opening for Depot Days in August 2026 as an uncommon chance to get inside. Tours are usually promoted through the Cheyenne Depot Museum and Visit Cheyenne, so those are the places to watch for the next date.
Big Boy, the roundhouse and the Heritage Fleet
When the doors do open, visitors can walk through the Union Pacific Steam Shop and roundhouse and see Big Boy 4014 along with other Heritage Fleet units up close. The Cheyenne Depot Museum's train pages also tell the story of a Challenger, the name given to steam locomotives with a 4-6-6-4 wheel arrangement: retired in 1962, stored in the Cheyenne roundhouse, put on display near the depot in 1975, and restored to running condition in 1981 by a group of Union Pacific employees who volunteered their time.
Don’t miss
- Big Boy 4014Part of the world's largest class of steam locomotive, and the main reason people line up for a tour.
- The roundhouseTours include the roundhouse alongside the steam shop, a working space rather than a museum gallery.
- The ChallengerA 4-6-6-4 restored to running condition in 1981 by Union Pacific employees who volunteered for the job.
A rare treat for big steam fans
For a child who loves giant locomotives, standing beside Big Boy is hard to beat. Tour details such as minimum ages, footwear rules and walking distances are set for each event, so read the ticket page carefully. Because tours are rare and may sell quickly, the Cheyenne Depot Museum next door is a good backup with year-round hours.
Plan your visit: tips for Union Pacific Steam Shop
- Follow the Cheyenne Depot Museum's Steam Shop Tours page for announcements.
- Tours are rare and can be cancelled by the railroad, so have a backup plan.
- Check Depot Days dates: the shop opened during that event in August 2026.
- Read each tour's ticket page for age and footwear rules.
Railroaders and the depot museum
Union Pacific runs the shop and decides when it opens, and the Cheyenne Depot Museum and Visit Cheyenne help bring the public inside on tour days. Union Pacific employees have a long history of volunteering here, including the crew who restored the Challenger in 1981. Buying a tour ticket or supporting the depot museum helps keep these open days coming.
Big Boy country: what else to see in Cheyenne
The Cheyenne Depot Museum is about a mile away and open year-round, and the Big Boy No. 4004 exhibit lets you see a Big Boy any day. The Historic Laramie Railroad Depot is about 42 miles west. For the full list, see train museums across Wyoming.
- Wyoming State Museum railroad exhibitsCheyenne, WY · same town
- Cheyenne Depot MuseumCheyenne, WY · about 1 mi
- Union Pacific Big Boy No. 4004 exhibitCheyenne, WY · about 1 mi
- Historic Laramie Railroad DepotLaramie, WY · about 42 mi
- Colorado Model Railroad MuseumGreeley, CO · about 50 mi
- South Park Rail Society / Como RoundhouseComo, CO · about 72 mi
Bring Rally along: a train book for the drive
When a shop like this opens its doors, someone in railroad clothes is usually there to welcome everyone in. That is my favorite feeling in our book: Mr. Conductor, in his blue uniform, holding out a hand to Rally as he and Mom and Dad get on board. My mom dreamed up that kindness before she died in 2021, and I wanted it on the page for her. You can print it on our coloring pages.
Free for train families
Print the Rally coloring pages before you go
Watercolor coloring pages from the book, free to print. Tuck a few in a folder with crayons for the drive or the wait for the next train.
Get the free coloring pages
A train story for the ride homeRally Takes the Train is a five-minute rhyming picture book about a corgi's first train trip to see his grand-paw-rents. Hand-painted in real watercolor. $13.99 on Amazon, for ages 0 to 8.
Buy on Amazon (opens in a new tab)More for train families
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- Train museums in every state: search by town or near you
- Christmas train rides in Wyoming
- Halloween train rides in Wyoming
- Every Amtrak route with kids
Work or volunteer at Union Pacific Steam Shop?
We want this page to be the best introduction to your museum on the web. Send new hours, event dates, corrections or photos to kelsey@rallytakesthetrain.com and we will update it. You are welcome to share this page with your members.
Sources
Everything on this page comes from the museum’s own website and social pages and, for history, Wikipedia, checked October 19, 2026.
Union Pacific Steam Shop: 20 questions about tours and Big Boy
Can you tour the Union Pacific Steam Shop in Cheyenne?
Yes, but only on occasional tour days. Union Pacific opens its Cheyenne Steam Shop and roundhouse to the public from time to time, and the tours are usually promoted by the Cheyenne Depot Museum and Visit Cheyenne. It is not open for walk-in visits, so watch for announced dates.
When are Union Pacific Steam Shop tours?
There is no fixed schedule. Tours happen when Union Pacific allows them, and some were cancelled in the past under the railroad's pandemic restrictions. In August 2026 the shop and rail spur opened during the Cheyenne Depot Museum's Depot Days. Check the depot museum's Steam Shop Tours page for the next date.
How do I get tickets for a Union Pacific Steam Shop tour?
Tickets for past tours have been sold online through Visit Cheyenne's ticketing page, and the Cheyenne Depot Museum posts tour information on its Steam Shop Tours page. Prices and limits vary by event. Because open days are rare, buy as soon as dates are announced.
Can you see Big Boy 4014 in Cheyenne?
Yes, when the Steam Shop opens for tours. The Cheyenne Depot Museum calls a Steam Shop tour the best chance to see Big Boy 4014, part of the world's largest class of steam locomotive. Outside tour days the shop is closed to the public, so plan around announced dates.
What is the Union Pacific Steam Shop?
It is Union Pacific's working steam shop and roundhouse in Cheyenne, where the railroad keeps Big Boy 4014 and other locomotives of its Heritage Fleet. The facility and its rail spur are still in railroad use, which is why the public can visit only on special tour days.
Where is the Union Pacific Steam Shop in Cheyenne?
The Steam Shop sits just across the tracks from the historic Cheyenne Depot, about a mile from the depot museum by this site's measure. Tour meeting points are set for each event and listed on the ticket page, so follow those directions rather than heading to the shop on your own.
Is the Union Pacific Steam Shop open to the public every day?
No. It is an active Union Pacific facility, and local news has noted that the steam shop and rail spur rarely open to the public. Visitors can get inside only during announced tours or events such as Depot Days. On other days, visit the Cheyenne Depot Museum instead.
What is the Union Pacific Heritage Fleet?
The Heritage Fleet is the group of historic locomotives Union Pacific keeps, and Cheyenne's Steam Shop is home to its steam units, including Big Boy 4014. Visit Cheyenne has described tours as a way to see 4014 and other Heritage Fleet units up close when the shop opens.
What is a Challenger locomotive?
Challenger was the name given to steam locomotives with a 4-6-6-4 wheel arrangement. The Cheyenne Depot Museum tells of one that was retired in 1962, stored in the Cheyenne roundhouse until 1975, displayed near the depot, then restored to running condition in 1981 by volunteering Union Pacific employees.
How big is Big Boy 4014?
Tour organizers describe Big Boy 4014 as part of the world's largest class of steam locomotive. Exact dimensions are not given on the tour pages, but seeing it beside people on the shop floor shows the scale. Cheyenne's other Big Boy, No. 4004, is on public display year-round.
Did the Steam Shop open during Depot Days?
Yes. Local news reported that the Union Pacific Steam Shop and rail spur opened to the public during Depot Days in August 2026, a rare chance to see facilities that sit just yards from the depot on the other side of the tracks. Watch the Cheyenne Depot Museum calendar for future Depot Days.
Are Union Pacific Steam Shop tours good for kids?
For kids who love giant engines, it is a memorable visit. Each tour sets its own rules on ages, footwear and walking, since this is a working railroad shop, so read the ticket page closely. For younger children, the year-round Cheyenne Depot Museum and the Big Boy 4004 display are easier outings.
Can I ride Big Boy 4014 from Cheyenne?
Steam Shop tours are walking visits, not rides. Union Pacific occasionally promotes excursions, and the Cheyenne Depot Museum's site has linked to a Union Pacific holiday excursion while noting it is not a museum trip. Check Union Pacific's own announcements for any passenger opportunity.
Why is the Steam Shop not open more often?
The shop is an active Union Pacific facility, and the railroad still uses the rail spur beside it. Safety and operations come first, so public access depends on the railroad's schedule and restrictions. That is why tours are announced only occasionally and can be called off.
How long is a Union Pacific Steam Shop tour?
Tour length is not posted in general information and varies with each event. Read the ticket page for the date you choose, which should list start times and what is included. Allow extra time to also visit the Cheyenne Depot Museum about a mile away.
Who organizes Union Pacific Steam Shop tours?
Union Pacific decides when the shop opens, and the Cheyenne Depot Museum and Visit Cheyenne have helped promote and ticket public tours. The depot museum keeps a Steam Shop Tours page on its website, which is the best place to watch for news.
Can I take photos inside the Union Pacific Steam Shop?
Photo rules are set by Union Pacific for each tour and are not posted in general information. Many visitors come specifically to photograph Big Boy 4014, so check the tour details or ask your guide at check-in about cameras and tripods before you start shooting.
Is there a Big Boy I can see any day in Cheyenne?
Yes. Cheyenne's other Big Boy, No. 4004, is on public display in town, which this site lists about a mile from the Steam Shop. It is a good choice when the shop is closed. The Cheyenne Depot Museum also explains why Cheyenne became home to the Big Boys.
Is the Union Pacific Steam Shop accessible?
Accessibility details are not posted, and the shop is a working industrial space. If you need accommodations, ask when you book a tour through the ticketing page or contact the Cheyenne Depot Museum, which promotes the tours, before the event.
What else is near the Union Pacific Steam Shop?
The Wyoming State Museum and the Cheyenne Depot Museum are each about a mile away, and the Big Boy No. 4004 exhibit is close by too. The Historic Laramie Railroad Depot is about 42 miles west, making Cheyenne a solid base for a railroad weekend.
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