Two Union Pacific paint technicians from Jenks Shop in North Little Rock, Ark., spent 7 weeks in Omaha, Neb., repainting Big Boy No. 4023 displayed in Kenefick Park on the grounds of Lauritzen Gardens. The 4-8-8-4 along with DDA40X No. 6900 welcome travelers from their location above I-80. The project involved considerable sand blasting to remove old paint and applying more than 70 gallons of new paint — 35 gallons of primer, 30 gallons black, and about 10 gallons silver.
Nos. 4023 and 6900 took up residence in Kenefick Park — named for one-time UP President John C. Kenefick — during 2004. A special wheeled cradle was required to move the Big Boy along Omaha city streets to Lauritzen Gardens and the newly constructed park.
No. 6900 is the original DDA40X, and is one of 47 famously known as “Centennials.” Built by EMD between 1969 and 1971 exclusively for the UP, No. 6900, arrived in time to mark the Transcontinental Railroad centennial in 1969, hence the name. These giants weighed 270 tons and stretched to 98 feet, 5 inches long. They were specifically designed to haul freight over long distances at speeds up to 90 mph.
No. 6900 is scheduled for a paint job in spring 2026.
Beyond No. 4023, seven other Big Boys, of the 25 that were built, still exist. Here is a list of where to see all of the 4-8-8-4s. The wheel arrangement was also exclusive to the Union Pacific. The 4000 class measured 132-feet, 9 7/8-inches long and tipped the scale at more than 1.18 million pounds in full working order.
